115.37
115.37
Council on the education of the blind. The council on the education of the blind shall make recommendations as to procedures and policies affecting any problem of children with visual impairments before the department. The council shall advise on such services, activities, programs, investigations and researches as in its judgment will contribute to the welfare of persons with visual impairments. The state superintendent shall seek the advice of and consult with the council on problems and policy changes affecting persons with visual impairments in the department's jurisdiction, and the council may initiate consultations with the department. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the council shall have access to files, records and statistics kept in the department which relate to matters concerning children with visual impairments.
115.38
115.38
School performance report; educational program review. 115.38(1)(1) The state superintendent shall develop a school and school district performance report for use by school districts under
sub. (2). The report shall include all of the following by school and by school district:
115.38(1)(a)
(a) Indicators of academic achievement, including the performance of pupils on the tests administered under
s. 121.02 (1) (r) and the performance of pupils, by subject area, on the statewide assessment examinations administered under
s. 118.30.
115.38(1)(b)
(b) Other indicators of school and school district performance, including dropout, attendance, retention in grade and graduation rates; numbers of suspensions and expulsions; percentage of habitual truants, as defined in
s. 118.16 (1) (a); percentage of pupils participating in extracurricular and community activities and advanced placement courses; percentage of graduates enrolled in postsecondary educational programs; and percentage of graduates entering the workforce.
115.38(1)(c)
(c) Staffing and financial data information, as determined by the state superintendent, not to exceed 10 items. The state superintendent may not request a school board to provide information solely for the purpose of including the information in the report under this paragraph.
115.38(1)(d)
(d) The number and percentage of resident pupils attending a course in a nonresident school district under
s. 118.52, the number of nonresident pupils attending a course in the school district under
s. 118.52, and the courses taken by those pupils.
115.38(1)(e)
(e) The method of reading instruction used in the school district and the textbook series used to teach reading in the school district.
115.38(2)
(2) By January 1, 1993, and annually thereafter by January 1, each school board shall distribute to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, or give to each pupil to bring home to his or her parent or guardian, a school and school district performance report that includes the information specified by the state superintendent under
sub. (1).
115.38(3)
(3) Annually, the state superintendent shall publish and distribute to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) a summary of the reports under
sub. (2).
115.38(4)
(4) Beginning in the 1993-94 school year and annually thereafter, the state superintendent shall identify those school districts that are low in performance and those schools in which there are pupils enrolled who do not meet the state minimum performance standards on the examinations administered under
s. 118.30. The state superintendent shall make recommendations regarding how the programs and operations of the identified school districts and schools may be improved and periodically assess school district implementation of the recommendations.
115.39
115.39
Administrative leadership academy. The department may establish and maintain an administrative leadership academy to enhance the knowledge and skills of mid-career school district administrators and principals. The department shall establish and charge a fee for participation in the administrative leadership academy. The moneys from the fee payments shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (hf).
115.39 History
History: 1987 a. 27.
115.405
115.405
Grant program for peer review and mentoring. 115.405(1)(1) A cooperative educational service agency or a consortium consisting of 2 or more school districts or cooperative educational service agencies, or a combination thereof, may apply to the department for a grant to provide technical assistance and training for teachers who are licensed or have been issued a permit under
ss. 115.28 (7) and
118.192 to implement peer review and mentoring programs. An applicant for a grant under this section shall submit to the department a plan identifying the school districts and cooperative educational service agencies that will participate in the peer review and mentoring program and describing how the grant funds will be allocated. As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a cooperative educational service agency or a consortium shall provide matching funds in an amount equal to at least 20% of the amount of the grant awarded. The matching funds may be in the form of money or in-kind services or both.
115.405(2)
(2) The department shall award grants from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fk). The department may not award more than $25,000 to an applicant in a fiscal year.
115.405(3)
(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
115.405 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
115.41
115.41
Teacher improvement program. The state superintendent shall operate a program to provide prospective teachers with one-semester internships under the supervision of licensed teachers. The program may also fund in-service activities and professional staff development research projects. The state superintendent shall charge school districts fees for participation in the program. Program costs shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (hg).
115.42
115.42
National teacher certification. 115.42(1)(a)(a) In the 1999-2000 school year the department shall award a $2,000 grant to any person who satisfies all of the following requirements:
115.42(1)(a)1.
1. The person is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards before July 1, 2000.
115.42(1)(a)2.
2. The person is licensed as a teacher by the state superintendent or employed as a teacher in a private school located in this state.
115.42(2)
(2) In the 2000-01 school year the department shall award a $2,500 grant to each person who received a grant under
sub. (1) if the person satisfies all of the following requirements:
115.42(2)(a)
(a) The person maintains his or her certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
115.42(2)(b)
(b) The person maintains his or her license as a teacher by the state superintendent or remains employed in a private school located in this state.
115.42(2)(c)
(c) The person remains a resident of this state.
115.42(2)(d)
(d) The person remains employed as a teacher in this state.
115.42(3)
(3) The department may not require, as a condition for renewing a person's teaching license, that the person have earned continuing professional education credits or their equivalent in the 5 years immediately preceding his or her application for renewal if he or she has been initially certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards during those 5 years.
115.42(4)
(4) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including rules relating to all of the following:
115.42(4)(a)
(a) The application process, including necessary documentation.
115.42(4)(b)
(b) The selection process for grant recipients.
115.42(4)(c)
(c) The number of times that a teacher may be exempt from continuing professional education requirements under
sub. (3).
115.42 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
115.425
115.425
Professional standards council for teachers. The professional standards council for teachers shall do all of the following:
115.425(1)
(1) Advise the state superintendent on standards for the licensure of teachers, including initial licensure and maintenance and renewal of licenses, to ensure the effective teaching of a relevant curriculum in Wisconsin schools.
