Summary

AB 40 (Open States or Wisconsin Legislature) establishes the two-year state budget, investing an additional $380 million in new state dollars will be invested in public education, expanding course access options in the state,  offering new digital resources for students, parents and teachers as well as protecting digital learning from over-regulation.

Legislative Analysis

Since 1998-99, a student in high school grades could enroll in a non-resident public school for the purpose of taking a course. The new law opens the policy up to any student enrolled in a public school, not just high school, and expands the definition of a course provider to “educational institution,” allowing courses to be offered by non-traditional public schools.

• “Educational institution” includes a public school in a nonresident school district, the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, a nonprofit institution of higher education, a tribal college, a charter school, and any nonprofit organization that has been approved by the department.
• A student may take up to two courses at the same time.
• Funding for the student is based on the fractional cost of providing the course for the student.
• No additional authorization requirements are placed upon what courses may be offered as a part of this program, just that the student must be taking courses which advance its individualized learning plan.

This legislation authorizes the development of a new data portal, WISELearn, an online resource providing educational resources for parents, teachers, and students. It provides learning opportunities, regional technical development and professional development. A catalog of online courses is not currently required as part of the online resource. Supplementary presentations and department discussions made it clear that the vision for WISELearn would include “online courses and lesson plans, distributing content to registered students, fully online or blended.”

AB 40 also requires the Department of Public Instruction to ensure that every school is providing academic and career planning to students in grades 6-12. The academic and career planning can be done through technology.

This law protects virtual schools teachers. It prohibits the department from requiring a virtual charter school teacher to complete additional professional development not required for teachers who do not teach in virtual charter schools.

The legislation promotes digital learning by prohibiting the department from restricting instruction to the classroom, when the content is being delivered digitally. It also prevents the department from requiring that a licensed teacher or instructional staff be physically present in a classroom when the content is being delivered digitally.

Legislative History

Assembly Vote:   Yea=55   Nay=42   Not Voting=2    Absent =0
Date:                    6/18/2013

Senate Vote:        Yea= 17   Nays=16   Excused=0
Date:                    6/21/2013

Detailed Vote History:  Legiscan | Open States

Approved by Governor Scott Walker (R) with partial veto on 6/20/2013