106.277 Grants for teacher training and recruitment.
(1) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bt), the department shall award a grant to a nonprofit organization that applies on a form prepared by the department to receive a grant under this section if all of the following apply:
(a) The organization is described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(b) The organization operates a program to recruit and prepare individuals to teach in public or private schools located in low-income or urban school districts in this state.
(c) The organization submits an application no later than January 15 in the year for which the organization seeks a grant under this section and includes with its application a description of the organization and its program and the manner in which grant funding will benefit the organization or has benefited the organization in the past.
(2) The department shall establish a process for evaluating and assigning a score to each organization eligible to receive a grant under sub. (1). If the amount appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (bt) is insufficient to make the payments required under sub. (1), the department shall give preference in evaluating grants under this section to a nonprofit organization for each of the following:
(a) The program trains future teachers who are enrolled in an accredited college or university in this state concurrent with the training.
(b) The program focuses on future teachers who plan to teach in public or private schools in this state as a profession.
(c) The program provides continuing education and professional development.
(d) The program attempts to place a majority of its total participants in public or private schools located in low-income or urban school districts in this state.
(3) When awarding a grant under this section, the department may not consider the religious affiliation, if any, of the nonprofit organization or whether the organization has received funding from the state in the past.
(4) By February 15 of each year, the department shall make its determination regarding successful applicants and shall notify those applicants that will receive a grant under this section.
History: 2017 a. 59.