April 23 hearing set on choice and tribal revitalization grant scope statements

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will conduct a preliminary public hearing from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 23 on four statements of scope, which provide a broad overview for the development of administrative rules. Conducting a hearing on scope statements is an additional requirement in the rulemaking process that can be requested under 2017 Wisconsin Act 57.

The hearing will be held at the DPI’s headquarters, GEF 3, Room P41, 125 South Webster Street, Madison. The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. For those who cannot attend the hearing, written comments sent to the department will be given the same consideration as public testimony.

The statements of scope that will be considered at the afternoon preliminary hearing are:

• SS 036-18 - relating to changes to rules governing the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. The changes are needed to Chapter PI 35 as a result of 2017 Wisconsin Acts 36 and 59 and other changes that will conform the rules to best practices and efficiencies in program administration.
• SS 038-18 - relating to technical changes for tribal revitalization grants. Originally created in 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, tribal language revitalization grants support school districts and Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs), in conjunction with a tribal authority, in providing effective instruction in one or more American Indian languages. Since then, 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 added Head Start programs as being eligible for tribal language revitalization grants. The proposed rules will make technical changes to conform Chapter PI 38 of the DPI Administrative Code to recent changes in statute.
• SS 041-18 - relating to changes to rules governing Parental Choice Programs, which include the Racine and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs. The changes to Chapter PI 48 are needed as a result of 2017 Wisconsin Acts 36 and 59 and other changes to conform the rules to best practices and efficiencies in program administration.
• SS 042-18 - relating to changes to rules governing the Special Needs Scholarship Program. The proposed amendments to Chapter PI 49 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code will conform rules governing the Special Needs Scholarship Program with changes in statute as a result of 2017 Wisconsin Acts 36 and 59. The proposed rules will also make other various changes so the rules reflect best practices and efficiencies in program administration.

A statement of scope is prepared in advance of any rule that an agency plans to promulgate. It includes a description of the objective of the rule, a description of existing policies relevant to the rule and an analysis of policy alternatives, the statutory authority for the rule, estimates of the amount of time that is expected to develop the rule, a description of entities affected by the rule, and a summary of any federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the rule. As the rules are promulgated, the department will conduct additional public hearings and comment periods for the emergency and proposed permanent administrative rules.

Copies of the scope statements are available on the department’s Administrative Rules webpage or the Wisconsin Legislature Rules site. Written comments may be submitted in lieu of testimony by April 26 online or sent to the department’s administrative rules coordinator by e-mail or U.S. mail. Send to Carl Bryan, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841.