Children at Risk of Not Graduating from High School

Every school district in Wisconsin is required to identify and serve students who meet the statutory definition of being a child at risk of not graduating from high school under §118.153 (1), Wis. Stats.

The Department of Public Instruction administers the Children at Risk of Not Graduating From High School Aid Program. This is a categorical aid reimbursement program established by the Wisconsin Legislature to provide $3.5 million to prevent school failure in students who are determined to be at risk of not graduating from high school. Available to schools with a high number of dropouts, the program funds specialized services for at-risk youth.

Eligibility for Aid:
If in the previous school year a school district had 30 or more dropouts or a dropout rate exceeding 5% of its total high school enrollment, the school board may apply to the state superintendent for aid under §118.153 (2), Wis. Stats.

Categorical Aid Programs:
Every school board that applies for children at risk categorical aid shall make available to the children at risk enrolled in the school district, a program for children at risk. A program for children at risk shall be designed to allow the pupils enrolled to meet high school graduation requirements under §118.33, Wis. Stats. The school board for ch. 119 schools shall ensure that there are at least 30 pupils and no more than 250 pupils in each program and that a separate administrator or teacher is in charge of each program.

Each school board shall identify appropriate private, nonprofit, nonsectarian agencies located in the school district or within 5 miles of the boundaries of the school district to meet the requirements under pars. (a) and (b) for the children at risk enrolled in the school district. The school board may contract with the agencies identified under subd 1. for not more than 30% of the children at risk enrolled in the school district if the school board determines that the agencies can adequately serve such children. A school board receiving funds under this program shall provide a specific sum to each program for children at risk in which pupils enrolled in the school district are enrolled based on the ability of the program to meet the objectives listed below. A school board receiving funds under this program shall give preference in allocating those funds to programs for children at risk provided by alternative schools, charter schools, schools within schools and agencies as identified under §118.153(3)(c) 1, Wis. Stats.

Categorical Aid Reimbursement:
Annually in August, a school board that applied for aid under this section in the previous school year shall submit a report to the state. Upon receipt of a school board's annual report under §118.153 (3)(a), Wis. Stats., the state superintendent shall pay to the school district from the appropriation under §20.255 (2)(bc), Wis. Stats., for each pupil enrolled in a program for children at risk who achieved at least 3 of the objectives under §118.153 (3)(c), Wis. Stats. in the previous school year, additional state aid in an amount equal to 10% of the school district's average per pupil aids provided. If the appropriation under §20.255(2)(bc), Wis. Stats., in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under par. (b), state aid payments shall be prorated among the school districts entitled to such aid.

Reimbursement for each pupil enrolled in a program is based on achievement of at least 3 of the following objectives:

• The pupil's attendance rate was at least 70%.
• The pupil remained in school.
• The pupil, if a high school senior, received a high school diploma or passed the high school graduation test administered under §118.30 (1m)(d), Wis. Stats.
• The pupil earned at least 4.5 academic credits or a prorated number of credits if the pupil was enrolled in the program for less than the entire school year.
• The pupil demonstrated, on standardized tests or other appropriate measures, gain in reading and mathematics commensurate with the duration of his or her enrollment in the program.

Audit:
By January 1, 2005, the legislative audit bureau shall audit programs funded under this section to determine the extent to which they meet the objectives under §118.153 (4)(c), Wis. Stats.

Search:
Section 118.153, Wis. Stats., Children at risk of not graduating from high school
Chapter PI 25, Wis. Admin Code., Children at Risk Plan and Program

For questions about this information, contact Beth E. Lewis (608) 267-1062

Last updated on 2/25/2008 1:28:29 PM