1. By August 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the private
school first intends to participate, the private school must: notify DPI of its intent to
participate and pay a nonrefundable fee; submit a complete budget for the first fiscal
period of participation in a PCP that shows, among other things, that the private
school will have a positive cash flow in each month of the fiscal period and no
operating deficit; and provide certain information about the governing body of and
policies that will govern the private school.
2. By December 15 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in
which the private school first intends to participate, the private school must obtain
preaccreditation from an approved preaccrediting entity.
3. By August 1 of the first school year in which the private school intends to
participate, the private school must demonstrate to the satisfaction of DPI that the
private school has contracted with a third-party payroll service.
The bill requires DPI to notify a new private school whether it has fulfilled
specified requirements by December 31 of the school year immediately preceding the
school year in which the private school first intends to participate. A new private
school that does not fulfill the requirements may not participate in a PCP in the
following school year, but may reinitiate the process for participating for the next
following school year.
The additional requirements for new private schools first apply to a new private
school seeking to participate in a PCP in the 2015-16 school year.
Preaccreditation and accreditation requirements
2013 Wisconsin Act 20 (Act 20, the biennial budget bill) requires a private
school participating in a PCP to continuously maintain accreditation with one of a
list of approved accrediting organizations for as long as the private school continues
to participate in the PCP. Act 20 also requires participating private schools to
annually, by January 15, submit evidence to DPI demonstrating that the private
school remains accredited for the current school year. Finally, Act 20 requires DPI
to bar from the PCP a private school that fails to provide evidence of accreditation,
at the end of the school year and until the private school satisfies the accreditation
requirement.
This bill creates formal definitions for "accrediting entity" and "preaccrediting
entity"; these defined terms replace duplicated lists of approved preaccrediting and
accrediting organizations to simplify the statutes. The bill clarifies that each private
school that begins participation in a PCP after the effective date of the bill and that
is not already accredited by an accrediting entity must obtain preaccreditation from
a preaccrediting entity by August 1 before the first school term of participation in the
PCP. The bill specifies that each private school that participates in a PCP and that
is not already accredited by an accrediting entity must apply for accreditation by
December 31 of the first school year in which the private school participates in the
PCP, and must obtain accreditation by December 31 of its fourth school year of

participation in the PCP. The bill also requires a private school that is accredited to
offer instruction in certain specified grades, such as kindergarten through 8th grade
or the high school grades, but intends to offer instruction in additional grades to
obtain and continuously maintain accreditation for those additional grades in the
same manner as it was required to obtain and maintain accreditation in the original
grades. Finally, the bill provides that, if a participating private school learns that
the organization with which it is accredited is a "disqualified organization," the
private school must obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity no later than
three years from the date the private school learned the accrediting organization is
a disqualified organization. The bill defines "disqualified organization" as an
accrediting organization that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise
sanctioned by an accrediting entity.
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:
SB584,1 1Section 1. 7.30 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,5,82 7.30 (2) (am) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a pupil who is
316 or 17 years of age and who is enrolled in grades 9 to 12 in a public or private school
4or in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), may serve as an inspector at the
5polling place serving the pupil's residence, with the approval of the pupil's parent or
6guardian. Any pupil who has at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent may
7serve. In addition, a school board or, governing body of a private school, as defined
8in s. 115.001 (3d),
or tribal school may establish criteria for service by a pupil who
9does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent. A pupil may serve
10as an inspector at a polling place under this paragraph only if at least one election
11official at the polling place other than the chief inspector is a qualified elector of this
12state. No pupil may serve as chief inspector at a polling place under this paragraph.
13Before appointment by any municipality of a pupil as an inspector under this
14paragraph, the municipal clerk shall obtain written authorization from the pupil's

