SB76: Bill Text

LRB-1232/3

FFK:jld:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Senate BILL 76

March 13, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Vukmir, Farrow and Grothman, cosponsored by Representatives Kooyenga, Honadel, J. Ott, Kleefisch, Stone, Hutton, Pridemore, Sanfelippo and Ballweg. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB76,1,2 An Act to create 118.40 (3) (f) of the statutes; relating to: contracts for additional charter schools.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a school board may enter into a contract with an individual, group, business, or governmental body to establish a charter school, which operates with fewer constraints than traditional public schools. Current law also permits the University of Wisconsin (UW) Milwaukee, UW-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.

This bill requires a school board or other entity that has contracted with a person to operate a charter school to amend the contract or enter into a new contract with the operator to allow the operator to establish an additional charter school if, in the school report published by the Department of Public Instruction for the two most recent school years, each of the charter schools operated by the person in this state received a rating of "significantly exceeds expectations" or "exceeds expectations."

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

SB76,1 Section 1. 118.40 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB76,2,8 118.40 (3) (f) 1. A school board or entity under sub. (2r) (b) that has contracted with a person to operate a charter school shall, upon receiving an application under subd. 2. from the person, amend the existing contract or enter into a new contract with the person to allow the person to operate an additional charter school if, in the school reports published by the department for the two most recent school years, each of the charter schools operated by the person in this state received a rating of "significantly exceeds expectations" or "exceeds expectations," or the equivalent highest 2 performance categories.

SB76,2,11 2. A person applying to operate an additional charter school under this paragraph shall submit to a school board or entity under sub. (2r) (b) with which the person has an existing contract an application containing all of the following:

SB76,2,13 a. The date on which instruction will begin at the additional charter school. The date must be during the term of the existing contract.

SB76,2,14 b. The general location of the additional charter school.

SB76,2,17 c. A description of any potential facility that may be used by the additional charter school, including the approximate number of pupils that each facility may safely accommodate.

SB76,2,20 d. The rating that each charter school that the person operates in this state received in the school reports published by the department for the two most recent school years.

SB76,2,21 (End)