AB1042,69,223 (c) Issue A participating private school shall issue a high school diploma or
24certificate to each pupil who attends the participating private school under this

1section the choice program and satisfactorily completes the course of instruction and
2any other requirements necessary for high school graduation.
AB1042,166 3Section 166. 118.60 (7) (b) 7. a. and b. of the statutes are consolidated,
4renumbered 118.80 (9) (d) 1. and amended to read:
AB1042,69,245 118.80 (9) (d) 1. Except as provided in subd. 7. b., if the 2., if a private school
6ceases operating as a private school, the private school shall immediately transfer
7all of the progress records of each pupil who attended the private school under this
8section to
the choice program to the school board of the school district within which
9the pupil resides. The private school shall send written notice to each pupil, or to the
10parent or guardian of a minor pupil, of the transfer of progress records under this
11subd. 7. a. b.
If the private school is affiliated with an organization that will maintain
12the progress records of each pupil who attended the private school under this section
13the choice program for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as
14a private school, the private school may transfer a pupil's records to the organization
15if the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, consents in writing to the
16release of the progress records to the affiliated organization. The private school shall
17send to the department a copy of the consent form for each pupil who consents to the
18transfer of progress records under this subd. 7. b. subdivision. The written notice
19shall be signed by the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, and shall
20include the name, phone number, mailing address, and other relevant contact
21information of the organization that will maintain the progress records, and a
22declaration by the affiliated organization that the organization agrees to maintain
23the progress records for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as
24a private school.
AB1042,167
1Section 167. 118.60 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 118.79 (4) and
2amended to read:
AB1042,70,73 118.79 (4) Religious activity; pupil exemption. A participating private school
4may not require a pupil attending the participating private school under this section
5the choice program to participate in any religious activity if the pupil's parent or
6guardian
submits to the pupil's teacher or the participating private school's principal
7a written request that the pupil be exempt from such activities.
AB1042,168 8Section 168. 118.60 (7) (d) (intro.) and 3. of the statutes are repealed.
AB1042,169 9Section 169. 118.60 (7) (d) 1. a. of the statutes is renumbered 118.75 (1) and
10amended to read:
AB1042,70,1211 118.75 (1) Definition. In this subdivision section, “municipality" has the
12meaning given in s. 5.02 (11).
AB1042,170 13Section 170. 118.60 (7) (d) 1. b. of the statutes is renumbered 118.75 (3) (a) and
14amended to read:
AB1042,70,1715 118.75 (3) (a) A copy of the participating private school's current certificate of
16occupancy issued by the municipality within which the participating private school
17is located.
AB1042,70,23 18(4) New location; certificate. If the participating private school moves to a
19new location, the participating private school shall submit a copy of the new
20certificate of occupancy issued by the municipality within which the participating
21private
school is located to the department before the attendance of pupils at the new
22location and before the next succeeding date specified in s. 121.05 (1) (a) September
23count date or the January count date, whichever occurs next
.
AB1042,71,4 24(3) (b) If the municipality within which the participating private school is
25located does not issue certificates of occupancy, the private school may submit a

1certificate of occupancy issued by the local or regional governmental unit with
2authority to issue certificates of occupancy or a letter or form from the municipality
3within which the participating private school is located that explains that the
4municipality does not issue certificates of occupancy.
AB1042,71,7 5(5) Temporary certificate. A temporary certificate of occupancy does not meet
6the requirement requirements of this subdivision. This subdivision applies only to
7a private school located in an eligible school district
section.
AB1042,171 8Section 171. 118.60 (7) (dr) of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (9) (e) and
9amended to read:
AB1042,71,1510 118.80 (9) (e) A private school participating in the program under this section
11may elect to maintain an electronic copy of any application submitted on behalf of
12and any correspondence to or about a pupil attending the private school under this
13section
the choice program instead of a paper copy of the application and
14correspondence. The private school shall maintain electronic copies of pupil
15applications and correspondence for a period of at least 5 years.
AB1042,172 16Section 172 . 118.60 (7) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (7) and
17amended to read:
AB1042,71,2218 118.80 (7) Pupil assessments. Each participating private school participating
19in the program under this section
shall administer the examinations required under
20s. 118.30 (1t) or examinations permitted under s. 118.301 (3) to pupils attending the
21participating private school under the choice program. The participating private
22school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils.
AB1042,173 23Section 173 . 118.60 (7) (em) 1. and 2. of the statutes are renumbered 118.74
24(4) (b) and (c) and amended to read:
AB1042,72,8
1118.74 (4) (b) The governing body of each Each participating private school
2participating in the program under this section shall, subject to subd. 2. par. (c),
3annually, by the first weekday in August 1 , provide the department with evidence
4demonstrating that the participating private school remains accredited for the
5current school year as required under par. (ad) (a). The governing body participating
6private school
shall include as evidence of accreditation a notice prepared by an
7accrediting entity that confirms that the participating private school is accredited by
8that entity as of the date of the notice.
