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MADISON (WKOW) -- The Department of Public Instruction(DPI) today announced State Superintendent Tony Evers is proposing increased funding for Wisconsin's bilingual-bicultural (BLBC) aid program.
DPI also says Supt. Evers wants to establish a new grant program to help meet the needs of school districts serving an increasingly diverse and bilingual student population.
The proposal involves spending $22 million for the state's BLBC aid program over the two-year budget, representing a $178,000 increase in year one of the budget and a $4.6 million increase in year two of the budget.
"The number of Limited English Proficient students in Wisconsin schools has grown nearly 30 percent since 2005, while costs have increased and funding for the bilingual-bicultural aid program was reduced," Evers was quoted in a statement from DPI. "In that time, the state aid appropriation went from covering 13.1% of aidable costs down to covering only 8%. We need all children to graduate ready for college and career, and this increase in grant aid will help districts better serve their students."
