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LRB-1027/P2
TKK:jld:ph
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Hynek, BB0326 - Choice Schools in Multiple Programs
For 2013-2015 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
education
Primary and secondary education
Under current law, in order to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), a private school must notify DPI of its intent to participate in the MPCP and pay a fee established by DPI; in order to participate in the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP), the private school must separately notify DPI of its intent to participate in the RPCP and pay a fee established by DPI. Current law also requires a private school to obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity or organization in order to participate in a choice program. In addition, current law requires DPI to provide pupils who are eligible to enroll in a participating private school, or the parents or guardians of those pupils, with a list of the names of any such participating private school.
This bill provides that a private school may participate in the MPCP if it has paid the fee to and notified DPI of its intent to participate in the RPCP, and may participate in the RPCP if it has paid the fee to and notified DPI of its intent to participate in the MPCP. The bill also clarifies that a participating private school that has satisfied the accreditation requirements under one choice program also satisfies the accreditation requirements to participate in the other choice program. Finally, the bill requires DPI to provide eligible pupils or their parents or guardians of a list of private schools participating in both the MPCP and the RPCP.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 118.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.60 (5) The state superintendent shall ensure that pupils and parents and guardians of pupils who reside in an eligible school district are informed annually of the private schools participating in the program under this section and in the program under s. 119.23.
Section 2. 119.23 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
119.23 (2) (a) 3. Except as provided in subd. 3m. b., the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60, and paid a the nonrefundable annual fee set by the department, 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. 118.60 for which the school has space. The department shall by rule set the fee charged under this subdivision at an amount such that the total fee revenue covers the costs of employing one full-time auditor to evaluate the financial information submitted by private schools under sub. (7) (am) and (d) 2. and 3. and under s. 118.60 (7) (am) and (d) 2. and 3.
Section 3. 119.23 (2) (a) 7. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
119.23 (2) (a) 7. b. Subject to subd. 7. c. and d., for a private school that is a first-time participant in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60 on or after July 1, 2009, and that is not accredited as provided under subd. 7. a., 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 August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program under this section that begins after July 1, 2009, July 1, 2013; by August 15 before the first school term of participation in the program under s. 118.60 that begins in the first school year that begins after a school district is identified as an eligible school district under s. 118.60 (1m) (b); or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60 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 subd. 7. b. 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 subd. 7. b. 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 that begins after July 1, 2009, in which it participates in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60. If the private school is accredited under this subd. 7. b., 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.
Section 4. 119.23 (2) (a) 7. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
119.23 (2) (a) 7. c. On or after July 1, 2009, a private school participating or seeking to participate in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60 may not apply for accreditation by the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, except that a private school that has applied for accreditation to the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University before July 1, 2009, may complete the accreditation process with the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, and may seek renewal of accreditation from the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University.
Section 5. 119.23 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.23 (5) The state superintendent shall ensure that pupils and parents and guardians of pupils who reside in the city are informed annually of the private schools participating in the program under this section and in the program under s. 118.60.
(End)