Hearing set Dec. 3 on rules for Early College Credit program

MADISON — The Department of Public Instruction will conduct a hearing from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at department headquarters, GEF 3, Room P41, 125 South Webster Street, Madison, to take public testimony on emergency and proposed permanent rules related to the Early College Credit program.

The rules will repeal and recreate Chapter PI 40 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code to implement the Early College Credit program under 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, the 2017-2019 biennial budget. The Early College Credit program, which allows students to earn college credit while in high school, replaces the Youth Options program. The proposed changes will bring the rules into compliance with state statutes and give school districts and private schools clear guidance on program requirements.

Specifically, the proposed rules will clarify

• the dates by which pupils may notify school boards of their intent to participate in the program during a summer session (fall and spring dates are set in statute);
• the date in which school boards and participating private schools may submit an itemized report of all payments made to each institution of higher education on behalf of the pupils participating in the program;
• determination of undue financial burden;
• procedures for the reimbursement of transportation costs, including eligible modes of transportation and priority of reimbursement;
• determination of credits, including granting of high school credits for courses taken under the program, comparability of courses offered by a high school, and notification of appeal rights; and
• procedures for reviewing appeals under the program, as determined under Chapter PI 1 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Written comments on the emergency and proposed permanent rules may be made via the department’s form for submitting public comment. Questions or additional testimony on the rules may be sent by email to the department’s administrative rules coordinator, adminrules@dpi.wi.gov, or by U.S. mail to Carl Bryan, administrative rules coordinator, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841.

Written comments received no later than Dec. 13 will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing. The text of the proposed rules is available on the department’s administrative rules website or the Wisconsin Legislature's Clearinghouse Rules site.