October 14, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Sinicki, Pocan, La Fave, Black,
Miller, Bock, Coggs, Young, Plouff, J. Lehman, Richards, Schneider
and
Colon, cosponsored by Senators Erpenbach, Moen, Rude and Wirch.
Referred to Committee on Education Reform.
AB534,1,8 1An Act to renumber and amend 118.30 (1g) (a) and 118.33 (1) (cm); to amend
2118.30 (1) (b), 118.30 (1g) (b), 118.30 (1g) (c), 118.30 (1m) (intro.), 118.30 (1m)
3(d), 118.30 (2) (b) 1. and 2., 118.30 (2) (b) 3., 118.30 (6), 118.33 (1) (e), 118.40 (2r)
4(d) 2. and 121.02 (1) (r); and to create 118.30 (1g) (a) 2., 118.30 (1g) (a) 3., 118.30
5(1r), 118.30 (1s), 118.30 (5r), 118.30 (5s), 118.33 (1) (cm) 2., 118.40 (4) (a) 3. and
64., 119.23 (2) (a) 6. and 7. and 119.23 (10) of the statutes; relating to: pupil
7assessments, charter schools and private schools participating in the
8Milwaukee parental choice program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a charter school is exempt from most laws governing public
schools. A charter school may be established by petitioning a school board to enter
into a contract with a person to establish and operate a charter school or by a
school-board initiated contract. In addition, the city of Milwaukee, the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College may establish and
operate a charter school or contract with person to operate a charter school
(Milwaukee charter schools).
Under the current Milwaukee parental choice program (MPCP), certain
low-income pupils who reside in the city of Milwaukee may attend participating
private schools in Milwaukee at state expense.

Current law requires each school board to adopt either its own academic
standards or the academic standards contained in the governor's executive order
issued January 13, 1998, and to administer fourth and eighth grade promotional
examinations to fourth and eighth grade pupils enrolled in the school district,
including pupils enrolled in charter schools (including Milwaukee charter schools)
located in the school district. Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, each school
board must also administer a high school graduation examination that is designed
to measure whether pupils have met the academic standards adopted by the school
board. A school board may either adopt examinations developed by the department
of public instruction (DPI) or develop its own examinations.
Under current law, the fourth and eighth grade promotional examinations are
not required to be administered to pupils participating in the MPCP. The high school
graduation examination is not required to be administered to pupils enrolled in any
charter school or to pupils participating the MPCP.
This bill provides that a school board must administer the high school
graduation examination to all pupils enrolled in a charter school located in the school
district other than a Milwaukee charter school. The bill provides that the operator
of a Milwaukee charter school and the governing body of a private school
participating in the MPCP must adopt academic standards and administer fourth,
eighth and high school graduation examinations to pupils enrolled in the charter
school or private school. The operator and governing body may either adopt DPI's
examinations or develop their own.
Under current law, beginning September 1, 2002, a school board may not grant
a high school diploma to a pupil unless he or she passes the high school graduation
examination. Beginning July 1, 2002, a pupil may not be promoted from the fourth
to the fifth grade or from the eighth to the ninth grade unless the pupil passes the
fourth and eighth grade promotional examinations. A pupil's parent or guardian,
however, may excuse a pupil from taking these examinations. A pupil who is excused
must satisfy alternative criteria for promotion or graduation. This bill imposes upon
operators of Milwaukee charter schools and upon private schools participating in the
MPCP the same prohibitions against promotion that are imposed upon school
boards.
Under current law, each school board must administer to all pupils enrolled in
the school district in the third grade, including pupils enrolled in charter schools
(other then Milwaukee charter schools) located in the school district, a standardized
reading test developed by DPI. The Milwaukee charter schools are required to
administer this test to their third grade pupils. Private schools participating in the
MPCP are not required to administer this test. This bill imposes this requirement
on these private schools.
