Hearing set on rules for Special Needs Scholarship Program

MADISON — The Department of Public Instruction will conduct a hearing from 2:30 to 4 p.m. July 30 at department headquarters, GEF 3, Room P41, 125 South Webster Street, Madison, to take public testimony on proposed changes to administrative rules related to the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

The emergency and proposed permanent rules amend Chapter PI 49 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code to align 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 better assist schools and the department in the administration of the program based on feedback from participating schools and school districts and conforms the rules to reflect best practices and efficiencies identified since the Special Needs Scholarship Program began in the 2016-17 school year.

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 proposed rules may be sent by e-mail to the department’s administrative rules coordinator 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 Aug. 10 will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing. The text of the rules is available on the Wisconsin Legislature's Clearinghouse Rules site.