WiRSA Update - May 2, 2025

Thank You! - WiRSA 2024 Conference Sponsors

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Quick Overview of WiRSA Update: BACK TO THE TOP

  • WiRSA Senior Scholarships 2025 - Let me introduce you to the next three scholarship awards

  • Joint Finance listening sessions focal points pie chart from each location presented by WISEYE

    • Opportunity to submit written testimony link

  • WASBO’s Policy Perspective - WASBO’s Research Director (Anne Chapman)

  • Legislative Update - Assembly and Senate Bills

  • DPI News

    • News Releases from DPI

    • Forward Exams Estmated Trend Data

    • UPdate on Title VI Certification Request from USDE

  • NREA (National Rural Educaiton Association) Update

  • News Articles

    • WiSCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO

      • Tony Evers sues over Trump administration’s halt to $400M in AmeriCorps grants

      • As Wisconsin teachers grapple with artificial intelligence, Trump order calls for AI to be taught in schools

    • AP

      • Judges blocks Trump push to cut funding to public schools over diversity programs

    • Reuters

      • US judges block Trump's ability to withhold school funds over DEI

    • WISPOLITICS

      • Dept. of Public Instruction: State Superintendent Underly statement on court decision regarding Trump administration attempt to withhold federal funding

    • Wisconsin POLICY FORUM

      • Student Homelessness at a New High

    • AFTERSCHOOL SNACK

      • Widespread AmeriCorps grant terminations will have a devastating impact on afterschool programs

        • On April 25, the AmeriCorps agency announced the termination of nearly $400 million in grants, affecting more than 1,000 programs and 32,000 AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members. These changes include many positions that support afterschool and summer programs in every state."

    • MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL

      • WIAA approves Wisconsin high school athletes can benefit from NIL opportunities

    • DA - District Administrator

      • Trump cracks down on school discipline and elevates AI

    • WISCONSIN EXAMINER

      • Report that Head Start could end alarms providers for the early childhood education program

    • ELC - Education Law Center

      • Major Public School Funding Victory in Wyoming

WiRSA Scholarships 2025

In recognition of the tremendous efforts put forth by Wisconsin’s rural schools to provide their students with quality education in an ever-changing environment, it is with pleasure that the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) offers 10 senior scholarships.

Congratulations to these scholarship winners!
Click on their picture for more information!

Teagan Engel
Bonduel

Kate Waterfall
Richland Center

Jacy Krueger
Waupun

Joint Finance Committee Listening Sessions

Huge Thanks to everyone who took the time to testify for the JFC public hearings!
We had a great turnout in support of public education. As you can see from WISEYE’s Pie Chart, education was a focal point at the hearings.

Taking time out of your busy schedule can be challenging; however, if you would like to submit written testimony, click here.

WASBO’s Policy Perspective on the Price of Parallel Systems
How changing the way Wisconsin pays for voucher schools could affect public schools and the state budget


This is a must-read article from WASBO’s Research Director, Anne Chapman.

Click here or any picture to see the article.

Informational

WASBO identifies from the slide below that in the last budget, of the $1.2 billion increase over the two years, $438 million of funding went to public schools, $590 million went to the School Levy Tax Credit, and $188 million went toward an increase in voucher funding.

Legislative Update

Senate PUBLIC HEARING Committee on Education The committee will hold a public hearing on the following items at the time specified below: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 10:00 AM 330 Southwest.

  • Senate Bill 10 Relating to: access to public high schools for military recruiters.

  • Senate Bill 11 Relating to: allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property.

  • Senate Bill 22 Relating to: requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents.

  • Assembly Bill 5 Relating to: requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents.

  • Senate Bill 81 Relating to: school district operating referenda.

Public Hearing Held

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STATE AFFAIRS / WISPOLITICS

It is the 13th lawsuit the state has joined challenging an action by the president’s administration since Donald Trump took office 100 days ago, according to the state Department of Justice.

Gov. Tony Evers said in a release today the administration notified the state on Friday that it was immediately terminating grants for all 25 AmeriCorps programs serving Wisconsin, along with funding for five organizations developing programs and a grant to support local communities through the Volunteer Generation Fund. 

The lawsuit argues the Trump administration “acted contrary to law by closing approximately $400 million worth of AmeriCorps programs without a legitimate or legal basis” and failed to follow federal law in making changes to its funding. It also argues the Trump administration violated the separation of powers by acting without congressional approval.

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DPI - News!

Press Releases: - Current News Releases from DPI

Update From NREA (National Rural Education Association) From the NREA Weekly Update

Become a Member - View State Affiliates

Join Us and RSC for The Nation’s Premier Rural Education Conference - Registration Open NOW!

The National Forum to Advance Rural Education isn’t just a conference—it’s a dynamic, high-energy experience where passion fuels innovation and ideas spark real change.

Get ready for three days packed with inspiring keynotes, engaging learning sessions, and powerful networking opportunities, all designed to spark new ideas and tackle the unique challenges and opportunities of rural education. 

If you share our passion and excitement, Salt Lake City is the place to be! Let’s learn, connect, and transform the future—together! See you October 13-15, 2025.

Register Now

RURAL ALL-STAR BAND

2026 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade

The Rural Band Director Alliance in partnership with Group Travel Network are excited to announce the Rural All-Star Band for the 2026 Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia, PA! The mass band will consist of multiple rural bands from around the country. Any rural high school band in the United States with a minimum of 10 students participating is eligible to apply. Applications are due June 1.

How much funding does my public school get from the federal government?

The National Education Association (NEA) has created an online tool that lets you see federal education funding for each congressional district and state. The NEA’s “How much funding does my public school get from the federal government?” provides a total for each state or congressional district, and shows funding for several big programs, including Title I, special education, school meals, after-school programs, rural schools, Impact Aid, career-connected learning, and teacher preparation, among others.

These fact sheets, along with the National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities’ student aid data sheets that show federal student aid by district and state, are very helpful in highlighting just how much is at stake for constituents of each Member of Congress.

Learn More

News / Articles / Webinars

OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY

OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY SAFETY RESOURCES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES VIRTUAL LEARNING

Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management

OSS has released an updated BTAM Guide to accompany the newly revised Wisconsin School Threat Assessment and Management Protocol (WSTAMP-R24). Revisions have been made to the Flowchart, Triage, Inquiry, Interviews and Additional Sources of Information forms. Additionally, new forms have been created and include Assessment (separate forms available depending on whether an Inquiry was completed first), Interviews (for younger students of concern and target), Restorative Contract, Plan to Protect a Targeted Person, and an Intervention and Support Plan. The revised forms and guide will replace the previous version on the website. We recommend the use of the new forms moving forward. For those in the middle of an assessment, the discontinued WSTAMP

Updated: Wisconsin School Threat Assessment and Management Protocol (WSTAMP-R24) and Guide