Finally, this bill subjects the meetings of the governing bodies of charter schools
and private schools that are participating in the MPCP to the state's open meetings
law. The bill also requires charter schools and private schools that are participating
in the MPCP to comply with the state's public records law.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB534, s. 1 1Section 1. 118.30 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,3,62 118.30 (1) (b) If the governor has issued pupil academic standards as an
3executive order under s. 14.23, the
The department shall develop a high school
4graduation examination that is designed to measure whether pupils meet the pupil
5academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January
613, 1998
.
AB534, s. 2 7Section 2. 118.30 (1g) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 118.30 (1g) (a) 1. and
8amended to read:
AB534,3,139 118.30 (1g) (a) 1. By August 1, 1998, each school board shall adopt pupil
10academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography and
11history. If the governor has issued The school board may adopt the pupil academic
12standards issued by the governor as an executive order under s. 14.23, the school
13board may adopt those standards
no. 326, dated January 13, 1998.
AB534, s. 3 14Section 3. 118.30 (1g) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,3,2015 118.30 (1g) (a) 2. By January 1, 2000, or by January 1 of the 1st school year of
16operation, whichever is later, each operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r)
17shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing,
18geography and history. The operator of the charter school may adopt the pupil
19academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January
2013, 1998.
AB534, s. 4 21Section 4. 118.30 (1g) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,4,7
1118.30 (1g) (a) 3. By January 1, 2000, or by January 1 of the 1st school year in
2which the private school participates in the program under s. 119.23, whichever is
3later, the governing body of each private school participating in the program under
4s. 119.23 shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and
5writing, geography and history. The governing body of the private school may adopt
6the pupil academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326,
7dated January 13, 1998.
AB534, s. 5 8Section 5. 118.30 (1g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,4,229 118.30 (1g) (b) Each school board operating high school grades, each operator
10of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) that operates high school grades and the
11governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23
12that operates high school grades
shall adopt a high school graduation examination
13that is designed to measure whether pupils meet the pupil academic standards
14adopted by the school board, operator of the charter school or governing body of the
15private school
under par. (a). If the school board, operator of the charter school or
16governing body of the private school
has adopted the pupil academic standards
17issued as an executive order under s. 14.23 no. 326, dated January 13, 1998, the
18school board, operator of the charter school or governing body of the private school
19may adopt the high school graduation examination developed by the department
20under sub. (1) (b). If a school board, operator of a charter school or governing body
21of a private school
develops and adopts its own high school graduation examination,
22it shall notify the department.
AB534, s. 6 23Section 6. 118.30 (1g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,5,724 118.30 (1g) (c) Each school board operating elementary grades, each operator
25of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) that operates elementary grades and the

1governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23
2that operates elementary grades
may develop or adopt its own examination designed
3to measure pupil attainment of knowledge and concepts in the 4th grade and may
4develop or adopt its own examination designed to measure pupil attainment of
5knowledge and concepts in the 8th grade. If the school board, operator of the charter
6school or governing body of the private school
develops or adopts an examination
7under this paragraph, it shall notify the department.
AB534, s. 7 8Section 7. 118.30 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,5,109 118.30 (1m) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in s.
10118.40 (2r) (d)
, annually each school board shall do all of the following:
AB534, s. 8 11Section 8. 118.30 (1m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,5,1812 118.30 (1m) (d) If the school board operates high school grades, beginning in
13the 2000-01 school year administer the high school graduation examination adopted
14by the school board under sub. (1g) (b) to pupils enrolled in the school district,
15including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district
. The school
16board shall administer the examination at least twice each school year. The school
17board shall determine the high school grades in which the examination will be
18administered each school year.
AB534, s. 9 19Section 9. 118.30 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,5,2120 118.30 (1r) Annually each operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) shall
21do all of the following:
AB534,6,322 (a) 1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 4th grade examination
23adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a) to all pupils
24enrolled in the charter school in the 4th grade. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the
25operator of the charter school has not developed or adopted its own 4th grade

1examination, the operator of the charter school shall provide a pupil with at least 2
2opportunities to achieve a score on the examination administered under this
3subdivision that is sufficient for promotion under sub. (5r) (a) 1.