AB1042,72,109 (c) The governing body A participating private school shall immediately notify
10the department if its accreditation status changes.
AB1042,174 11Section 174 . 118.60 (7) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (5) and
12amended to read:
AB1042,72,2313 118.80 (5) Air quality requirements. (a) By the first day of the 3rd month
14beginning after the month in which the department establishes the model
15management plan and practices for maintaining indoor environmental quality in
16public and private schools under s. 118.075 (3), or by
weekday in October 1 of a
17private school's first school year of participation in the choice program under this
18section, whichever is later
, the participating private school shall provide for the
19development of a plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in the
20participating private school. Participating private schools may use the model
21management plan and practices for maintaining indoor environmental quality
22developed under s. 118.075 (3) when developing a plan required under this
23paragraph.
AB1042,73,524 (b) By the first day of the 12th month beginning after the month in which the
25department establishes the model management plan and practices for maintaining

1indoor environmental quality in public and private schools under s. 118.075 (3), or
2by the
beginning of the 2nd school year of participation in the choice program under
3this section, whichever is later, the
, a participating private school shall implement
4a plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in the participating private
5school.
AB1042,73,86 (c) Each participating private school participating in the program under this
7section
shall provide a copy of the plan implemented under subd. 2. par. (b) to any
8person upon request.
AB1042,175 9Section 175 . 118.60 (7) (h) of the statutes is renumbered 118.81 (4) and
10amended to read:
AB1042,73,1611 118.81 (4) Background checks. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, each
12Each participating private school participating in the program under this section
13shall conduct criminal background investigations of its employees and exclude from
14employment any person not permitted to hold a teaching license as the result of an
15offense and any person who might reasonably be believed to pose a threat to the
16safety of others.
AB1042,176 17Section 176 . 118.60 (7m) (a) (intro.), 1. and 2., (b) and (c) of the statutes are
18renumbered 118.76 (1) (intro.), (a) (intro.) and (b), (2) and (3), and 118.76 (1) (intro.),
19(a) (intro.) and (b), (2) (a) (intro.) and 2. and (b) and (3), as renumbered, are amended
20to read:
AB1042,73,2421 118.76 (1) Surety bond or budget requirement. (intro.) By the first weekday
22in
May 1 before the first school term that a private school participates in the choice
23program under this section or s. 119.23, a participating private school shall submit
24to the department one of the following:
AB1042,74,6
1(a) (intro.) A surety bond payable to the state in an amount equal to 25 percent
2of the total amount of payments the participating private school expects to receive
3under this section and s. 119.23 under the choice program during the first school year
4the private school participates in the program under this section. choice program.
5If a new private school selects this option to satisfy this subsection, the new private
6school shall provide an updated surety bond if all of the following apply:
AB1042,74,177 (b) A complete anticipated budget, on a form provided by the department, for
8the first fiscal period of participation in the choice program under this section and
9evidence of financial viability, as prescribed by the department by rule. The
10participating private school shall include in the budget the anticipated enrollments
11for all pupils enrolled in the participating private school and for pupils enrolled in
12the participating private school under this section the choice program; estimated
13revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning and ending net choice
14program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements. The
15participating private school shall include in the budget contingent funding sources
16the participating private school will use in the event that actual enrollments are less
17than expected.
AB1042,74,21 18(2) (a) (intro.) If a participating private school submits a surety bond under par.
19(a) 1.
sub. (1) (a), the participating private school shall annually provide, by the first
20weekday in
May 1 , a surety bond payable to the state until the participating private
21school submits all of the following to the department:
AB1042,74,2522 2. Evidence of sound fiscal and internal control practices under sub. (7) (am)
232m. b.
s. 118.83 (5) for the school year in the financial audit submitted under subd.
241. a. and for the subsequent school year, neither of which indicates that does not
25contain evidence that the participating private school is not financially viable.
AB1042,75,4
1(b) A participating private school shall provide a surety bond under this
2paragraph subsection in an amount equal to 25 percent of the total amount of
3payments the private school expects to receive under this section and s. 119.23 the
4choice program
during the following school year.
AB1042,75,10 5(3) Budget review; financial viability. If a private school submits a complete
6anticipated budget under par. (a) 2. sub. (1) (b), the department shall determine
7whether the private school is financially viable by the first weekday in August 1. If
8the department determines that the private school is not financially viable, the
9private school is not eligible to participate in the choice program under this section
10or s. 119.23
in the current school year.
