2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
October 6, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Vukmir, Nass, Ziegelbauer,
Towns, Jensen, Van Roy, F. Lasee, Vos, Townsend, McCormick, Gunderson,
Wood, Stone, Kreibich, Nischke
and Wieckert, cosponsored by Senators
Darling, Roessler, Stepp, Grothman, Kanavas and Lazich. Referred to
Committee on Education Reform.
AB730,1,4 1An Act to amend 118.40 (2r) (a) and 118.40 (2r) (b) 2.; and to create 118.40 (2r)
2(a) 2., 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. and 118.40 (2r) (br) of the statutes; relating to:
3independent charter schools established by University of Wisconsin
4institutions.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, school boards may enter into contracts with individuals,
groups, businesses, or governmental bodies to establish charter schools, which
operate with fewer constraints than traditional public schools. Current law also
permits the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of
Wisconsin-Parkside, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the city of
Milwaukee to operate charter schools (independent charter schools) directly or to
contract for the operation of charter schools. Only pupils who reside in the school
district in which an independent charter school is located may attend the charter
school.
This bill allows any baccalaureate or graduate degree granting institution
within the University of Wisconsin System to operate or to contract for the operation
of a charter school with the approval of the Board of Regents. Under the bill, the
chancellor of any such University of Wisconsin System institution (other than the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or the University of Wisconsin-Parkside) may
request the state superintendent of public instruction for approval to establish or
contract for the establishment of up to five charter schools. The state superintendent
must approve the first five requests received and must maintain a waiting list. Each

approved institution must submit a charter school plan to the state superintendent.
Among other things, the plan must describe the institution's plan for soliciting
charter school proposals and for monitoring charter schools that are established.
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:
AB730, s. 1 1Section 1. 118.40 (2r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB730,2,22 118.40 (2r) (a) In this subsection, "instructional:
AB730,2,4 31. "Instructional staff" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the
4department under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 2.
AB730, s. 2 5Section 2. 118.40 (2r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB730,2,66 118.40 (2r) (a) 2. "University" has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (13).
AB730, s. 3 7Section 3. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. of the statutes is created to read:
AB730,2,88 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. The chancellor of a university, as provided in par. (br).
AB730, s. 4 9Section 4. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB730,2,1810 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. A charter shall include all of the provisions specified under
11sub. (1m) (b) 3. to 14. A contract shall include all of the provisions specified under
12sub. (1m) (b) 1. to 14. and shall specify the effect of the establishment of the charter
13school on the liability of the contracting entity under this paragraph. The contract
14may include other provisions agreed to by the parties. The chancellor of the
15University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside
a
16university
may not establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a
17charter school under this paragraph without the approval of the board of regents of
18the University of Wisconsin System.
AB730, s. 5 19Section 5. 118.40 (2r) (br) of the statutes is created to read:
AB730,3,5
1118.40 (2r) (br) The chancellor of a university, other than those specified in par.
2(b) 1. b. and c., may request the state superintendent for approval to establish or
3contract for the establishment of up to 5 charter schools. The state superintendent
4shall approve the first 5 requests received and shall maintain a waiting list of
5universities whose requests are received after the first 5.
AB730,3,156 2. By March 1, 2007, or by a date specified by the state superintendent for
7universities selected from the waiting list, the chancellor of each approved university
8shall submit a charter school plan to the state superintendent. The plan shall
9describe the university's plan for soliciting charter school proposals and for
10monitoring charter schools that are established. The plan shall also describe how the
11university intends to collaborate with school boards and state and local
12organizations to establish charter schools that encourage the development and
13implementation of innovative teaching methods and the improvement of the
14educational system. The state superintendent shall post the plans on the
15department's Internet site.
AB730,3,2016 3. If an approved university fails to submit a plan by the date specified under
17subd. 2., the university may not establish or contract for the establishment of a
18charter school. Instead, the state superintendent shall notify all of the remaining
19universities that the first to submit a plan, as described under subd. 2., will be
20eligible to establish or contract for the establishment of up to 5 charter schools.
AB730, s. 6 21Section 6. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB730,3,2422 (1) No charter school established by a university, other than the University of
23Wisconsin-Milwaukee or the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, may begin
24operating before July 1, 2007.
AB730,3,2525 (End)
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