WiRSA (Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance)
Strong Schools - Strong Communities

WiRSA Board - 2026

WiRSA welcomes these board members back for a second term.

WiRSA is divided into four regions connected by CESA boundaries.

Region 1 (CESA 5, 6 &7) - Region 2 (CESA 2, 3 & 4) - Region 3 (CESA 10 & 11) - Region 4 (CESA 8, 9 & 12)

  • Ryan Frye (Region 1) - Teacher, Mauston

  • Paul Fischer (Region 2) - CESA Member/Administrator, CESA 4

  • Patrick Galligan (Region 3) - School Administrator, Colby

  • Stacy Tlusty (Region 4) - Board of Education, Rib Lake

Preserving Rural School Districts from the Threat of Vouchers and Charters:
A Conversation with the Authors

Join WPEN from 6:30-8:00 pm Central Time for a virtual conversation with the authors of a new study, Preserving Rural School Districts from the Threat of Vouchers and Charters, to discuss the impacts of privatization on rural schools in Wisconsin and nationwide.

Register Now

The WiRSA board has made scholarship changes

 The scholarships for both our general WiRSA scholarship and our pre-teacher scholarship have increased to $1000, and the selection committee will evaluate applicants' video presentations.

General WiRSA Scholarship

The scholarship will be awarded annually to one graduating high school senior from each of the four membership regions of Wisconsin, as specified in the organization’s bylaws. An additional at-large scholarship will be awarded to the next-highest-scoring applicant. Each recipient will receive a one-time cash scholarship of $1000 to be used by the student to help defray the costs of post-secondary education and related expenses. A video of the applicant addressing the following information is required for the application. Consideration will be given to professionalism, communication, and content. The video should be limited to 5 minutes. 

  1. What are the benefits of attending a rural school?

  2. Why are you choosing the field of teacher education?

  3. What is the value of growing up in a rural community, and what personal values have you gained from your experience?

SENIOR - Post-Secondary Teacher Education Scholarship Details

      The scholarship will be awarded annually to one graduating high school senior from each of the four membership regions of Wisconsin, as specified in the organization’s bylaws. An additional at-large scholarship will be awarded to the next-highest-scoring applicant. Each recipient will receive a one-time cash scholarship of $1000 to be used by the student to help defray the costs of post-secondary education and related expenses. A video of the applicant addressing the following information is required for the application. Consideration will be given to professionalism, communication, and content. The video should be limited to 5 minutes.

  1. What are the benefits of attending a rural school?

  2. Why are you choosing the field of teacher education?

  3. What is the value of growing up in a rural community, and what personal values have you gained from your experience?

DPI report shows full participation, strong commitment by schools during first year of early literacy requirements 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction last week released a report on early literacy assessment data, as required under 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, highlighting the strong commitment among schools and districts statewide in implementing the new requirements and strengthening student literacy outcomes.

Math Legislation

On November 3rd, legislators introduced Assembly bill AB-615 which involves mathematics assessment, achievement, and instruction. A hearing was held by the Assembly Education Committee on November 6th. WI DPI provided written testimony in opposition of the bill. That same day, legislators introduced the companion bill SB-616. An archived video of the Assembly hearing is available on WisconsinEye after creating a free account. No further movement has occurred with either of these bills as of the publishing of this newsletter. 

Legislative Bill Overview

Bills Signed into Law:

  • AB 2 (requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time) – enacted: 2025 WI Act 42 (LC memo)

  • AB 257 (Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures) – enacted: 2025 WI Act 17 (LC Memo)

  • SB 31 (state agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts [directly impacts DHS]) – enacted: 2025 WI Act 18 (LC memo)

Bills VETOED by Governor:

  • AB 1 (accountability reports) – VETOED (3/28/2025)

  • AB 5 (requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents) – VETOED (10/31/2025)

Enrolled Bills:

  • AB 166 (data reporting, academic & career planning services for pupils, requiring reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes) – enrolled bill and (LC Amendment Memo)

  • AB 308 (changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships) – enrolled bill

  • SB 10 (recruiters - access to public high schools for military recruiters) – enrolled bill

  • SB 11 (allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property) – enrolled bill and (LC Amendment memo)

  • SB 210 (changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships) – enrolled bill and (LC Amendment memo)

  • SB 424 (Teacher Preparatory Programs - authorizes the state superintendent to approve a teacher preparatory program if the program requires students to complete student teaching that consists of full days for a full summer session at a cooperating elementary or secondary school) – enrolled billBills Adopted by Assembly, Passage Recommended by Senate Committee (not yet on Senate floor)

Bills Adopted by Assembly, Passage Recommend by Senate Committee (not yet on Senate floor)

  • AB 98 (Pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event)

  • AB 101 (Requiring school districts to report information related to American Indian children attending school in the school district)

  • AB 105 (The distribution of certain material on the Internet.)

  • AB 156 (Abuse Prevention Education “Erin's law”, requiring child sexual abuse prevention education)

Bills Adopted by Senate, Passage Recommended by Assembly Committee (not yet on Assembly floor)

  • SB 16 (Participation in interscholastic athletics and application of the public records and open meetings laws to interscholastic athletic associations)

  • SB 136 (School bus back up lamps)

  • SB 391 (Equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices)

  • SB 392 (Driver education instruction related to school bus safety)

CoSN November 2025 Updates

Meeting the Constantly Present and Evolving Cybersecurity Challenges in School Systems

There is no question that life in a digital world always includes challenges involving the security of the data and information we all access and share online. CoSN has a firm commitment to providing school leaders with up-to-date resources and tools to help mitigate cybersecurity threats and challenges on an ongoing basis.