SB 254

This bill makes various changes to the Achievement Gap Reduction (AGR)

program created in

2015 Wisconsin Act 53

. The AGR program is a categorical aid

program that provides funding to participating schools for low-income pupils

enrolled in participating grades if the participating school complies with a contract

(an AGR contract) entered into by a school board, on behalf of the participating

school, with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). A participating grade is a

grade from kindergarten to third grade that is subject to an AGR contract.

Under the bill, an AGR contract must require a school board to implement one

or more of the strategies described below in

each

class in

each

participating grade at

each participating school. Under current law, the strategies described below related

to class size and tutoring must be implemented in

one or more

classes in

one or more

participating grades at each participating school and the instructional coaching

strategy described below must be provided for one or more teachers of one or more

participating grades at each participating school.

Under current law, a school board that enters into an AGR contract must

implement one or more of the following strategies:

1. Reduce the class size to 18 pupils or, if a classroom has at least two regular

classroom teachers, to 30 pupils; and provide professional development on small

group instruction.

2. Provide instructional coaching for teachers.

3. Provide one-to-one tutoring to pupils who struggle with reading or math.

This bill also delays the first annual evaluation of the AGR program by one

school year. Under the bill, DPI must first arrange for an annual evaluation of the

AGR program in the 2018-19 school year.