AB730: Bill Text

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 730

October 6, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Vukmir, Nass, Ziegelbauer, Towns, Jensen, Van Roy, F. Lasee, Vos, Townsend, McCormick, Gunderson, Wood, Stone, Kreibich, Nischke and Wieckert, cosponsored by Senators Darling, Roessler, Stepp, Grothman, Kanavas and Lazich. Referred to Committee on Education Reform.

AB730,1,4 An Act to amend 118.40 (2r) (a) and 118.40 (2r) (b) 2.; and to create 118.40 (2r) (a) 2., 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. and 118.40 (2r) (br) of the statutes; relating to: independent charter schools established by University of Wisconsin institutions.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, school boards may enter into contracts with individuals, groups, businesses, or governmental bodies to establish charter schools, which operate with fewer constraints than traditional public schools. Current law also permits the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the city of Milwaukee to operate charter schools (independent charter schools) directly or to contract for the operation of charter schools. Only pupils who reside in the school district in which an independent charter school is located may attend the charter school.

This bill allows any baccalaureate or graduate degree granting institution within the University of Wisconsin System to operate or to contract for the operation of a charter school with the approval of the Board of Regents. Under the bill, the chancellor of any such University of Wisconsin System institution (other than the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or the University of Wisconsin-Parkside) may request the state superintendent of public instruction for approval to establish or contract for the establishment of up to five charter schools. The state superintendent must approve the first five requests received and must maintain a waiting list. Each approved institution must submit a charter school plan to the state superintendent. Among other things, the plan must describe the institution's plan for soliciting charter school proposals and for monitoring charter schools that are established.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB730, s. 1 Section 1. 118.40 (2r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB730,2,2 118.40 (2r) (a) In this subsection, "instructional:

AB730,2,4 1. "Instructional staff" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the department under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 2.

AB730, s. 2 Section 2. 118.40 (2r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB730,2,6 118.40 (2r) (a) 2. "University" has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (13).

AB730, s. 3 Section 3. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. of the statutes is created to read:

AB730,2,8 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. The chancellor of a university, as provided in par. (br).

AB730, s. 4 Section 4. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB730,2,18 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. A charter shall include all of the provisions specified under sub. (1m) (b) 3. to 14. A contract shall include all of the provisions specified under sub. (1m) (b) 1. to 14. and shall specify the effect of the establishment of the charter school on the liability of the contracting entity under this paragraph. The contract may include other provisions agreed to by the parties. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside a university may not establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school under this paragraph without the approval of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB730, s. 5 Section 5. 118.40 (2r) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

AB730,3,5 118.40 (2r) (br) The chancellor of a university, other than those specified in par. (b) 1. b. and c., may request the state superintendent for approval to establish or contract for the establishment of up to 5 charter schools. The state superintendent shall approve the first 5 requests received and shall maintain a waiting list of universities whose requests are received after the first 5.

AB730,3,15 2. By March 1, 2007, or by a date specified by the state superintendent for universities selected from the waiting list, the chancellor of each approved university shall submit a charter school plan to the state superintendent. The plan shall describe the university's plan for soliciting charter school proposals and for monitoring charter schools that are established. The plan shall also describe how the university intends to collaborate with school boards and state and local organizations to establish charter schools that encourage the development and implementation of innovative teaching methods and the improvement of the educational system. The state superintendent shall post the plans on the department's Internet site.

AB730,3,20 3. If an approved university fails to submit a plan by the date specified under subd. 2., the university may not establish or contract for the establishment of a charter school. Instead, the state superintendent shall notify all of the remaining universities that the first to submit a plan, as described under subd. 2., will be eligible to establish or contract for the establishment of up to 5 charter schools.

AB730, s. 6 Section 6. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB730,3,24 (1) No charter school established by a university, other than the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, may begin operating before July 1, 2007.

AB730,3,25 (End)