118.60
118.60
Parental choice programs for eligible school districts. 118.60(1)(a)
(a) "Administrator" means the superintendent, supervising principal, executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a private school participating in the program under this section.
118.60(1)(ag)
(ag) "Disqualified person" means a person who, when a private school was barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section by an order issued under
sub. (10), satisfied at least one of the following:
118.60(1)(ag)1.
1. Had a controlling ownership interest in, or was the administrator or an officer, director, or trustee of, the private school.
118.60(1)(ag)2.
2. Was a person designated by the administrator of the private school to assist in processing pupil applications.
118.60(1)(ag)3.
3. Was responsible for an action or circumstance that led to the private school being barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section.
118.60(1)(am)
(am) "Eligible school district" means a school district that, subject to
sub. (1m), satisfies all of the following:
118.60(1)(am)1.
1. The school district's equalized value per member, as determined in accordance with
s. 121.15 (4) on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium for the distribution of equalization aid in that year, is no more than 80 percent of the statewide average.
118.60(1)(am)2.
2. The school district's shared cost per member, as determined in accordance with
s. 121.07 on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, for the distribution of aid in that year is no more than 91 percent of the statewide average.
118.60(1)(am)3.
3. The school district is eligible, in the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, to receive aid under
s. 121.136.
118.60(1)(am)4.
4. The school district is located in whole or in part in a city of the 2nd class.
118.60(1)(c)
(c) "Preaccreditation" means the review and approval of an educational plan. Review of an education plan includes consideration of whether the school submitting the plan meets the requirements under
s. 118.165 (1). The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accreditation organization to accredit the private school.
118.60(1)(f)
(f) "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.
118.60(1)(g)
(g) "Teacher" means a person who has primary responsibility for the academic instruction of pupils.
118.60(1m)
(1m) By November 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of each fiscal biennium, the department shall prepare a list that identifies eligible school districts. The department shall post the list on the department's Internet site and shall notify in writing the school district clerk of each eligible school district. A school district that has qualified as an eligible school district under this section on April 20, 2012, shall remain an eligible school district, but no school district may qualify as an eligible school district after April 20, 2012.
118.60(2)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any private school if all of the following apply:
118.60(2)(a)1.a.a. The pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget. In this subdivision and
sub. (3m), family income includes income of the pupil's parents or legal guardians. The family income of the pupil shall be verified as provided in
subd. 1. b. A pupil attending a private school under this section whose family income increases may continue to attend a private school under this section.
118.60(2)(a)1.b.
b. The private school submits to the department of public instruction the names, addresses, social security numbers, and other state and federal tax identification numbers, if any, of the pupil's parents or legal guardians that reside in the same household as the pupil, whether and to whom the parents or legal guardians are married, the names of all of the other members of the pupil's family residing in the same household as the pupil, and the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. The department of revenue shall review the information submitted under this
subd. 1. b. and shall verify the eligibility or ineligibility of the pupil to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. In this subdivision, "family income" means federal adjusted gross income of the parents or legal guardians residing in the same household as the pupil for the tax year preceding the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. or, if not available, for the tax year preceding the tax year preceding the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. Family income for a family in which the pupil's parents are married or in which the pupil's legal guardians are married shall be reduced by $7,000 before the verification is made under this
subd. 1. b. The department of revenue may take no other action on the basis of the information submitted under this
subd. 1. b. If the department of revenue is unable to verify family income or to verify whether the pupil is eligible or ineligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income, the department of revenue shall notify the department of public instruction of this fact and the department of public instruction shall utilize an alternative process, to be established by the department of public instruction, to determine whether the pupil is eligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. The department of public instruction may not request any additional verification of income from the family of a pupil once the department of revenue has verified that the pupil is eligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. The department of public instruction shall establish a procedure for determining family income eligibility for those pupils for whom no social security number or state or federal tax identification number has been provided.
118.60(2)(a)2.a.
a. The pupil was enrolled in a public school in an eligible school district in the previous school year.
118.60(2)(a)2.b.
b. The pupil was not enrolled in school in the previous school year.
118.60(2)(a)2.c.
c. The pupil attended a private school under this section in the previous school year.
118.60(2)(a)2.d.
d. The pupil is applying to attend kindergarten, first grade, or 9th grade in a private school participating in the program under this section.