1parent or guardian for the pupil to serve for the election for which he or she is
2appointed. In addition, if a pupil does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or
3the equivalent, the municipal clerk shall obtain written certification from the
4principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled that the pupil meets any criteria
5established by the school board or governing body for service as an inspector. Upon
6appointment of a pupil to serve as an inspector, the municipal clerk shall notify the
7principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled of the name of the pupil and the
8date of the election at which the pupil has been appointed to serve.
SB584,2 9Section 2. 39.41 (1) (aj) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,5,1110 39.41 (1) (aj) "Governing body of a private school" has the meaning given in s.
11115.001 (3d).
SB584,3 12Section 3. 48.355 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,5,2013 48.355 (2) (c) If school attendance is a condition of an order under par. (b) 7.,
14the order shall specify what constitutes a violation of the condition and shall direct
15the school board of the school district, in which the child is enrolled or the governing
16body of the private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3d), in which the child is enrolled,
17or shall request the governing body of the tribal school in which the child is enrolled,
18to notify the county department that is responsible for supervising the child or, in a
19county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department within 5 days after
20any violation of the condition by the child.
SB584,4 21Section 4. 115.001 (3d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,5,2522 115.001 (3d) Governing body of a private school. "Governing body of a private
23school" and "governing body of a new private school" means a board elected or
24appointed to govern the private school or, if no board is appointed or elected to govern
25the school, any other person having direct charge of the private school.
SB584,5
1Section 5. 118.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,6,142 118.07 (3) The department shall make available to school districts, private
3schools, tribal schools, and charter schools information about meningococcal disease,
4including the causes and symptoms of the disease, how it is spread, and how to obtain
5additional information about the disease and the availability, effectiveness, and
6risks of vaccinations against the disease. The department may do so by posting the
7information on its Internet site. At the beginning of the 2006-07 to 2011-12 school
8years, each school board and the governing body of each private school and each
9charter school shall provide the parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in grades
106 to 12 in the school district or school with the information.
At the beginning of the
112012-13 school year and each school year thereafter, each school board and the
12governing body of each private school and each charter school shall provide the
13parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in grade 6 in the school district or school
14with the information.
SB584,6 15Section 6. 118.30 (1s) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20,
16is renumbered 118.30 (1s), and 118.30 (1s) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to
17read:
SB584,6,2018 118.30 (1s) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (b), annually Annually, the
19governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23
20shall do all of the following:
SB584,7 21Section 7. 118.30 (1s) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
SB584,8 22Section 8. 118.30 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act
2320
, is amended to read:
SB584,7,3
1118.30 (2) (b) 5. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the governing
2body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall excuse the
3pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1s) (a) 1. to 3m (cm).
SB584,9 4Section 9. 118.33 (1) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,7,155 118.33 (1) (f) 3. Beginning on September 1, 2005, neither Neither a school
6board nor an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) may grant a high school
7diploma to any pupil unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the school
8board's or charter school's policy under subd. 1. or 2. Beginning on September 1,
92010, the
The governing body of a private school participating in the program under
10s. 119.23 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil attending the private
11school under s. 119.23 unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the
12governing body's policy under subd. 2m. The governing body of a private school
13participating in the program under s. 118.60 may not grant a high school diploma to
14any pupil attending the private school under s. 118.60 unless the pupil has satisfied
15the criteria specified in the governing body's policy under subd. 2r.
SB584,10 16Section 10. 118.33 (6) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,7,2517 118.33 (6) (c) 1. The governing body of each private school participating in the
18program under s. 119.23 shall adopt a written policy specifying criteria for promoting
19a pupil who is attending the private school under s. 119.23 from the 4th grade to the
205th grade and from the 8th grade to the 9th grade. The criteria shall include the
21pupil's score on the examination administered under s. 118.30 (1s) (a) 1. or 2. (b),
22unless the pupil has been excused from taking the examination under s. 118.30 (2)
23(b); the pupil's academic performance; the recommendations of teachers, which shall
24be based solely on the pupil's academic performance; and any other academic criteria
25specified by the governing body of the private school.
SB584,11
1Section 11. 118.33 (6) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,8,72 118.33 (6) (c) 2. Beginning on September 1, 2010, the The governing body of a
3private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may not promote a 4th
4grade pupil who is attending the private school under s. 119.23 to the 5th grade, and
5may not promote an 8th grade pupil who is attending the private school under s.
6119.23 to the 9th grade, unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified
7in the governing body's policy under subd. 1.
SB584,12 8Section 12. 118.60 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 118.60 (1) (ad).
SB584,13 9Section 13. 118.60 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,8,1610 118.60 (1) (ab) "Accrediting entity" means Wisconsin North Central
11Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
12Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical
13Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,
14Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, the diocese or archdiocese within which
15a private school is located, and any other organization recognized by the National
16Council for Private School Accreditation.
SB584,14 17Section 14. 118.60 (1) (af) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,8,2018 118.60 (1) (af) "Disqualified organization" means an accrediting organization
19that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise sanctioned by an
20accrediting entity.
SB584,15 21Section 15. 118.60 (1) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,8,2422 118.60 (1) (bn) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., "new private school" means
23a school that qualifies as a private school under s. 115.001 (3r) and that satisfies
24either of the following:
SB584,9,2
1a. The school has been in continuous operation in this state for less than 12
2consecutive months.
SB584,9,43 b. The school provides education to fewer than 40 pupils divided into 2 or fewer
4grades.
SB584,9,75 2. "New private school" does not include a private school the governing body of
6which operates or manages a private school that is participating in the program
7under this section or under s. 119.23 if all of the following apply:
SB584,9,108 a. No payment has been withheld from any private school operated or managed
9by the governing body under sub. (10) (d) or s. 119.23 (10) (d) in the 3 immediately
10preceding school years.
SB584,9,1411 b. No order barring any private school operated or managed by the governing
12body from participating in the program under this section or s. 119.23 has been
13issued under sub. (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) or under s. 119.23 (10) (a), (am), (ar), or
14(b) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.
SB584,16 15Section 16. 118.60 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,9,2016 118.60 (1) (c) "Preaccreditation" means the review and approval of an
17educational plan. Review of an education plan includes consideration of whether the
18school submitting the plan meets the requirements under s. 118.165 (1). The fact
19that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accreditation
20organization
accrediting entity to accredit the private school.
SB584,17 21Section 17. 118.60 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,9,2522 118.60 (1) (cm) "Preaccrediting entity" means the Institute for the
23Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central
24Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
25Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical

1Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,
2Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, and the diocese or archdiocese within
3which a private school is located.
SB584,18 4Section 18. 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin
5Act 20
, is amended to read:
SB584,10,116 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) Any Subject to pars. (ag) and (ar), any pupil in grades
7kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any
8private school under this section and, subject to pars. (ag), (ar), (be), (bm), and (bs),
9any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides in a school district, other than
10an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, may attend any private
11school under this section if all of the following apply:
SB584,19 12Section 19. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin
13Act 20
, is amended to read:
SB584,10,2014 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. Except as provided in subd. 3. b. and c. and sub. (2) (ag) 1.,
15the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the
16program under this section or in the program under s. 119.23, and paid the
17nonrefundable fee, set by the department as required under s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., by
18February 1 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils
19participating in the program under this section and in the program under s. 119.23
20for which the school has space.
SB584,20 21Section 20. 118.60 (2) (a) 3g. of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,11,622 118.60 (2) (a) 3g. By May 1 before the first term of participation in the program
23under this section, the private school submits to the department, on a form provided
24by the department, a complete anticipated budget for the first fiscal period of
25participation in the program under this section. The governing body shall include

1on the completed form anticipated enrollments for all pupils enrolled in the private
2school and for pupils enrolled in the private school under this section; estimated
3revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning and ending net choice
4program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements. The governing
5body shall include in the budget contingent funding sources the private school will
6use in the event that actual enrollments are less than expected.
SB584,21 7Section 21. 118.60 (2) (a) 7. of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act
820
, is repealed and recreated to read:
SB584,11,179 118.60 (2) (a) 7. a. For a private school that was a first-time participant in the
10program under this section before the effective date of this subd. 7. a. .... [LRB inserts
11date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity, the private school obtains
12accreditation from an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year
13following the first school year in which the private school began participating in the
14program under this section. If the private school is accredited under this subd. 7. a.,
15the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under subd. 7. b. as a
16prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an
17additional or new school.
SB584,12,518 b. Each private school that begins participation in the program under this
19section on or after the effective date of this subd. 7. b. .... [LRB inserts date], and that
20is not accredited by an accrediting entity, shall obtain preaccreditation by a
21preaccrediting entity by August 1 before the first school term in which the private
22school begins participation in the program under this section, or by May 1 if the
23private school begins participating in the program during summer school. In any
24school year, a private school to which this subd. 7. b. applies may apply for and seek
25to obtain preaccreditation from only one preaccrediting entity. A private school to

