Hearing scheduled April 19 on two scope statements

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will conduct a preliminary public hearing from 2 to 4:30 p.m. April 19 on two statements of scope related to federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Conducting a hearing on scope statements is an additional requirement to 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.

One of the statements of scope that will be considered during the preliminary hearing, SS 033-18, relates to amendments to Chapter PI 13 and the designation of English learner students as a result of new requirements established in ESSA. The other statement of scope, SS 040-18, creates a new chapter of administrative rules to specify how the department will implement ESSA accountability identifications as outlined in the Wisconsin Consolidated State Plan.

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 20 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.