AB1042,177 11Section 177 . 118.60 (9) of the statutes is renumbered 118.74 (6) and amended
12to read:
AB1042,75,1613 118.74 (6) Failure to meet private school requirements; notification. If any
14an accrediting or preaccrediting entity determines during the accrediting or
15preaccrediting process that a participating private school does not meet all of the
16requirements under s. 118.165 (1), it shall report that failure to the department.
AB1042,178 17Section 178 . 118.60 (9m) of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (4) (intro.) and
18amended to read:
AB1042,76,319 118.80 (4) Accountability report; posting. (intro.) Beginning in September
202016, and annually thereafter, the governing body of a private school participating
21in the program under this section that maintains an Internet site for the private
22school shall, if the private school is included in the most recent accountability report
23published under s. 115.385,
Annually, within 30 days after the department publishes
24the accountability report, under s. 115.385, a participating private school shall
25prominently link on the home page of that Internet site to the pages in that the

1participating private school's
most recent accountability report concerning the
2private school.
on the home page of the participating private school's website if all
3of the following apply:
AB1042,179 4Section 179 . 118.60 (10) (a) (intro.), 1., 2., 3., 5., 6., 7. and 8. of the statutes are
5renumbered 118.85 (1) (intro.), (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and amended to read:
AB1042,76,96 118.85 (1) Barred; current school year. (intro.) The state superintendent
7may issue an order barring a private school from participating in the choice program
8under this section in the current school year if the state superintendent determines
9that the private school has done any of the following:
AB1042,76,1210 (a) Intentionally or negligently misrepresented any information required
11under this section subchapter or any rule promulgated under this section
12subchapter.
AB1042,76,1513 (b) Failed to provide the notice or pay the fee required under sub. (2) (a) 3. s.
14118.73 (1)
, or provide the information required under sub. (7) (am) or (d) s. 118.75 or
15118.83
, by the date or within the period specified.
AB1042,76,1716 (c) Failed to refund to the state any overpayment made under sub. (4) or (4m)
17the choice program by the date specified by department rule.
AB1042,76,1818 (d) Failed to provide the information required under sub. (6m) or (6p) s. 118.78.
AB1042,76,2019 (e) Failed to comply with the requirements under sub. (7) (b), (c), or (h) or (7m)
20s. 118.76, 118.79 (3) or (4), 118.80 (3), (6), or (9) (d), or 118.81 (3) or (4).
AB1042,76,2121 (f) Violated sub. (7) (b) 4., 5., or 6. s. 118.80 (9) (a), (b), or (c).
AB1042,77,222 (g) Before the end of a 7-year period beginning on the date of an order issued
23by the state superintendent under this subsection section, s. 118.60, 2023 stats., or
24s. 119.23, 2023 stats.
, retained a disqualified person, for compensation or as a
25volunteer, as an owner, officer, director, trustee, administrator, person designated by

1the administrator to assist in processing pupil applications, or person responsible for
2administrative, financial, or pupil health and safety matters.
AB1042,180 3Section 180 . 118.60 (10) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 118.85 (2), and
4118.85 (2) (intro.), (a), (c) and (d), as renumbered, are amended to read:
AB1042,77,85 118.85 (2) Barred; following school year. (intro.) If the state superintendent
6determines that any of the following have occurred, he or she the state
7superintendent
may issue an order barring the a private school from participating
8in the choice program under this section in the following school year:
AB1042,77,109 (a) The private school has not complied with the requirements under sub. (7)
10(em)
s. 118.74 (4).
AB1042,77,1211 (c) The private school has not achieved accreditation within the period allowed
12under sub. (2) (a) 7. s. 118.74 (2) (b).
AB1042,77,1513 (d) The private school intentionally or negligently misrepresented any
14information required under this section subchapter or any rule promulgated under
15this section subchapter.
AB1042,181 16Section 181 . 118.60 (10) (ar) of the statutes is renumbered 118.85 (3) and
17amended to read:
AB1042,77,2518 118.85 (3) (a) If the state superintendent determines that a participating
19private school has failed to continuously maintain accreditation as required under
20sub. (7) (ad) s. 118.74 (4), that the governing body of the participating private school
21has withdrawn the participating private school from the accreditation process, or
22that the participating private school's accreditation has been revoked, denied, or
23terminated by an accrediting entity, the state superintendent shall issue an order
24barring the private school's participation in the choice program under this section at
25the end of the current school year.
AB1042,78,8
1(b) A private school whose participation in the choice program under this
2section
is barred under subd. 1. par. (a) may not participate in the choice program
3under this section or under s. 119.23 until the governing body of the private school
4demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that it has obtained accreditation
5from an accrediting entity, provided the accreditation is from an entity other than the
6entity with which the private school failed to continuously maintain accreditation or,
7if the private school's accreditation was revoked, denied, or terminated, other than
8the entity that revoked, denied, or terminated the private school's accreditation.
