115.455 Grant for information technology education.

(1)

(a) The department shall develop a competitive request-for-proposal process for the award of a grant to an entity to provide information technology education opportunities to public school pupils in grades 6 to 12, technical college district students, and patrons of public libraries.

(b) The department shall accept applications from entities responding to the request-for-proposal under par. (a) and shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (eb), award a grant to an entity that, subject to sub. (3), satisfies the requirements under sub. (2).

(2) To be eligible for a grant under this section, the entity shall demonstrate that it has successfully offered an information technology instructional program in schools in this state and shall develop an instructional program that includes all of the following components, and shall ensure that the instructional program will be operated in 225 sites, including 16 public libraries:

(a) A research-based curriculum emphasizing the development of information technology skills.

(b) Online access to the curriculum.

(c) Instructional software for use in the classroom and at a pupil's home.

(d) A curriculum that aligns with the coding and other techniques included on the computer science Advanced Placement examination. In developing the curriculum required under this paragraph, the entity shall ensure that a pupil who successfully completes the curriculum and passes the Advanced Placement examination is eligible for certification.

(e) Certifications of skills and competencies in a broad range of information technology-related skill areas, including applications used most often in businesses.

(f) Professional development and co-teaching for teachers and administrators, including teachers providing instruction in the information technology program.

(g) Deployment and program support, including integration of the information technology instructional program with curriculum standards.

(h) Opportunities for pupils completing the information technology program to earn college credit.

(3) In awarding the grant under sub. (1), the department shall give preference to an entity that demonstrates that it has successfully provided high-quality information technology instructional programming and educational opportunities to pupils enrolled in or attending schools in this state.

History: 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 9.