WI AB645

Department of Public Instruction required to award grants reimbursing consortia of two or more school boards for feasibility studies on school district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements, up to $25,000 per consortium

Eligible costs include professional financial analysis and population studies examining how consolidation or whole grade sharing would affect participating school districts

Each school board in a consortium must adopt a formal resolution to consider school district consolidation before qualifying for grant funding

Creates new appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bt) funded through general purpose revenue on a biennial basis

Current law provides additional funding to consolidated districts for seven years post-consolidation but does not cover pre-consolidation feasibility study costs