AB1042,182 9Section 182 . 118.60 (10) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 118.85 (4) and
10amended to read:
AB1042,78,1511 118.85 (4) Health and safety of pupils. The state superintendent may issue
12an order immediately terminating a private school's participation in the choice
13program under this section if he or she the state superintendent determines that
14conditions at the private school present an imminent threat to the health or safety
15of pupils.
AB1042,183 16Section 183 . 118.60 (10) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 118.85 (5) and
17amended to read:
AB1042,78,2118 118.85 (5) Parental notification. Whenever the state superintendent issues
19an order under par. (a), (am), (ar), or (b), he or she sub. (1), (2), (3), or (4), the state
20superintendent
shall immediately notify the parent or guardian of each pupil
21attending the private school under this section the choice program.
AB1042,184 22Section 184 . 118.60 (10) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 118.85 (6) and
23amended to read:
AB1042,79,3
1118.85 (6) Withholding payments. The state superintendent may withhold
2payment from a participating private school under subs. (4) and (4m) s. 118.84 if the
3participating private school violates this section subchapter or s. 115.383 (3) (b).
AB1042,185 4Section 185 . 118.60 (11) of the statutes is renumbered 118.87 and amended
5to read:
AB1042,79,6 6118.87 Department; duties. The department shall do all of the following:
AB1042,79,10 7(1) Rules. Promulgate rules to implement and administer this section
8subchapter. The department may not by rule establish standards under sub. (7) (am)
9s. 118.83 or 118.84 (7) that exceed the standards established by the American
10Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
AB1042,79,16 11(2) Notification; choice program changes. Notify each participating private
12school participating in the program under this section of any proposed changes to the
13choice program or to administrative rules governing the choice program, including
14changes to application or filing deadlines but not including changes to provisions
15governing health or safety, prior to the beginning of the school year in which the
16change takes effect.
AB1042,79,19 17(3) Notification; receipt of accreditation status. Within 10 days after
18receiving the information submitted as required under sub. (7) (em) s. 118.74 (4) (b),
19notify the participating private school of receipt of accreditation status.
AB1042,79,24 20(4) Release of public data. When the department publicly releases data
21related to enrollment of, standardized test results for, applications submitted by, or
22waiting lists for pupils participating in or seeking to participate in the choice
23program under this section, release the data all at the same time, uniformly, and
24completely.
AB1042,186 25Section 186 . 118.60 (12) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,187
1Section 187. Subchapter II (title) of chapter 118 [precedes 118.70] of the
2statutes is created to read:
AB1042,80,33 chapter 118
AB1042,80,44 Subchapter II
AB1042,80,55 Private school choice Program
AB1042,188 6Section 188. 118.70 (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (12), (16), (17), (18) and (20) of the
7statutes are created to read:
AB1042,80,88 118.70 (3) “Choice program” means any of the following:
AB1042,80,99 (a) The program administered under this subchapter.
AB1042,80,1110 (b) The program administered under s. 118.60, 2023 stats., or s. 119.23, 2023
11stats.
AB1042,80,15 12(6) “Family income" means the federal adjusted gross income of the parents of
13a pupil who reside in the same household as the pupil. “Family income" does not
14include money earned by a pupil in the work based learning program created under
15s. 118.56.
AB1042,80,17 16(7) “January count date” means the 2nd Friday in January or an alternative
17count date designated by the department under s. 118.87 (6).
AB1042,80,20 18(8) “January pupil count report” means a report submitted to the department
19that includes the number of pupils attending a participating private school under the
20choice program on the January count date.
AB1042,80,22 21(9) “Milwaukee pupil” means a pupil who resides in a 1st class city school
22district.
AB1042,80,24 23(11) (a) “Parent” means an individual who resides in the same household as a
24pupil and who is any of the following in relation to the pupil:
AB1042,80,2525 1. A biological parent.
AB1042,81,1
12. A legal guardian.
AB1042,81,22 3. An adoptive parent.
AB1042,81,33 4. A stepparent.
AB1042,81,54 (b) For purposes of par. (a), an individual listed in par. (a) 1. to 4. who is on active
5military duty is considered to reside in the same household as a pupil.
AB1042,81,76 (c) If no individual meets the requirements under par. (a), “parent” means an
7individual who has the legal authority to make educational decisions for a pupil.
AB1042,81,9 8(12) “Participating private school” means a private school participating in the
9choice program.
AB1042,81,11 10(16) “Racine pupil” means a pupil who resides in the Racine Unified School
11District.
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