LRB-3732/3
PG:kjf:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
January 10, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives Knudson, Kestell, Thiesfeldt,
Steineke, Pridemore, T. Larson, Schraa, Bernier, Born, Jacque, Jagler,
Kleefisch, LeMahieu, Murtha, Severson, Spiros, Tittl, Marklein, A. Ott,
Ripp and Bies, cosponsored by Senator Grothman. Referred to Committee on
Education.
AB617,1,3 1An Act to create 118.298 of the statutes; relating to: directing the Department
2of Public Instruction to establish model academic standards and granting
3rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to promulgate rules
establishing model academic standards in mathematics, English, science, advanced
mathematics, social studies, and arts. The bill requires DPI, in promulgating each
rule, to appoint an advisory committee consisting of education professionals and
members of the public and to hold a public hearing in each of the state's congressional
districts.
The bill requires that the academic standards established by the rules:
1. Be clean, concise, objective, measurable, and grade-level appropriate;
2. Not require a particular teaching method or curriculum;
3. Are consistent with the U.S. and Wisconsin Constitutions; and
4. Raise pupils' academic performances.
Under the bill, the model academic standards are phased in over a six-year
period beginning with mathematics in the 2016-17 school year. Each rule sunsets
six years after its effective date.
Finally, the bill prohibits DPI from establishing academic standards except as
provided in the bill and prohibits DPI from revising or repealing the rules
promulgated under the bill.

For further information see the state 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:
AB617,1 1Section 1. 118.298 of the statutes is created to read:
AB617,2,4 2118.298 Model academic standards. (1) For the purpose of raising the
3academic expectations for pupils, the department shall promulgate the following
4rules:
AB617,2,65 (a) Effective July 1, 2016, a rule establishing model academic standards in
6mathematics.
AB617,2,87 (b) Effective July 1, 2017, a rule establishing model academic standards in
8English.
AB617,2,109 (c) Effective July 1, 2018, a rule establishing model academic standards in
10science.
AB617,2,1211 (d) Effective July 1, 2019, a rule establishing model academic standards in
12advanced mathematics.
AB617,2,1413 (e) Effective July 1, 2020, a rule establishing model academic standards in
14social studies.
AB617,2,1515 (f) Effective July 1, 2021, a rule establishing model academic standards in arts.
AB617,2,16 16(2) In promulgating each rule, the department shall do all of the following:
AB617,3,217 (a) Appoint an advisory committee under s. 227.13 consisting of parents of
18school-age children; public school, private school, and charter school teachers and
19principals; members of school boards and charter school governing boards; members
20of the faculty at postsecondary institutions in this state who teach core academic
21subjects; members of boards of control of cooperative educational service agencies;

1members of a statewide organization that represents the state's business
2community; and other members of the public.
AB617,3,43 (b) Hold at least one public hearing under ss. 227.17 and 227.18 in each of this
4state's congressional districts.
AB617,3,65 (c) Ensure that the rule-making process is open to the public to the greatest
6extent feasible and consider all public comments.
AB617,3,87 (d) Ensure that the academic standard is clear, concise, objective, measurable,
8and grade-level appropriate.
AB617,3,109 (e) Ensure that the academic standard does not require a particular teaching
10method or curriculum.
AB617,3,1211 (f) Ensure that the standard is consistent with the U.S. Constitution and the
12Wisconsin Constitution.
AB617,3,1413 (g) Ensure that the academic standard will have the effect of raising pupils'
14academic performances.
AB617,3,17 15(2m) (a) The advisory committee appointed under sub. (2) (a) shall meet and
16take public testimony before the rule-making process for the rules promulgated
17under this section begins and shall meet periodically thereafter during the process.
AB617,3,2218 (b) The department shall maintain a record of the testimony before the advisory
19committee and a record of recommendations made by the advisory committee. The
20department shall make the testimony and the recommendations publicly available
21as quickly as possible and provide a copy to the chairpersons of the committees in the
22assembly and senate whose subject matter is elementary and secondary education.
AB617,3,25 23(3) Each rule promulgated under this section shall specify that it does not apply
24beginning on the first day of the 72nd month beginning after the effective date of the
25rule.
AB617,4,4
1(4) (a) Any academic standards adopted by the department and in effect on the
2effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], may not be revised. They
3remain in effect until the academic standards promulgated by rule under this section
4take effect.
AB617,4,75 (b) The department may not establish academic standards except as provided
6in this section. The department may not revise or repeal the rules promulgated
7under this section.
AB617,4,88 (End)
Loading...
Loading...