1which this subd. 7. b. applies that fails to obtain preaccreditation as required under
2this subd. 7. b. may not participate in the program under this section or under s.
3119.23 until preaccreditation has been obtained, but the private school may apply for
4and seek to obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity for the following
5school year.
SB584,12,156 c. A private school to which subd. 7. b. applies shall apply for accreditation by
7an accrediting entity by December 31 of the first school year that begins after the
8effective date of this subd. 7. c. .... [LRB inserts date], in which the private school
9begins participation in the program under this section, and shall achieve
10accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year following
11the first school year in which the private school begins participation in the program
12under this section. If the private school is accredited under this subd. 7. c., the
13private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under subd. 7. b. as a
14prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an
15additional or new school.
SB584,22 16Section 22. 118.60 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,12,1917 118.60 (2) (ag) The governing body of a new private school shall comply with
18all of the following before the new private school may participate in the program
19under this section:
SB584,12,2320 1. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in
21which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this
22section, complete and submit to the department the following on forms provided by
23the department:
SB584,12,2524 a. A notice of intent to participate and agreement to comply with procedural
25requirements.
SB584,13,10
1b. A complete anticipated budget for the first fiscal period of participation in
2the program under this section showing that the private school will have a positive
3cash flow in each month of the fiscal period and no operating deficit. The governing
4body shall include on the completed form anticipated enrollments for all pupils
5enrolled in the new private school and for pupils enrolled in the new private school
6under this section; estimated revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning
7and ending net choice program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow
8requirements. The governing body shall include in the budget contingent funding
9sources the new private school will use in the event that actual enrollments are less
10than expected.
SB584,13,2011 c. The nonrefundable fee established by the department, as required under s.
12119.23 (2) (a) 3., for the school year in which the fee is paid by the new private school.
13If the amount of the fee paid by the new private school under this subd. 1. c. increases
14for the school year in which the new private school will first participate in the
15program under this section, the new private school shall pay the difference between
16the fee paid and the fee due to the department. If the amount of the fee paid by the
17new private school under this subd. 1. c. decreases for the school year in which the
18new private school will first participate in the program under this section, the
19department shall refund the new private school the difference between the fee paid
20and the fee due to the department.
SB584,13,2421 2. a. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in
22which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this
23section, submit to the department the information required under sub. (6m) (a) and
24(c).
SB584,14,4
1b. If, at the time the new private school submits the information required under
2subd. 2. a., the new private school does not have a physical property within which the
3private school intends to operate, submit a mailing address of an administrator of
4the private school.
SB584,14,85 3. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in
6which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this
7section, submit to the department a statement indicating which of the standards
8under sub. (7) (a) the private school intends to meet.
SB584,14,129 4. Notwithstanding the deadline to obtain preaccreditation under sub. (2) (a)
107. b., by December 15 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in
11which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this
12section, obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity.
SB584,14,1713 5. By August 1 of the first school year in which the new private school intends
14to participate in the program under this section, demonstrate to the satisfaction of
15the department that the new private school has contracted with a 3rd-party payroll
16service that will remit federal and state payroll taxes for each employee of the new
17private school for the duration of the school year.
SB584,23 18Section 23. 118.60 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,15,219 118.60 (2) (ar) By December 31 of the school year immediately preceding the
20school year in which a new private school intends to participate in the program under
21this section, the department shall notify the new private school in writing whether
22it has satisfied those requirements under par. (ag) that must be satisfied before
23December 31. If the department determines that the new private school has not
24satisfied those requirements, the new private school may not participate in the

