119.18(8)
(8) Schools closed. The board may determine on which national, state and local legal holidays and for which educational conventions the public schools shall be closed. There shall be no deductions from the annual or monthly compensation of employees not rendering services on such days.
119.18(9)
(9) Enrollment under legal name. The board may require that any pupil attending public school shall be enrolled under the pupil's legal name.
119.18(10)(b)(b) Subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53 when applicable, the board may employ and determine the qualifications, duties and compensation of any persons as are required in the operation and management of the schools.
119.18(10)(c)
(c) The board may employ a staff to aid it in its duties. The board shall determine the compensation, duties and qualifications of its staff, including whether or not employment of such staff shall be subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53.
119.18(11)
(11) Bonded officers and employees. The board may require any officer or employee of the board to give security for the faithful performance of the officer's or employee's duties in such form and amount as the board determines, and may require at any time additional bonds and sureties of any officer or employee.
119.18(12)
(12) Employer contribution. The board may make as the employer agency the contributions to the city retirement system payable under
chapter 396, laws of 1937, in respect to its employees who are members of such system.
119.18(13)
(13) Exchange teachers. The board may make an agreement with the managing body of the schools in any city or school district in the United States or another country for the exchange of one of the board's teachers for a teacher of such other city or school district for a period not exceeding one school year. The board shall determine the qualifications and compensation of the teacher rendering service under the agreement in the schools under its jurisdiction, who shall be counted as a regular teacher in the city in the computation of state and county school aids. The agreement shall state:
119.18(13)(a)
(a) The manner and by whom the salaries of such exchange teachers shall be paid.
119.18(13)(b)
(b) That any teacher regularly employed by the board under this chapter shall receive credit for the year of exchange teaching service in the computation of any benefits to which the teacher is entitled under
ch. 40 and the manner in which the monthly reservations shall be paid under that subchapter.
119.18(13)(c)
(c) Such other provisions as the board and the other managing body deem appropriate.
119.18(14)
(14) Sales and charges. The board may establish and maintain, in any of the schools or playgrounds under its jurisdiction, cafeterias and stores for the sale of schoolbooks, candies, refreshments and supplies. The board also may charge or permit the making of a charge for admission to any school, social center or athletic entertainment or activity, under such terms and conditions as the board prescribes.
119.18(15)
(15) Lease school property. In addition to any other authority, the board may lease school sites, buildings and equipment not needed for school purposes to any person for any lawful use at a reasonable rental for a term not exceeding 15 years.
119.18(16)
(16) Gifts and grants. The board may receive, accept and use gifts or grants of furniture, books, equipment, supplies, moneys, securities or other property used or useful for school and educational purposes. The board shall make such use of gifts or grants, or invest the same in the case of moneys, as the donor or grantor specifies. In the absence of any specific direction as to the use of such gifts or grants by a donor or grantor, the board may determine the use of or may invest the same in accordance with the law applicable to trust investments. In the use, control or investment of such gifts or grants, the board may exercise the rights and powers generally conferred upon trustees.
119.18(17)
(17) Purchases from house of correction. The board may purchase for use in the schools, from any county in which the city is located, furniture, furnishings and equipment manufactured in any house of correction under
s. 303.16 (1). The board may waive the furnishing by the county or institution of bid bonds and performance bonds otherwise required by the statutes in connection with any such purchase.
119.18(18)
(18) Copyright materials. The board may copyright under the applicable federal laws any book, pamphlet, bulletin or record form edited and published by or under the direction of the board.
119.18(19)
(19) Fences. The board may construct around any schoolhouse or playground site a fence of materials and design approved by the board.
119.18(20)
(20) Diplomas. The board may grant diplomas in testimony of the completion of high school or special education requirements, including the requirements of special schools established under
s. 119.28.
119.18(21)
(21) Rules on conduct and dress. The board may establish rules pertaining to conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum and a favorable academic atmosphere.
119.18(22)
(22) Records custodian. On behalf of any school district authority as defined in
s. 19.32 (1), including the board, school district officers and any subunit of the board or school district, designate one or more persons to be legal custodians of records.
119.18(23)
(23) School closings. The board may close any school that it determines is low in performance by adopting a resolution to that effect. If the superintendent of schools recommends to the board that a school be closed, he or she shall state the reasons for the recommendation in writing. If the board closes a school, the superintendent of schools may reassign the school's staff members without regard to seniority in service. If the board reopens the school, the superintendent of schools may reassign staff members to the school without regard to seniority in service.
