Investing in Rural Wisconsin: Governor Walker Signs Bill Helping Rural Community Libraries
"We were proud to increase funding for TEACH by $22.5 million in this budget."
FLORENCE – Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 572 into law today at the Florence County Public Library, which is located at the Florence High School. The bill expands eligibility in the Technology for Educational Achievement program (TEACH) to include certain rural community libraries. TEACH provides information technology grants to school districts to improve technology infrastructure and technology training grants for educators. The current state budget Governor Walker signed into law increased funding for TEACH by $22.5 million.
“Wisconsin’s libraries are important institutions of learning in communities across our state,” said Governor Walker. “This bill allows local libraries to benefit from the TEACH program and upgrade their technology systems. We were proud to increase funding for TEACH by $22.5 million in this budget.”
Assembly Bill 572 – Currently, under the Technology for Educational Achievement Program (TEACH), the Department of Administration provides information technology block grants for training or technology to school districts. This bill expands eligibility for the TEACH grants to public libraries or library systems in rural areas.
Currently, the Department of Public Instruction is able to develop, maintain, and enhance a student information system and a longitudinal data system. Under this bill, DPI will also be able to collect and maintain public library-related data, including software purchases, data training, creation of library dashboards, establishing digital collection, allowing for data exchanges, creating an automated system for public librarian certifications, and establishing user authentication systems.
Authored by Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Representative Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), the bill passed unanimously in the Assembly on a vote of 94-0 and concurred unanimously in the Senate on a vote of 31-0. It is Act 142.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Gov. Scott Walker
Governor Walker Orders Flags to Half-Staff Honoring Master Sergeant Jonathan Dunbar
Apr 13th, 2019 by Gov. Scott WalkerGovernor Scott Walker ordered flags to half-staff on Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Governor Walker Orders Flags to Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Captain Christopher Truman of the Lake Mills Fire Department
Jan 3rd, 2019 by Gov. Scott WalkerCaptain Truman died on December 31, 2018, while selflessly assisting a driver of a crashed vehicle on Highway 12 near the Yahara River Bridge in Monona, Wisconsin.
Governor Walker Appoints St. Croix County Judge and Ashland County District Attorney
Jan 2nd, 2019 by Gov. Scott WalkerGovernor Scott Walker today appointed Attorney Scott J. Nordstrand to serve as a judge on the St. Croix County Circuit Court and Attorney David Meany to the position of Ashland County District Attorney.
