SB525: Bill Text

SB525,12,9 (b) If the department bars a school district, charter school, or private school from participating in the program under this section, it shall notify all children eligible to participate in the program and their parents as quickly as possible. A pupil who is receiving a scholarship and attending a school district, charter school, or private school barred from the program may attend another participating school district, charter school, or private school under the scholarship.

SB525,12,12 (7) Study. (a) The legislative audit bureau shall contract for a study of the program under this section with one or more researchers who have experience evaluating school choice programs. The study shall evaluate all of the following:

SB525,12,14 1. The level of satisfaction with the program expressed by participating pupils and their parents.

SB525,12,17 2. The percentage of participating pupils who were victimized because of their special needs at their resident school district and the percentage of such pupils at their participating school.

SB525,12,20 3. The percentage of participating pupils who exhibited behavioral problems at their resident school district and the percentage of such pupils at their participating school.

SB525,12,22 4. The average class size at participating pupils' resident school districts and at their participating schools.

SB525,12,23 5. The fiscal impact of the program on the state and on resident school districts.

SB525,12,25 (b) The contract under par. (a) shall require the researchers who conduct the study to do all of the following:

SB525,13,2 1. Apply appropriate analytical and behavioral science methodologies to ensure public confidence in the study.

SB525,13,3 2. Protect the identity of participating schools and pupils.

SB525,13,6 (c) The contract under par. (a) shall require that the results of the study be reported to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) by January 9, 2017.

SB525,13,8 (8) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including rules relating to all of the following:

SB525,13,10 (a) The eligibility and participation of eligible schools, including timelines that maximize pupil and school participation.

SB525,13,11 (b) The calculation and distribution of scholarships.

SB525,13,12 (c) The application and approval procedures for pupils and eligible schools.

SB525,7 Section 7. 118.305 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB525,13,15 118.305 (1) (h) "School" means a public school, including a charter school, and a private school participating in the program under s. 115.7915.

SB525,8 Section 8. 118.40 (2r) (e) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

SB525,13,19 118.40 (2r) (e) 5. A pupil attending a charter school under this subsection who is receiving a scholarship under s. 115.7915 shall not be counted as a pupil attending the charter school under subd. 2n. or 2p.

SB525,9 Section 9. 118.60 (4s) of the statutes is created to read:

SB525,13,24 118.60 (4s) Notwithstanding subs. (4), (4m), and (4r), a pupil attending a private school participating in the program under this section who is receiving a scholarship under s. 115.7915 shall not be counted as a pupil attending the private school under this section under sub. (4), (4m), or (4r).

SB525,10 Section 10. 119.23 (4s) of the statutes is created to read:

SB525,14,4 119.23 (4s) Notwithstanding subs. (4), (4m), and (4r), a pupil attending a private school participating in the program under this section who is receiving a scholarship under s. 115.7915 shall not be counted as a pupil attending the private school under this section under sub. (4), (4m), or (4r).

SB525,11 Section 11. 121.54 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB525,14,16 121.54 (3) Transportation for children with disabilities. Every Except as provided in s. 115.7915 (5), every school board shall provide transportation for children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5), to any public or private elementary or high school, to the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or to any special education program for children with disabilities sponsored by a state tax-supported institution of higher education, including a technical college, regardless of distance, if the request for such transportation is approved by the state superintendent. Approval shall be based on whether or not the child can walk to school with safety and comfort. Section 121.53 shall apply to transportation provided under this subsection.

SB525,12 Section 12. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB525,14,23 (1) Notwithstanding section 115.7915 (1m) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, if a child or his or her parents on behalf of the child apply to attend an eligible school in the 2014-15 school year under section 115.7915 of the statutes, as created by this act, within 90 days after the effective date of this subsection, the child satisfies the eligibility requirements under section 115.7915 (1m) (a) (intro.) and (e) of the statutes, as created by this act, if all of the following conditions are met:

SB525,15,3 (a) The child applied to attend a public school in one or more nonresident school districts under section 118.51 of the statutes for the 2012-13, 2013-14, or 2014-15 school year.

SB525,15,5 (b) The conditions under section 115.7915 (1m) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes, as created by this act, are satisfied for any of the school years specified in paragraph (a).

SB525,15,7 (c) The child attended a public school in this state for the entire 2011-12, 2012-13, or 2013-14 school year.

SB525,15,8 (End)