118.60(2)(a)3.a.a. Except as provided in
subd. 3. b., the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section, and paid the nonrefundable fee set by the department as required under
s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., 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.
118.60(2)(a)3.b.
b. For a private school that intends to participate in the program under this section in an eligible school district identified under
2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u), the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate, and paid the nonrefundable fee set by the department under
subd. 3. a. by August 1, 2011. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section for which the school has space.
118.60(2)(a)5.
5. The private school meets all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.
118.60(2)(a)6.a.a. Except as provided in
subd. 6. c., all of the private school's teachers have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
118.60(2)(a)6.b.
b. All of the private school's administrators have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
118.60(2)(a)6.c.
c. Any teacher employed by the private school on July 1 of the first school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under
sub. (1m) or
2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u), who has been teaching for at least the 5 consecutive years immediately preceding that July 1, and who does not satisfy the requirements under
subd. 6. a. on that July 1, applies to the department on a form prepared by the department for a temporary, nonrenewable waiver from the requirements under
subd. 6. a. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this
subd. 6. c., including the form of the application and the process by which the waiver application will be reviewed. The application form shall require the applicant to submit a plan for satisfying the requirements under
subd. 6. a., including the name of the accredited institution of higher education at which the teacher is pursuing or will pursue the bachelor's degree and the anticipated date on which the teacher expects to complete the bachelor's degree. No waiver granted under this
subd. 6. c. is valid after July 31 of the 5th school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under
sub. (1m) or
2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u).
118.60(2)(a)7.
7. For a private school that is a first-time participant in the program under this section, and that is not accredited by Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent School Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, the diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located, or by any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private Schools Accreditation, the private school obtains preaccreditation by the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, or the diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located by September 1 before the first school term of participation in the program under this section that begins after August 31, 2011; by August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program under this section that begins in the first school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under
sub. (1m); or by May 1 if the private school begins participation in the program under this section during summer school. In any school year, a private school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from only one of the entities enumerated in this subdivision. A private school that fails to obtain accreditation in a school year may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from one of the entities enumerated in this subdivision in the following school year. The private school shall achieve accreditation by Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, the diocese or archdiocese within which the private school is located, 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 in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section. If the private school is accredited under this subdivision, the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
118.60(2)(a)8.
8. Notwithstanding
s. 118.165 (1) (c), the private school annually provides at least 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1 to 6 and at least 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7 to 12. Hours provided under this subdivision include recess and time for pupils to transfer between classes but do not include the lunch periods.
118.60(2)(b)1.1. In the first school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under
sub. (1m) or
2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u), no more than 250 pupils, as counted under
s. 121.004 (7), may attend private schools under this section. Priority shall be given to pupils who were eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch in the federal school lunch program under
42 USC 1758 (b) in the immediately preceding school year.
118.60(2)(b)2.
2. In the 2nd school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under
sub. (1m) or
2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u), no more than 500 pupils, as counted under
s. 121.004 (7), may attend private schools under this section. Priority shall be given to pupils who attended a private school under this section in the immediately preceding school year.
118.60(2)(b)3.
3. Whenever the state superintendent determines that the limit is reached under
subd. 1. or
2., 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. If the number of pupils attending private schools under this section falls below the limit under this paragraph, the state superintendent shall issue an order notifying participating private schools that they may begin accepting additional pupils, and, notwithstanding
sub. (3) (a), participating private schools that wish to accept additional pupils under this section shall accept pupils as follows:
118.60(2)(b)3.a.
a. The private school shall give first priority to pupils who are attending a private school under this section.
118.60(2)(b)3.b.
b. The private school shall give 2nd priority to the siblings of pupils who are attending a private school under this section.
118.60(2)(b)3.c.
c. The private school shall give 3rd priority to pupils selected at random under a procedure established by the department by rule.
118.60(2)(c)1.1. Notwithstanding
par. (a) 6., a teacher employed by a private school participating in the program under this section who teaches only courses in rabbinical studies is not required to have a bachelor's degree.
118.60(2)(c)2.
2. Notwithstanding
par. (a) 6., an administrator of a private school participating in the program under this section that prepares and trains pupils attending the school in rabbinical studies is not required to have a bachelor's degree.
