RULE TEXT
SECTION 1. PI 27.02 (2) is amended to read:
PI 27.02 (2) “Forces of nature" means an event that is outside the control of the school board and could not be avoided bywith the exercise of due care.
SECTION 2. PI 27.02 (5) is created to read:
PI 27.02 (5) “Year-round school” means a school term with an academic program calendar that does not have more than 45 calendar days between consecutive sessions during which hours of direct pupil instruction are counted to meet the requirement in s. 121.02 (1) (f), Stats. SECTION 3. PI 27.03 (2) (d), (3) (a), (b), (4) (a), (b), (5) (intro.), (b), (c), (d), and (e) 1. are amended to read:
PI 27.03 (2) (d) Holding school year-roundyear-round school.
(3) (a) A school board may commence a school term prior to September 1, if it submits a written request to the department under sub. (4) asking for an earlier school startcommencement date, and such request is granted by the department. The request shall be submitted annually by JanuaryMarch 1 prior to the beginning of the school term.
(b) If an extraordinaryunforeseen event occurs after the JanuaryMarch 1 deadline that causes a school board to submit a written request for an earlier school commencement date, the school board shall submit the written request under par. (a) at the earliest possible time following the unforeseen event and prior to the beginning of the school term.
(4) (a) The reasons for, and any other relevant facts relating to, the request for an earlier school startcommencement date.
(b) When an extraordinaryIf a written request is made after the March 1 deadline under sub. (3) (b), when the unforeseen event which led to the written request took place or a chronology of events leading, and any additional relevant facts regarding the unforeseen event which led to the request.
(5) The department may grant a request only if it determines that there are extraordinary reasons for granting the request, and, in the case of written requests made after the March 1 deadline under sub. (3) (b), that the request was untimely due to an unforeseen event. Extraordinary reasons include any of the following:
(b) Major construction projects that cause the school term to be altered and necessitate an earlier startcommencement date for the entire district.
(c) Closure of a school due to forces of nature, code violations, or environmental orders.
(d) Excessive costs associated with the transportation of pupils who attend private schools that starthave a school commencement date prior to September 1. If an earlier startcommencement date is requested under this paragraph, the school board shall provide sufficient documentation to establish that it has made a good faith effort to work with the private schoolschools to coordinate a school startcommencement date on or after September 1.
(e) 1. The pupils in the school district are given the option of enrolling in another high school in the school district that is not subject to a request for an early startcommencement date.
SECTION 4. PI 27.03 (5) (f) and (6) (am) are created to read:
PI 27.03 (5) (f) A determination by the school board that an earlier commencement date will improve student achievement across content areas or address academic needs, which includes any of the following:
1. Student graduation rates.
2. Reading proficiency, as measured by reading readiness scores, and mathematics proficiency.
3. Student attendance or absenteeism.
4. Coordination between universities, technical colleges, and school districts related to dual or concurrent enrollment.
5. Mental health of student and staff.
6. Recruitment and retention of the educator workforce.
7. Coordination between one or more school districts related to educational programming.
(6) (am) If a request is made after the March 1 deadline under sub. (3) (b), and the department determines the request was not made as a direct result of the unforeseen event cited in the request, the department shall determine that an extraordinary reason does not exist.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE:
The proposed rules contained in this order shall take effect on the first day of the month commencing after the date of publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, as provided in s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats.