AB534,6,84 2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the operator of the charter school has developed
5or adopted its own 4th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils
6enrolled in the charter school in the 4th grade. The operator of the charter school
7shall provide a pupil with at least 2 opportunities to pass the examination
8administered under this subdivision.
AB534,6,159 (am) 1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 8th grade examination
10adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a) to all pupils
11enrolled in the charter school in the 8th grade. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the
12operator of the charter school has not developed and adopted its own 8th grade
13examination, the operator of the charter school shall provide a pupil with at least 2
14opportunities to achieve a score on the examination administered under this
15subdivision that is sufficient for promotion under sub. (5r) (b) 1.
AB534,6,2016 2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the operator of the charter school has developed
17or adopted its own 8th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils
18enrolled in the charter school in the 8th grade. The operator of the charter school
19shall provide a pupil with at least 2 opportunities to pass the examination
20administered under this subdivision.
AB534,6,2521 (d) If the charter school operates high school grades, beginning in the 2000-01
22school year administer the high school graduation examination adopted by the
23operator of the charter school under sub. (1g) (b) at least twice each school year. The
24operator of the charter school shall determine the high school grades in which the
25examination will be administered.
AB534, s. 10
1Section 10. 118.30 (1s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,7,32 118.30 (1s) Annually the governing body of each private school participating
3in the program under s. 119.23 shall do all of the following:
AB534,7,104 (a) 1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 4th grade examination
5adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a) to all pupils
6attending the 4th grade in the private school under s. 119.23. Beginning on July 1,
72002, if the governing body of the private school has not developed or adopted its own
84th grade examination, the governing body of the private school shall provide a pupil
9with at least 2 opportunities to achieve a score on the examination administered
10under this subdivision that is sufficient for promotion under sub. (5s) (a) 1.
AB534,7,1511 2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the governing body of the private school has
12developed or adopted its own 4th grade examination, administer that examination
13to all pupils attending the 4th grade in the private school under s. 119.23. The
14governing body of the private school shall provide a pupil with at least 2
15opportunities to pass the examination administered under this subdivision.
AB534,7,2316 (am) 1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 8th grade examination
17adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a) to all pupils
18attending the 8th grade in the private school under s. 119.23. Beginning on
19July 1, 2002, if the governing body of the private school has not developed and
20adopted its own 8th grade examination, the governing body of the private school shall
21provide a pupil with at least 2 opportunities to achieve a score on the examination
22administered under this subdivision that is sufficient for promotion under sub. (5s)
23(b) 1.
AB534,8,324 2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the governing body of the private school has
25developed or adopted its own 8th grade examination, administer that examination

1to all pupils attending the 8th grade in the private school under s. 119.23. The
2governing body of the private school shall provide a pupil with at least 2
3opportunities to pass the examination administered under this subdivision.
AB534,8,104 (d) If the private school operates high school grades, beginning in the 2000-01
5school year administer the high school graduation examination adopted by the
6governing body of the private school under sub. (1g) (b) to pupils attending the
7private school under s. 119.23. The governing body of the private school shall
8administer the examination at least twice each school year. The governing body of
9the private school shall determine the high school grades in which the examination
10will be administered each school year.
AB534, s. 11 11Section 11. 118.30 (2) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:
AB534,8,1412 118.30 (2) (b) 1. If a pupil is enrolled in a special education program under
13subch. V of ch. 115, the school board, operator of the charter school under s. 118.40
14(2r) or governing body of the private school
shall comply with s. 115.77 (1) (1m) (bg).
AB534,8,2015 2. According to criteria established by the state superintendent by rule, the
16school board, operator of the charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or governing body of
17the private school
may determine not to administer an examination under this
18section to a limited-English speaking pupil, as defined under s. 115.955 (7), may
19permit the pupil to be examined in his or her native language or may modify the
20format and administration of an examination for such pupils.