118.60(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. If more than one pupil from the same family applies to attend the same private school, the pupils may use a single application. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify each applicant, in writing, whether his or her application has been accepted. If the private school rejects an application, the notice shall include the reason. A private school may reject an applicant only if it has reached its maximum general capacity or seating capacity. 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.
118.60(3)(b)
(b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the applicant may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available. An applicant rejected under this paragraph may be admitted to a private school participating in the program under this section for the following school year, provided that the applicant continues to reside within an eligible school district. The department may not require, in that following school year, the private school to submit financial information regarding the applicant or to verify the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income.
118.60(3m)(a)(a) A private school participating in the program under this section may not charge or receive any additional tuition payment for a pupil participating in the program under this section other than the payment the school receives under
sub. (4) and, if applicable,
sub. (4m), if either of the following applies:
118.60(3m)(a)1.
1. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from kindergarten to 8.
118.60(3m)(a)2.
2. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the family income of the pupil, as determined under
sub. (2) (a) 1., 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.
118.60(3m)(am)1.1. Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, a private school participating in the program under this section may recover the cost of providing the following to a pupil participating in the program under this section through reasonable fees in an amount determined by the private school and charged to the pupil, except that no participating private school may retroactively recover any uncollected costs incurred prior to November 19, 2011:
118.60(3m)(am)1.b.
b. Social and extracurricular activities if not necessary to the private school's curriculum.
118.60(3m)(am)1.e.
e. High school classes that are not required for graduation and for which no credits toward graduation are given.
118.60(3m)(am)2.
2. A private school may not prohibit an eligible pupil from attending the private school, expel or otherwise discipline the pupil, or withhold or reduce the pupil's grades because the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian cannot pay or has not paid fees charged under
subd. 1.
118.60(3m)(b)
(b) Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, a private school participating in the program under this section may, in addition to the payment it receives for a pupil under
sub. (4) and, if applicable,
sub. (4m), charge the pupil tuition in an amount determined by the school if both of the following apply:
118.60(3m)(b)2.
2. The family income of the pupil, as determined under
sub. (2) (a) 1., exceeds 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.
118.60(3m)(c)
(c) A private school participating in the program under this section shall determine whether the private school may charge additional tuition to a pupil on the basis of the pupil's family income as permitted under
par. (b). The private school shall establish a process for accepting an appeal to the governing body of the private school of the determination made under this paragraph.
118.60(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).
118.60(4)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (bg), 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 private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fr), an amount equal to the lesser of the following:
118.60(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.
118.60(4)(b)2.
2. The amount paid per pupil under this subsection 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.
118.60(4)(bg)
(bg) In the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, 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 private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fr), an 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, or $6,442, whichever is less.
118.60(4)(c)
(c) The state superintendent shall pay 25 percent of the total amount under this subsection in September, 25 percent in November, 25 percent in February, and 25 percent in May. Each installment may consist of a single check for all pupils attending the private school under this section. The state superintendent shall include the entire amount under
sub. (4m) in the November installment, but the payment shall be made in a separate check from the payment under this subsection.
118.60(4)(d)
(d) In determining a private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil under
par. (b) 1. and
sub. (4m) (a), the department shall do all of the following:
118.60(4)(d)1.
1. Subtract only the following, up to the actual cost of the service or material related to each item:
118.60(4)(d)1.a.
a. Fees charged pupils for books and supplies used in classes and programs.
118.60(4)(d)1.e.
e. Interest and other income resulting from the investment of debt proceeds.
118.60(4)(d)2.
2. If legal title to the private school's buildings and premises is held in the name of the private school's parent organization or other related party, there is no other mechanism to include the private school's facilities costs in the calculation of its operating and debt service cost, and the private school requests that the department do so, include an amount equal to 10.5 percent of the fair market value of the school and its premises. A request made by a private school under this subdivision remains effective in subsequent school years and may not be withdrawn by the private school.
118.60(4)(d)3.
3. If immediately prior to July 1, 2011, a private school's operating and debt service costs, as determined by the department, included the amount described in
subd. 2., continue to include the amount described in
subd. 2. in subsequent school years.
118.60(4m)
(4m) In addition to the payment under
sub. (4) the state superintendent shall pay to each private school participating in the program under this section, on behalf of the parent or guardian of each pupil attending the private school under this section, in the manner described in
sub. (4) (c), the amount determined as follows:
118.60(4m)(a)
(a) Determine the private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil in summer school that is related to educational programming.