119.19
119.19
Released time for religious instruction. 119.19(1)
(1) The board may permit a pupil, with the written permission of the pupil's parent or guardian, to be absent from school for up to 180 minutes per week to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. The board shall determine periods allotted for the pupil to be absent from school for the purpose of religious instruction. Monthly, the supervisor of the religious instruction shall report the names of the pupils who attended such weekly religious instruction to the principal of the school that the pupil regularly attends. The board may withdraw permission to be absent from school if a pupil does not attend the religious instruction.
119.19(2)
(2) The board is not responsible for transporting a pupil to or from religious instruction under
sub. (1).
119.19(3)
(3) The board is released from all liability for a pupil who is absent from school under
sub. (1).
119.19 History
History: 1989 a. 267.
119.22
119.22
Sex discrimination in physical education or physical training prohibited. Except as provided in
s. 120.13 (37m), courses in physical education or physical training may not discriminate on the basis of sex in the provision of necessary facilities, equipment, instruction or financial support, or the opportunity to participate in any physical education or training activity as provided in
20 USC 1681 et seq.
119.23
119.23
Milwaukee parental choice program. 119.23(1)(c)
(c) "Summer choice average daily membership equivalent" means the summer average daily membership equivalent of pupils who were attending a private school under this section on the 2nd Friday of January of the school term immediately preceding that summer or whose applications have been accepted under
sub. (3) for attendance at the private school in the school term immediately following that summer.
119.23(1)(d)
(d) "Teacher" means a person who has primary responsibility for the academic instruction of pupils.
119.23(2)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within the city may attend, at no charge, any private school located in the city if all of the following apply:
119.23(2)(a)1.
1. The pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 1.75 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget. A pupil attending a private school under this section whose family income increases may continue to attend a private school under this section if the pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 2.2 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget. For purposes of admission to a private school under this section, siblings of pupils attending a private school under this section are subject to the higher income limit. If a pupil attending a private school under this section ceases to attend a private school under this section, the lower income limit applies unless the pupil is a sibling of a pupil attending a private school under this section.
119.23(2)(a)3.
3. The private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section by February 1 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section for which the school has space.
119.23(2)(a)5.
5. The private school meets all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.
119.23(2)(a)6.
6. All of the private school's teachers have graduated from high school or been granted a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation.
119.23(2)(a)7.
7. The private school achieves accreditation by the Wisconsin North Central Association, the Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, or any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation, by December 31 of the 3rd school year following the first school year that begins after June 30, 2006, in which it participates in the program under this section, or the private school was approved for scholarship funding for the 2005-06 school year by Partners Advancing Values in Education.
119.23(2)(b)
(b) No more than 22,500 pupils, as counted under
s. 121.004 (7), may attend private schools under this section. Whenever the state superintendent determines that the limit is reached, he or she shall issue an order prohibiting the participating private schools from accepting additional pupils until he or she determines that the number of pupils attending private schools under this section has fallen below the limit.
119.23(3)(a)(a) The pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian shall submit an application, on a form provided by the state superintendent, to the participating private school that the pupil wishes to attend. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether the application has been accepted. The state superintendent shall ensure that the private school determines which pupils to accept on a random basis, except that the private school may give preference in accepting applications to siblings of pupils accepted on a random basis.
119.23(3)(b)
(b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the pupil may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available.
119.23(4)(a)(a) Annually, on or before October 15, a private school participating in the program under this section shall file with the department a report stating its summer average daily membership equivalent and its summer choice average daily membership equivalent for the purpose of
sub. (4m).
119.23(4)(b)
(b) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school during a school term, the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the lesser of the following:
119.23(4)(b)1.
1. The amount equal to the private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil that is related to educational programming, as determined by the department.
119.23(4)(b)2.
2. The amount paid per pupil under this paragraph in the previous school year multiplied by the sum of 1.0 plus the percentage change from the previous school year to the current school year in the total amount appropriated under
s. 20.255 (2) (ac) expressed as a decimal, but not less than zero.
119.23(4)(c)
(c) The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount under
par. (b) in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The state superintendent may include the entire amount under
sub. (4m) in one of those installments or apportion the entire amount among one or more of those installments. The department shall send the check to the private school. The parent or guardian shall restrictively endorse the check for the use of the private school.
119.23(4m)
(4m) In addition to the payment under
sub. (4) the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in a private school under this section, in the manner described in
sub. (4) (c), an amount determined by multiplying 40% of the payment under
sub. (4) by the quotient determined by dividing the summer choice average daily membership equivalent of the private school by the total number of pupils for whom payments are being made under
sub. (4).
119.23(5)
(5) The state superintendent shall ensure that pupils and parents and guardians of pupils who reside in the city are informed annually of the private schools participating in the program under this section.