AB534, s. 12 21Section 12. 118.30 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,8,2522 118.30 (2) (b) 3. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the school
23board, the operator of the charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or the governing body
24of the private school
shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered
25under this section.
AB534, s. 13
1Section 13. 118.30 (5r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,9,42 118.30 (5r) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), beginning on July 1, 2002, the
3operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) may not promote a 4th grade pupil
4to the 5th grade unless one of the following applies:
AB534,9,85 1. If the operator of the charter school does not administer its own 4th grade
6examination under sub. (1r) (a) 2., the pupil's score in each subject area on the
7examination administered under sub. (1r) (a) 1. is at the basic level or above, as
8determined by the state superintendent.
AB534,9,119 2. If the operator of the charter school administers its own 4th grade
10examination under sub. (1r) (a) 2., the pupil achieves a passing score on that
11examination, as determined by the operator of the charter school.
AB534,9,1412 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), beginning on July 1, 2002, the operator of a
13charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) may not promote an 8th grade pupil to the 9th
14grade unless one of the following applies:
AB534,9,1815 1. If the operator of the charter school does not administer its own 8th grade
16examination under sub. (1r) (am) 2., the pupil's score in each subject area on the
17examination administered under sub. (1r) (am) 1. is at the basic level or above, as
18determined by the state superintendent.
AB534,9,2119 2. If the operator of the charter school administers its own 8th grade
20examination under sub. (1r) (am) 2., the pupil achieves a passing score on that
21examination, as determined by the operator of the charter school.
AB534,9,2522 (c) The operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) shall develop
23alternative criteria for evaluating a pupil who did not take the 4th grade or the 8th
24grade examination that was required for promotion as a result of sub. (2) (b). The
25operator of the charter school may promote a pupil who did not take the examination

1that was required for promotion as a result of sub. (2) (b) if the pupil satisfies the
2alternative criteria.
AB534, s. 14 3Section 14. 118.30 (5s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,10,74 118.30 (5s) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), beginning on July 1, 2002, the
5governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may
6not promote a pupil who is attending the 4th grade in the private school under s.
7119.23 to the 5th grade unless one of the following applies:
AB534,10,118 1. If the governing body of the private school does not administer its own 4th
9grade examination under sub. (1s) (a) 2., the pupil's score in each subject area on the
10examination administered under sub. (1s) (a) 1. is at the basic level or above, as
11determined by the state superintendent.
AB534,10,1412 2. If the governing body of the private school administers its own 4th grade
13examination under sub. (1s) (a) 2., the pupil achieves a passing score on that
14examination, as determined by the governing body of the private school.
AB534,10,1815 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), beginning on July 1, 2002, the governing body
16of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may not promote a
17pupil who is attending the 8th grade in the private school under s. 119.23 to the 9th
18grade unless one of the following applies:
AB534,10,2219 1. If the governing body of the private school does not administer its own 8th
20grade examination under sub. (1s) (am) 2., the pupil's score in each subject area on
21the examination administered under sub. (1s) (am) 1. is at the basic level or above,
22as determined by the state superintendent.
AB534,10,2523 2. If the governing body of the private school administers its own 8th grade
24examination under sub. (1s) (am) 2., the pupil achieves a passing score on that
25examination, as determined by the governing body of the private school.
AB534,11,6
1(c) The governing body of a private school participating in the program under
2s. 119.23 shall develop alternative criteria for evaluating a pupil who did not take the
34th grade or the 8th grade examination that was required for promotion as a result
4of sub. (2) (b). The governing body of the private school may promote a pupil who did
5not take the examination that was required for promotion as a result of sub. (2) (b)
6if the pupil satisfies the alternative criteria.
