December 14, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Katsma, Schraa, Thiesfeldt,
Kremer, Kooyenga, Vorpagel, A. Ott, Knudson, Murphy, Knodl, Brandtjen,
Hutton and Bernier, cosponsored by Senators Kapenga, Vukmir, LeMahieu,
Stroebel, Darling and Nass. Referred to Committee on Education.
AB602,1,4 1An Act to amend 115.7915 (2) (c), 118.60 (1) (ab), 118.60 (1) (cm), 119.23 (1) (ab)
21. and 119.23 (1) (ap) of the statutes; relating to: accrediting entities for
3private schools participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs
4Scholarship program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill adds Christian Schools International to the list of entities that are
accrediting agencies and preaccrediting agencies for purposes of the Milwaukee
Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, and the statewide
parental choice program (collectively, "choice programs"). This bill also adds
Christian Schools International to the list of entities from which accreditation may
qualify a private school to participate in the Special Needs Scholarship program.
Under current law, the following are accrediting agencies under the choice
programs:
1. Wisconsin North Central Association.
2. Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation.
3. Independent Schools Association of the Central States.
4. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation.
5. National Lutheran School Accreditation.
6. Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools.
7. The diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.
8. Any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School
Accreditation.

Under current law, the list of preaccrediting agencies for choice programs is the
same as the list of accrediting agencies for choice programs except that the list of
preaccrediting agencies also includes the Institute for the Transformation of
Learning at Marquette University and does not include a category for any other
organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.
Additionally, under current law, the list of entities from which accreditation
may qualify a private school to participate in the Special Needs Scholarship program
is the same as the list of accrediting agencies for choice programs except that the
Special Needs Scholarship program list does not include Wisconsin Association of
Christian Schools.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB602,1 1Section 1. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act
255
, is amended to read:
AB602,2,113 115.7915 (2) (c) The eligible school has been approved as a private school by the
4state superintendent under s. 118.165 (2) or is accredited by the Wisconsin North
5Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
6the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical
7Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,
8Christian Schools International, the diocese or archdiocese within which the private
9school is located, or any other organization recognized by the National Council for
10Private School Accreditation, as of the August 1 preceding the school term for which
11the scholarship is awarded.
AB602,2 12Section 2. 118.60 (1) (ab) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB602,3,213 118.60 (1) (ab) "Accrediting entity" means Wisconsin North Central
14Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
15Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical
16Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,
17Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, the

1diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located, and any other
2organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.
AB602,3 3Section 3. 118.60 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB602,3,104 118.60 (1) (cm) "Preaccrediting entity" means the Institute for the
5Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central
6Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
7Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical
8Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,
9Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, and the
10diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.
AB602,4 11Section 4. 119.23 (1) (ab) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB602,3,1812 119.23 (1) (ab) 1. Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious
13and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the
14Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation,
15National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian
16Schools, Christian Schools International, the diocese or archdiocese within which a
17private school is located, and any other organization recognized by the National
18Council for Private School Accreditation.
AB602,5 19Section 5. 119.23 (1) (ap) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB602,4,220 119.23 (1) (ap) "Preaccrediting entity" means the Institute for the
21Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central
22Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation,
23Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical
24Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation,

1Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, and the
2diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.
AB602,4,33 (End)
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