119.23(6)
(6) The board shall provide transportation to pupils attending a private school under this section if required under
s. 121.54 and may claim transportation aid under
s. 121.58 for pupils so transported.
119.23(7)(a)(a) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall meet at least one of the following standards:
119.23(7)(a)1.
1. At least 70% of the pupils in the program advance one grade level each year.
119.23(7)(a)2.
2. The private school's average attendance rate for the pupils in the program is at least 90%.
119.23(7)(a)3.
3. At least 80% of the pupils in the program demonstrate significant academic progress.
119.23(7)(a)4.
4. At least 70% of the families of pupils in the program meet parent involvement criteria established by the private school.
119.23(7)(am)
(am) Each private school participating in the program under this section is subject to uniform financial accounting standards established by the department. Annually by September 1 following a school year in which a private school participated in the program under this section, the private school shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(am)1.
1. An independent financial audit of the private school conducted by a certified public accountant, accompanied by the auditor's statement that the report is free of material misstatements and fairly presents pupil costs under
sub. (4) (b) 1. The audit under this subdivision shall be limited in scope to those records that are necessary for the department to make payments under
subs. (4) and
(4m).
119.23(7)(am)2.
2. Evidence of sound fiscal practices, as prescribed by the department by rule.
119.23(7)(c)
(c) A private school may not require a pupil attending the private school under this section to participate in any religious activity if the pupil's parent or guardian submits to the pupil's teacher or the private school's principal a written request that the pupil be exempt from such activities.
119.23(7)(d)
(d) By August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program, or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program during summer school, each private school participating in the program under this section shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(d)1.
1. A copy of the school's current certificate of occupancy issued by the city. If the private school moves to a new location, the private school shall submit a copy of the new certificate of occupancy issued by the city to the department before the attendance of pupils at the new location and before the next succeeding date specified in
s. 121.05 (1) (a). A temporary certificate of occupancy does not meet the requirement of this subdivision.
119.23(7)(d)2.
2. Evidence of financial viability, as prescribed by the department by rule.
119.23(7)(d)3.
3. Proof that the private school's administrator has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by the department.
119.23(7)(e)1.1. Annually, each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer a nationally normed standardized test in reading, mathematics, and science to pupils attending the school under the program in the 4th, 8th, and 10th grades. The private school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils. Beginning in 2006 and annually thereafter until 2011, the private school shall provide the scores of all standardized tests that it administers to the School Choice Demonstration Project.
119.23(7)(e)2.
2. The legislative audit bureau shall review and analyze the standardized test score data received from the School Choice Demonstration Project. Based on its review, in 2007 and annually thereafter until 2011, the bureau shall report to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) the results of the standardized tests administered under
subd. 1., the scores of a representative sample of pupils participating in the program on the tests under
ss. 118.30 and
121.02 (1) (r), and the scores of a comparable group of pupils enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter on the tests under
ss. 118.30 and
121.02 (1) (r).
119.23(7)(f)
(f) A private school that is neither accredited nor approved under
sub. (2) (a) 7., and to which either of the following applies, shall apply for accreditation by December 31 of the school year in which it enters or reenters the program under this section:
119.23(7)(f)1.
1. The private school did not participate in the program under this section during the 2005-06 school year.
119.23(7)(f)2.
2. The private school participated in the program under this section during the 2005-06 school year but did not participate in the program during the 2006-07 school year.
119.23(8)
(8) There is created a pupil assignment council composed of one representative from each private school participating in the program under this section. Annually by June 30, the council shall make recommendations to the participating private schools to achieve, to the extent possible, a balanced representation of pupils participating in the program under this section.
119.23(9)
(9) If any accrediting agency specified under
sub. (2) (a) 7. determines during the accrediting process that a private school does not meet all of the requirements under
s. 118.165 (1), it shall report that failure to the department.
119.23(10)(a)(a) The state superintendent may issue an order barring a private school from participating in the program under this section in the current school year if the state superintendent determines that the private school has done any of the following:
119.23(10)(a)3.
3. Failed to refund to the state any overpayment made under
sub. (4) (b) or
(4m) by the date specified by department rule.
119.23(10)(a)4.
4. Failed to meet at least one of the standards under
sub. (7) (a) by the date specified by department rule.
119.23(10)(am)
(am) If the state superintendent determines that any of the following have occurred, he or she may issue an order barring the private school from participating in the program under this section in the following school year:
119.23(10)(am)2.
2. The private school's application for accreditation has been denied by the accrediting organization.
119.23(10)(b)
(b) The state superintendent may issue an order immediately terminating a private school's participation in the program under this section if he or she determines that conditions at the private school present an imminent threat to the health or safety of pupils.
