2013 WISCONSIN ACT 237
An Act to repeal 118.30 (1s) (b) and 119.23 (7) (f); to renumber 118.60 (1) (a); to renumber and amend 118.30 (1s) (a), 118.60 (7) (ad), 119.23 (7) (ad) and 895.035 (1) (a); to amend 7.30 (2) (am), 48.355 (2) (c), 118.07 (3), 118.30 (2) (b) 5., 118.33 (1) (f) 3., 118.33 (6) (c) 1., 118.33 (6) (c) 2., 118.60 (1) (c), 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.), 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a., 118.60 (7) (em) 1., 118.60 (9), 118.60 (10) (am) 2., 118.60 (10) (ar), 119.23 (1) (am), 119.23 (2) (a) (intro.), 119.23 (2) (a) 3., 119.23 (2) (a) 7. a., 119.23 (2) (a) 7. c., 119.23 (2) (a) 7. d., 119.23 (7) (em) 1., 119.23 (9), 119.23 (10) (am) 2., 119.23 (10) (ar), 447.06 (2) (a) 2. and 950.08 (2w); to repeal and recreate 118.60 (2) (a) 7. and 119.23 (2) (a) 7. b.; and to create 39.41 (1) (aj), 115.001 (3d), 118.60 (1) (ab), 118.60 (1) (af), 118.60 (1) (bn), 118.60 (1) (cm), 118.60 (2) (a) 3g., 118.60 (2) (ag), 118.60 (2) (ar), 118.60 (7) (ad) 1. and 2., 118.60 (7) (ag), 118.60 (7) (ao), 119.23 (1) (ab), 119.23 (1) (af), 119.23 (1) (ai), 119.23 (1) (ap), 119.23 (2) (a) 3g., 119.23 (2) (a) 7. bg. and br., 119.23 (2) (a) 7. e., 119.23 (2) (ag), 119.23 (2) (ar), 119.23 (7) (ad) 1. and 2., 119.23 (7) (ag), 119.23 (7) (ao), 895.035 (1) (a) 2. and 938.02 (6m) of the statutes;
relating to: requirements for new private schools seeking to participate in a parental choice program and requiring a private school participating in a parental choice program to maintain accreditation.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
237,1
Section
1. 7.30 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.30 (2) (am) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a pupil who is 16 or 17 years of age and who is enrolled in grades 9 to 12 in a public or private school or in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), may serve as an inspector at the polling place serving the pupil's residence, with the approval of the pupil's parent or guardian. Any pupil who has at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent may serve. In addition, a school board or, governing body of a private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3d), or tribal school may establish criteria for service by a pupil who does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent. A pupil may serve as an inspector at a polling place under this paragraph only if at least one election official at the polling place other than the chief inspector is a qualified elector of this state. No pupil may serve as chief inspector at a polling place under this paragraph. Before appointment by any municipality of a pupil as an inspector under this paragraph, the municipal clerk shall obtain written authorization from the pupil's parent or guardian for the pupil to serve for the election for which he or she is appointed. In addition, if a pupil does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent, the municipal clerk shall obtain written certification from the principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled that the pupil meets any criteria established by the school board or governing body for service as an inspector. Upon appointment of a pupil to serve as an inspector, the municipal clerk shall notify the principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled of the name of the pupil and the date of the election at which the pupil has been appointed to serve.
237,2
Section
2. 39.41 (1) (aj) of the statutes is created to read:
39.41 (1) (aj) "Governing body of a private school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3d).
237,3
Section
3. 48.355 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.355 (2) (c) If school attendance is a condition of an order under par. (b) 7., the order shall specify what constitutes a violation of the condition and shall direct the school board of the school district, in which the child is enrolled or the governing body of the private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3d), in which the child is enrolled, or shall request the governing body of the tribal school in which the child is enrolled, to notify the county department that is responsible for supervising the child or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department within 5 days after any violation of the condition by the child.
237,4
Section
4. 115.001 (3d) of the statutes is created to read:
115.001 (3d) Governing body of a private school. "Governing body of a private school" and "governing body of a new private school" means a board elected or appointed to govern the private school or, if no board is appointed or elected to govern the school, any other person having direct charge of the private school.
237,5
Section
5. 118.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.07 (3) The department shall make available to school districts, private schools, tribal schools, and charter schools information about meningococcal disease, including the causes and symptoms of the disease, how it is spread, and how to obtain additional information about the disease and the availability, effectiveness, and risks of vaccinations against the disease. The department may do so by posting the information on its Internet site. At the beginning of the 2006-07 to 2011-12 school years, each school board and the governing body of each private school and each charter school shall provide the parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 12 in the school district or school with the information. At the beginning of the 2012-13 school year and each school year thereafter, each school board and the governing body of each private school and each charter school shall provide the parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in grade 6 in the school district or school with the information.
237,6
Section
6. 118.30 (1s) (a) of the statutes, as affected by
2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is renumbered 118.30 (1s), and 118.30 (1s) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:
118.30 (1s) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (b), annually Annually, the governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall do all of the following:
237,7
Section
7. 118.30 (1s) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
118.30 (2) (b) 5. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1s) (a) 1. to 3m (cm).
237,9
Section
9. 118.33 (1) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
118.33 (1) (f) 3. Beginning on September 1,
2005, neither Neither a school board nor an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) may grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the school board's or charter school's policy under subd. 1. or 2. Beginning on September 1, 2010, the The governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil attending the private school under s. 119.23 unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the governing body's policy under subd. 2m. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 118.60 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil attending the private school under s. 118.60 unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the governing body's policy under subd. 2r.
