AB919: Bill Text

AB919, s. 27 Section 27. 119.23 (7) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,16,8 119.23 (7) (b) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall do all of the following:

AB919,16,10 1. Administer to any pupils attending the 3rd grade in the private school under this section a standardized reading test developed by the department.

AB919,16,13 2. Employ a reading specialist licensed by the department to develop and coordinate a comprehensive reading curriculum and annually evaluate the curriculum.

AB919,16,17 3. Ensure that all instructional staff in the private school hold a license or permit to teach issued by the department. For purposes of this subdivision, "instructional staff" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the department under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 2.

AB919,16,20 4. Maintain progress records for each pupil attending the private school under this section while the pupil attends the school and, except as provided under subd. 7., for at least 5 years after the pupil ceases to attend the school.

AB919,16,23 5. Upon request, provide a pupil or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil who is attending the private school under this section with a copy of the pupil's progress records.

AB919,17,3 6. Issue a high school diploma or certificate to each pupil who attends the private school under this section and satisfactorily completes the course of instruction and any other requirements necessary for high school graduation.

AB919,17,6 7. If the private school ceases operating as a private school, immediately transfer all of the progress records of the pupils who attended the school under this section to the board.

AB919, s. 28 Section 28. 119.23 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 119.23 (7) (c) 1. and amended to read:

AB919,17,17 119.23 (7) (c) 1. A private school may not require a pupil attending the private school under this section to participate in any religious activity if the pupil's parent or guardian submits to the pupil's teacher or the private school's principal a written request that the pupil be exempt from such activities the activity. The private school shall ensure that a pupil who is exempt from participating in a religious activity under this subdivision is not present in the room in which the religious activity occurs. A private school shall provide each person who applies to attend the private school under this section with a copy of a statement embodying the prohibition under this subdivision.

AB919, s. 29 Section 29. 119.23 (7) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,18,2 119.23 (7) (c) 2. Each private school participating in the program under this section shall adopt a policy implementing subd. 1. and provide a copy of the policy to each person who expresses an interest in attending the private school under this section and annually to the department with the notice under sub. (2) (a) 3. The private school shall include in the policy a list of the school activities that it has determined are religious activities for the purpose of subd. 1. The list shall include religious worship, religious instruction, and any school activity that the private school has determined is sectarian, proselytizing, or religiously doctrinal in nature.

AB919, s. 30 Section 30. 119.23 (7) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,18,8 119.23 (7) (c) 3. Each private school participating in the program under this section shall provide a pupil who is exempt from one or more religious activities under subd. 1. with a sufficient number of hours of instruction to meet the requirement under sub. (2) (a) 8. and to enable the pupil to advance from grade to grade in the private school.

AB919, s. 31 Section 31. 119.23 (7) (c) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,18,12 119.23 (7) (c) 4. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection, including rules specifying the supervision required for pupils who are exempt from religious activities under subd. 1.

AB919, s. 32 Section 32. 119.23 (7) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB919,18,24 119.23 (7) (e) 1. Annually In the 2007-08 school year, each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer a nationally normed standardized test in reading, mathematics, and science to pupils attending the school under the program in the 4th, 8th, and 10th grades. Beginning in the 2008-09 school year and annually thereafter, each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer the examinations required under s. 118.30 (1s) to pupils attending the school under the program. The private school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils. Beginning in 2006 and annually thereafter until 2011, the private school shall provide the scores of all standardized tests and examinations that it administers under this subdivision to the School Choice Demonstration Project legislative audit bureau.

AB919, s. 33 Section 33. 119.23 (7) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB919,19,8 119.23 (7) (e) 2. The legislative audit bureau shall review and analyze the standardized test score data received from the School Choice Demonstration Project under subd. 1. Based on its review, in 2007 and annually thereafter until 2011, the bureau shall report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) the results of the standardized tests administered under subd. 1., the scores of a representative sample of pupils participating in the program on the tests under ss. 118.30 and 121.02 (1) (r), and the scores of a comparable group of pupils enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter on the tests under ss. 118.30 and 121.02 (1) (r).

AB919, s. 34 Section 34. 119.23 (10) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB919,19,11 119.23 (10) (a) 4. Failed to meet at least one 3 of the standards under sub. (7) (a) by the date specified by department rule.

AB919, s. 35 Section 35. 119.23 (10) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,19,13 119.23 (10) (a) 5. Failed to provide the information required under sub. (6m).

AB919, s. 36 Section 36. 119.23 (10) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,19,16 119.23 (10) (a) 6. Failed to comply with the requirements under sub. (7) (b) or (c).

AB919, s. 37 Section 37. 119.23 (10) (a) 7. of the statutes is created to read:

AB919,19,18 119.23 (10) (a) 7. Violated sub. (7) (b) 4., 5., or 6.

AB919, s. 38 Section 38. 119.23 (10) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB919,19,22 119.23 (10) (d) The state superintendent may withhold payment from a parent or guardian under subs. (4) and (4m) if the private school attended by the child of the parent or guardian violates this section or s. 118.25 (4).

AB919, s. 39 Section 39. Initial applicability.

AB919,20,2 (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), this act first applies to private schools participating in the program under section 119.23 of the statutes and to pupils who apply to attend, and to pupils who attend, a private school under section 119.23 of the statutes in the 2008-09 school year.

AB919,20,5 (2) The treatment of sections 115.28 (7) (b) and 119.23 (7) (b) 3. of the statutes first applies to a private school participating in the program under section 119.23 of the statutes in the 2009-10 school year.

AB919,20,8 (3) The treatment of section 118.19 (1) of the statutes first applies to a person seeking to teach in a private school participating in the program under section 119.23 of the statutes in the 2009-10 school year.

AB919,20,9 (End)