115.97(1)(1) A school board may combine pupils in attendance at separate schools in its bilingual-bicultural education program. The school board shall be eligible for state aids under
s. 115.995 if the number of limited-English proficient pupils served from the combined schools meets the requirements under
sub. (2),
(3) or
(4). A pupil shall be eligible for a bilingual-bicultural education program only until he or she is able to perform ordinary classwork in English. The bilingual-bicultural education program shall be designed to provide intensive instruction to meet this objective. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize isolation of children of limited-English proficient ability or ethnic background for a substantial portion of the school day. Pupils who are not limited-English proficient pupils may participate in a bilingual-bicultural education program, except that a school board shall give preference to limited-English proficient pupils in admitting pupils to such a program.
115.97(2)
(2) If, in a language group under
s. 115.96 (1), there are 10 or more limited-English proficient pupils in kindergarten to grade 3 in attendance at a particular elementary school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to such pupils' placement under
s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program for such pupils during the school term. Such program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher.
115.97(3)
(3) If, in a language group under
s. 115.96 (1), there are 20 or more limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8 in attendance at a particular elementary, middle or junior high school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to such pupils' placement under
s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program for such pupils during the school term. Such program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher.
115.97(4)
(4) If, in a language group under
s. 115.96 (1), there are 20 or more limited-English proficient pupils in grades 9 to 12 in attendance at a particular high school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to the pupils' placement under
s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program. The program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher. Bilingual counselors shall be made available.
115.97(5)(a)(a) Except as provided under
par. (b), if a school board is required to establish a bilingual-bicultural education program under
sub. (2),
(3) or
(4), but bilingual teachers for the language groups are unavailable, the program may be taught by certified teachers of English as a 2nd language upon receipt of approval of the state superintendent. The state superintendent may approve a program under this paragraph only if the school board demonstrates all of the following:
115.97(5)(a)1.
1. Compliance with all other requirements of this subchapter.
115.97(5)(a)2.
2. A good faith, continuing effort to recruit bilingual teachers for the language group.
115.97(5)(a)3.
3. Employment of at least one bilingual teacher's aide in the program.
115.97(5)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a program for Spanish-speaking pupils.
115.977
115.977
Contracting; continued eligibility. 115.977(2)
(2) A school district may establish bilingual-bicultural education programs by contracting with other school districts or with a cooperative educational service agency. If 10 or more pupils in kindergarten to grade 3, 20 or more in grades 4 to 8 or 20 or more in a high school program are enrolled in a program under a contract pursuant to this subsection, the school district offering the program is eligible for reimbursement under
s. 115.995.
115.977(3)
(3) The school board shall give any limited-English proficient pupil who has begun a bilingual-bicultural education program in the 3rd grade the opportunity to continue his or her bilingual-bicultural education program in the 4th grade regardless of the number of limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8. However, if there are not a sufficient number of limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8 to require a bilingual-bicultural education program under
sub. (2), the school board may offer such pupil the opportunity to continue a bilingual-bicultural education program with a program established for limited-English proficient pupils in kindergarten to grade 3. A 4th grade pupil so enrolled may be counted for purposes of determining if there are a sufficient number of pupils for a kindergarten to grade 3 bilingual-bicultural education program.
115.977 History
History: 1975 c. 395;
1999 a. 19.
115.98
115.98
Bilingual-bicultural advisory committee. In each school district which establishes a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter, the school board may appoint a bilingual-bicultural advisory committee to afford parents and educators of limited-English proficient pupils the opportunity to advise the school board of their views and to ensure that a program is planned, operated and evaluated with their involvement and consultation. The committee shall assist the school board in informing educators, parents and legal custodians of limited-English proficient pupils that a program exists. The committee shall be composed of parents of limited-English proficient pupils enrolled in the bilingual-bicultural education program, bilingual and other teachers, bilingual teacher's aides, bilingual and other counselors and bilingual counselor's aides in the district, at least one representative from the community and a representative of the school district administration.
115.98 History
History: 1975 c. 395;
1999 a. 19.
115.99
115.99
Preschool and summer school programs. A school board may establish a full-time or part-time preschool or summer bilingual-bicultural education program according to rules established by the state superintendent.
115.991
115.991
Training programs. The school board may institute preservice or in-service programs designed to improve the skills of bilingual teachers, bilingual teacher's aides, bilingual counselors, bilingual counselor's aides or other personnel participating in, or preparing to participate in, a bilingual-bicultural education program.
115.991 History
History: 1975 c. 395.
115.993
115.993
Report on bilingual-bicultural education. Annually, on or before August 15, the school board of a district operating a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter shall report to the state superintendent the number of pupils, including both limited-English proficient pupils and other pupils, instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, an itemized statement on oath of all disbursements on account of the bilingual-bicultural education program operated during the previous school year and a copy of the estimated budget for that program for the current school year.
115.993 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
PI 13.06, Wis. adm. code.
115.995
115.995
State aids. Upon receipt of the report under
s. 115.993, if the state superintendent is satisfied that the bilingual-bicultural education program for the previous school year was maintained in accordance with this subchapter, the state superintendent shall do all of the following:
115.995(1)
(1) From the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (cc), divide proportionally, based upon costs reported under
s. 115.993, an annual payment of $250,000 among school districts whose enrollments in the previous school year were at least 15% limited-English proficient pupils. Aid paid under this subsection does not reduce aid paid under
sub. (2).
115.995(2)
(2) Certify to the department of administration in favor of the school district a sum equal to a percentage of the amount expended on limited-English proficient pupils by the school district during the preceding year for salaries of personnel participating in and attributable to bilingual-bicultural education programs under this subchapter, special books and equipment used in the bilingual-bicultural programs and other expenses approved by the state superintendent. The percentage shall be determined by dividing the amount in the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (cc) in the current school year less $250,000 by the total amount of aidable costs in the previous school year.
115.995 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
PI 13.07, Wis. adm. code.
115.996
115.996
Report to the legislature. Annually, on or before December 31, the state superintendent shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2), on the status of bilingual-bicultural education programs established under this subchapter. The report shall include the number of pupils served in bilingual-bicultural education programs for each language group in each school district in which such programs are offered and the cost of the program per pupil for each school district, language group and program type. The department shall also provide the number of pupils in each school district and language group who as a result of participation in a bilingual-bicultural education program improved their English language ability to such an extent that the program is no longer necessary for such pupils.