237,10
Section
10. 118.33 (6) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
118.33 (6) (c) 1. The governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall adopt a written policy specifying criteria for promoting a pupil who is attending the private school under s. 119.23 from the 4th grade to the 5th grade and from the 8th grade to the 9th grade. The criteria shall include the pupil's score on the examination administered under s. 118.30 (1s) (a) 1. or 2. (b), unless the pupil has been excused from taking the examination under s. 118.30 (2) (b); the pupil's academic performance; the recommendations of teachers, which shall be based solely on the pupil's academic performance; and any other academic criteria specified by the governing body of the private school.
237,11
Section
11. 118.33 (6) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
118.33 (6) (c) 2. Beginning on September 1, 2010, the The governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may not promote a 4th grade pupil who is attending the private school under s. 119.23 to the 5th grade, and may not promote an 8th grade pupil who is attending the private school under s. 119.23 to the 9th grade, unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified in the governing body's policy under subd. 1.
237,12
Section
12. 118.60 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 118.60 (1) (ad).
237,13
Section
13. 118.60 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (1) (ab) "Accrediting entity" means 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, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located, and any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.
237,14
Section
14. 118.60 (1) (af) of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (1) (af) "Disqualified organization" means an accrediting organization that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise sanctioned by an accrediting entity.
237,15
Section
15. 118.60 (1) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (1) (bn) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., "new private school" means a school that qualifies as a private school under s. 115.001 (3r) and that satisfies either of the following:
a. The school has been in continuous operation in this state for less than 12 consecutive months.
b. The school provides education to fewer than 40 pupils divided into 2 or fewer grades.
2. "New private school" does not include a private school the governing body of which operates or manages a private school that is participating in the program under this section or under s. 119.23 if all of the following apply:
a. No payment has been withheld from any private school operated or managed by the governing body under sub. (10) (d) or s. 119.23 (10) (d) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.
b. No order barring any private school operated or managed by the governing body from participating in the program under this section or s. 119.23 has been issued under sub. (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) or under s. 119.23 (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.
237,16
Section
16. 118.60 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.60 (1) (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 accrediting entity to accredit the private school.
237,17
Section
17. 118.60 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (1) (cm) "Preaccrediting entity" means 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, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, and the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.
118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) Any Subject to pars. (ag) and (ar), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any private school under this section and, subject to pars. (ag), (ar), (be), (bm), and (bs), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, may attend any private school under this section if all of the following apply:
118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. Except as provided in subd. 3. b. and c. and sub. (2) (ag) 1., the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section or in the program under s. 119.23, 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 and in the program under s. 119.23 for which the school has space.
237,20
Section
20. 118.60 (2) (a) 3g. of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (2) (a) 3g. By May 1 before the first term of participation in the program under this section, the private school submits to the department, on a form provided by the department, a complete anticipated budget for the first fiscal period of participation in the program under this section. The governing body shall include on the completed form anticipated enrollments for all pupils enrolled in the private school and for pupils enrolled in the private school under this section; estimated revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning and ending net choice program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements. The governing body shall include in the budget contingent funding sources the private school will use in the event that actual enrollments are less than expected.
118.60 (2) (a) 7. a. For a private school that was a first-time participant in the program under this section before the effective date of this subd. 7. a. .... [LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity, the private school obtains accreditation from an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school began participating in the program under this section. If the private school is accredited under this subd. 7. a., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under subd. 7. b. as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
b. Each private school that begins participation in the program under this section on or after the effective date of this subd. 7. b. .... [LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity, shall obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by August 1 before the first school term in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section, or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program during summer school. In any school year, a private school to which this subd. 7. b. applies may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from only one preaccrediting entity. A private school to which this subd. 7. b. applies that fails to obtain preaccreditation as required under this subd. 7. b. may not participate in the program under this section or under s. 119.23 until preaccreditation has been obtained, but the private school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity for the following school year.
c. A private school to which subd. 7. b. applies shall apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the first school year that begins after the effective date of this subd. 7. c. .... [LRB inserts date], in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section, and shall achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity 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 subd. 7. c., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under subd. 7. b. as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
237,22
Section
22. 118.60 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (2) (ag) The governing body of a new private school shall comply with all of the following before the new private school may participate in the program under this section:
1. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, complete and submit to the department the following on forms provided by the department:
a. A notice of intent to participate and agreement to comply with procedural requirements.
b. A complete anticipated budget for the first fiscal period of participation in the program under this section showing that the private school will have a positive cash flow in each month of the fiscal period and no operating deficit. The governing body shall include on the completed form anticipated enrollments for all pupils enrolled in the new private school and for pupils enrolled in the new private school under this section; estimated revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning and ending net choice program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements. The governing body shall include in the budget contingent funding sources the new private school will use in the event that actual enrollments are less than expected.
c. The nonrefundable fee established by the department, as required under s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., for the school year in which the fee is paid by the new private school. If the amount of the fee paid by the new private school under this subd. 1. c. increases for the school year in which the new private school will first participate in the program under this section, the new private school shall pay the difference between the fee paid and the fee due to the department. If the amount of the fee paid by the new private school under this subd. 1. c. decreases for the school year in which the new private school will first participate in the program under this section, the department shall refund the new private school the difference between the fee paid and the fee due to the department.
2. a. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, submit to the department the information required under sub. (6m) (a) and (c).
b. If, at the time the new private school submits the information required under subd. 2. a., the new private school does not have a physical property within which the private school intends to operate, submit a mailing address of an administrator of the private school.
3. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, submit to the department a statement indicating which of the standards under sub. (7) (a) the private school intends to meet.