AB534, s. 15 7Section 15. 118.30 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,11,178 118.30 (6) A school board, an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r)
9and the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
10119.23
is not required to administer the 4th and 8th grade examinations adopted or
11approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a) if the school board, the
12operator of the charter school or the governing body of the private school
administers
13its own 4th and 8th grade examinations, the school board, operator of the charter
14school or governing body of the private school
provides the state superintendent with
15statistical correlations of those examinations with the examinations adopted or
16approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) (a), and the federal department
17of education approves.
AB534, s. 16 18Section 16. 118.33 (1) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 118.33 (1) (cm) 1. and
19amended to read:
AB534,11,2520 118.33 (1) (cm) 1. Except as provided in par. (e), beginning on September 1,
212002, neither a school board nor an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r)
22may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless the pupil has passed the high
23school graduation examination administered under s. 118.30 (1m) (d) or (1r) (d). A
24school board and an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) shall provide a
25pupil with at least 4 opportunities to take the examination in the high school grades.
AB534, s. 17
1Section 17. 118.33 (1) (cm) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,12,82 118.33 (1) (cm) 2. Except as provided in par. (e), beginning on September 1,
32002, the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
4119.23 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil who is attending the private
5school under s. 119.23 unless the pupil has passed the high school graduation
6examination administered under s. 118.30 (1s) (d). The governing body of the private
7school shall provide a pupil with at least 4 opportunities to take the examination in
8the high school grades.
AB534, s. 18 9Section 18. 118.33 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,12,2010 118.33 (1) (e) Each school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40
11(2r) and governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
12119.23
shall develop alternative criteria for evaluating a pupil who has been excused
13from the high school graduation examination under s. 118.30 (2) (b) 3. A school board
14may grant a high school diploma to a pupil who has been excused from the high school
15graduation examination under s. 118.30 (2) (b) 3. if the pupil satisfies all of the other
16requirements under this subsection and satisfies the other alternative criteria. The
17operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) and the governing body of a private
18school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may grant a high school diploma
19to a pupil who has been excused from the high school graduation examination under
20s. 118.30 (2) (b) 3. if the pupil satisfies the alternative criteria.
AB534, s. 19 21Section 19. 118.40 (2r) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,12,2322 118.40 (2r) (d) 2. Administer the examinations under ss. 118.30 (1m) (1r) and
23121.02 (1) (r) to pupils enrolled in charter schools under this subsection.
AB534, s. 20 24Section 20. 118.40 (4) (a) 3. and 4. of the statutes are created to read:
AB534,13,4
1118.40 (4) (a) 3. Permit public inspection and copying of any record, as defined
2in s. 19.32 (2), of the charter school to the same extent as required of, and subject to
3the same terms and enforcement provisions that apply to, an authority under subch.
4II of ch. 19.
AB534,13,75 4. Provide public access to meetings of the governing body of the charter school
6to the same extent as is required of, and subject to the same terms and enforcement
7provisions that apply to, a governmental body under subch. V of ch. 19.
AB534, s. 21 8Section 21. 119.23 (2) (a) 6. and 7. of the statutes are created to read:
AB534,13,129 119.23 (2) (a) 6. The governing body of the private school permits public
10inspection and copying of any record, as defined in s. 19.32 (2), of the private school
11to the same extent as required of, and subject to the same terms and enforcement
12provisions that apply to, an authority under subch. II of ch. 19.
AB534,13,1513 7. The governing body of the private school provides public access to its
14meetings to the same extent as is required of, and subject to the same terms and
15enforcement provisions that apply to, a governmental body under subch. V of ch. 19.
AB534, s. 22 16Section 22. 119.23 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB534,13,1917 119.23 (10) Each private school participating in the program under this section
18shall administer to the pupils attending the 3rd grade in the private school under this
19section a standardized reading test developed by the department.
AB534, s. 23 20Section 23. 121.02 (1) (r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB534,13,2421 121.02 (1) (r) Annually Except as provided in s. 118.40 (2r) (d) 2., annually
22administer a standardized reading test developed by the department to all pupils
23enrolled in the school district in grade 3, including pupils enrolled in charter schools
24located in the school district.
AB534,13,2525 (End)
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