AB947: Bill Text

LRB-2408/2

PG:lmk&kjf:ch

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 947

January 30, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives McCormick, Musser, Nischke, Bies, Pridemore, Albers, Fields, Van Roy, Krawczyk, Gunderson, Ott and Townsend, cosponsored by Senators Darling, A. Lasee and Grothman. Referred to Committee on Education Reform.

AB947,1,3 An Act to amend 118.40 (2r) (bm); and to create 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. of the statutes; relating to: the establishment of charter schools by certain colleges or universities.

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. With certain exceptions, only pupils who reside in the school district in which an independent charter school is located may attend the charter school. The operators of the independent charter schools receive state aid for each pupil attending the charter school.

This bill authorizes any college or university that is located on reservation or off-reservation trust land and that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, to establish or contract for the establishment of charter schools. The bill requires that any charter schools established be located on reservation or off-reservation trust land. Only pupils who reside in the school district in which the charter school is located may attend the charter school.

For further information see the state 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:

AB947, s. 1 Section 1. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. of the statutes is created to read:

AB947,2,4 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. A college or university, located on reservation or off-reservation trust land, that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

AB947, s. 2 Section 2. 118.40 (2r) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB947,2,16 118.40 (2r) (bm) The common council of the city of Milwaukee, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee area technical college district board may only establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located in the school district operating under ch. 119. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside may only establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located in a unified school district that is located in the county in which the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is situated or in an adjacent county. A college or university located on reservation or off-reservation trust land may only establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located on reservation or off-reservation trust land.

AB947,2,17 (End)