1program under this section in the following school year, but may reinitiate the
2process under par. (ag) for the next following school year.
SB584,24 3Section 24. 118.60 (7) (ad) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act
420
, is renumbered 118.60 (7) (ad) 3. and amended to read:
SB584,15,155 118.60 (7) (ad) 3. The governing body of a private school participating in the
6program under this section and accredited as required under subds. 1. and 2. and
7sub. (2) (a) 7. shall ensure that the private school continuously maintains
8accreditation from Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and
9Independent School Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central
10States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National
11Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, the
12diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located, or by any other
13organization recognized by the National Council for Private Schools Accreditation

14an accrediting entity as long as the private school continues to participate in the
15program under this section.
SB584,25 16Section 25. 118.60 (7) (ad) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
SB584,15,2217 118.60 (7) (ad) 1. If a private school participating in the program under this
18section or s. 119.23 and accredited under sub. (2) (a) 7. to offer instruction in any
19elementary grade, but not any high school grade, seeks to offer instruction in any
20high school grade, the private school shall apply for and achieve accreditation to offer
21instruction in the additional grades in the manner established under sub. (2) (a) 7.
22c.
SB584,16,223 2. If a private school participating in the program under this section or s. 119.23
24and accredited under sub. (2) (a) 7. to offer instruction in any high school grade, but
25not any elementary grade, seeks to offer instruction in any elementary grade, the

1private school shall apply for and achieve accreditation to offer instruction in the
2additional grades in the manner established under sub. (2) (a) 7. c.
SB584,26 3Section 26. 118.60 (7) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,16,94 118.60 (7) (ag) If a participating private school learns that an accrediting
5organization with which the private school is maintaining accreditation, as required
6under par. (ad), is a disqualified organization, the private school shall immediately
7notify the department in writing of this fact and shall obtain accreditation from an
8accrediting entity no later than 3 years from the date on which the private school
9learned that the accrediting organization is a disqualified organization.
SB584,27 10Section 27. 118.60 (7) (ao) of the statutes is created to read:
SB584,16,1511 118.60 (7) (ao) By November 1 of the first school term in which a private school
12participates in the program under this section, the private school shall submit to the
13department on a form provided by the department a budget reflecting the
14enrollments in the private school on the immediately preceding 3rd Friday in
15September and any related changes in revenues, costs, and cash flow requirements.
SB584,28 16Section 28. 118.60 (7) (em) 1. of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act
1720
, is amended to read:
SB584,17,518 118.60 (7) (em) 1. Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, the governing body of
19each private school participating in the program under this section shall, subject to
20subd. 2., annually, by January 15, provide the department with evidence
21demonstrating that the private school remains accredited for the current school year
22as required under par. (ad). The governing body shall include as evidence of
23accreditation a letter prepared by Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin
24Religious and Independent School Accreditation, Independent Schools Association
25of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation,

1National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian
2Schools, the diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located, or by
3any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private Schools
4Accreditation
an accrediting entity that confirms that the private school is accredited
5by that entity as of the date of the letter.
SB584,29 6Section 29. 118.60 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,17,107 118.60 (9) If any accrediting agency specified under sub. (2) (a) 7. or
8preaccrediting entity
determines during the accrediting or preaccrediting process
9that a private school does not meet all of the requirements under s. 118.165 (1), it
10shall report that failure to the department.
SB584,30 11Section 30. 118.60 (10) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB584,17,1312 118.60 (10) (am) 2. The private school's application for accreditation has been
13denied by the accrediting organization entity.
SB584,31 14Section 31. 118.60 (10) (ar) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act
1520
, is amended to read:
SB584,18,316 118.60 (10) (ar) 1. If the state superintendent determines that a private school
17has failed to continuously maintain accreditation as required under sub. (7) (ad),
18that the governing body of the private school has withdrawn the private school from
19the accreditation process, or that the private school's accreditation has been revoked,
20denied,
or terminated by Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious
21and Independent School Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the
22Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation,
23National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian
24Schools, the diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located, or by
25any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private Schools

1Accreditation
an accrediting entity, the state superintendent shall issue an order
2barring the private school's participation in the program under this section at the end
3of the current school year.
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