115.425(2)
(2) Propose to the state superintendent standards for evaluating and approving teacher education programs, including continuing education programs.
115.425(3)
(3) Provide to the state superintendent an ongoing assessment of the complexities of teaching and the status of the teaching profession in this state.
115.425(4)
(4) Propose to the state superintendent policies and practices for school boards and state and local teacher organizations to use in developing effective teaching.
115.425(5)
(5) Propose to the state superintendent standards and procedures for revoking a teaching license.
115.425(6)
(6) Propose to the state superintendent ways to recognize excellence in teaching, including the assessment administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and master educator licensure, and to assist teachers to achieve excellence in teaching.
115.425(7)
(7) Propose to the state superintendent effective peer assistance and peer mentoring models, including evaluation systems, and alternative teacher dismissal procedures for consideration by school boards and labor organizations.
115.425(8)
(8) Review and make recommendations regarding administrative rules proposed by the department that relate to teacher preparation, licensure and regulation.
115.425(9)
(9) Propose to the state superintendent alternative procedures for the preparation and licensure of teachers.
115.425(11)
(11) Report annually to the standing committees in each house of the legislature that deal with education matters on the activities and effectiveness of the council.
115.425 Note
NOTE: This section was created as 115.42 by
1997 Wis. Act 298 and renumbered by the revisor under s. 13.93 (1) (b).
115.425 History
History: 1997 a. 298; s. 13.93 (1) (b).
115.43
115.43
Minority group pupil scholarships. 115.43(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, "minority group pupil" means a pupil who is a Black American, an American Indian, a Spanish-surnamed American or an Oriental American.
115.43(2)
(2) Scholarships. The state superintendent shall:
115.43(2)(a)
(a) Annually set goals relating to increasing the percentages of minority group pupils who graduate from high school and are prepared for postsecondary school education.
115.43(2)(b)
(b) From the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (3) (fz), award precollege scholarships, on a competitive basis, to minority group pupils who enroll in a technical college or in college or university classes or programs designed to improve academic skills that are essential for success in postsecondary school education. The state superintendent shall give preference to minority group pupils who are inadequately represented in the technical college and university of Wisconsin systems.
115.43(2)(c)
(c) In consultation with postsecondary educational institutions, promulgate rules establishing criteria for the review and approval of applications for scholarships under
par. (b).
115.44
115.44
Early identification program. 115.44(1)
(1) The state superintendent shall establish an early identification program as part of the Wisconsin educational opportunity program under
s. 115.28 (23). Early identification program costs shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (a). The early identification program shall assist minority and economically disadvantaged pupils in grades 8 to 12 in pursuing higher educational opportunities by providing direction toward attainment of career goals.
115.44(2)
(2) Biennially, the state superintendent shall provide the governor and any appropriate standing committee of the legislature information on the performance of the early identification program and the postsecondary educational progress of the pupils who were enrolled in the program. The information shall include the number and ethnic backgrounds of the pupils who were enrolled in the program and college acceptance, retention and graduation rates of the pupils.
115.45
115.45
Grants for preschool to grade 5 programs. 115.45(2)(a)(a) Annually by September 15, the school board, on its own initiative or upon receipt of an application from the principal of an elementary school located in the school district, may apply to the state superintendent for a grant under this section. The application shall include a plan specifying how the school board intends to meet the requirements under
sub. (4), explaining the school board's selection process for individual schools and private service providers and identifying the schools in the school district, or the private service providers certified by the school board as providing the services under
sub. (4) (b), to which the grant funds will be applied.
115.45(2)(b)
(b) The council for Milwaukee public schools grant programs under
s. 115.28 (20) shall review the applications submitted under
par. (a) and make recommendations to the state superintendent regarding the schools to be selected and amounts of the grants to be awarded. The council's recommendations shall be based upon and include information regarding the degree to which the proposed projects will effectively meet the requirements under
sub. (4).
115.45(3)
(3) The state superintendent shall determine the amount of the grant, if any, to be awarded a school board submitting an application under
sub. (2) (a). Amounts awarded shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (do). Amounts awarded shall be used by the school board to supplement existing elementary school programs and not to supplant or replace funds otherwise available for such programs.
115.45(3m)(a)2.
2. "Low-income pupil" means a pupil for whom aid to families with dependent children is being received under
s. 49.19 or a pupil who is a member of a Wisconsin works group, as defined in
s. 49.141 (1) (s), with a member who is participating in Wisconsin works under
s. 49.147 (3) to
(5).
115.45(3m)(b)
(b) The state superintendent shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to all of the following programs:
115.45(3m)(b)1.
1. Programs in existence on August 9, 1989, that have proven successful.
115.45(3m)(b)2.
2. Programs established in school districts with a high number of dropouts and low-income pupils.
115.45(4)
(4) The school board receiving an award under this section shall ensure that the schools or private service providers identified under
sub. (2) (a) comply with all of the following requirements:
115.45(4)(a)
(a) Each identified school or private service provider shall provide structured educational experiences for 4-year-old pupils. The structured educational experiences shall focus on the needs of low-income pupils and shall include activities that encourage early skill development.
115.45(4)(b)
(b) Each identified school or private service provider shall annually test the pupils enrolled in grades 1 to 5 in reading, language arts and mathematics using tests approved by the department.
115.45(4)(c)
(c) Each identified school or private service provider shall implement a multidisciplinary team approach to the identification and remediation of problems of pupils with significant needs.
115.45(4)(d)
(d) Each identified school or private service provider shall restrict class size in all grades below the 6th grade to no more than 25 pupils for each teacher.
115.45(4)(e)
(e) The principal of each identified school and the administrator of each identified private service provider shall annually prepare a written performance evaluation of each staff member providing services under this subsection.
115.45(4)(f)
(f) All administrative and instructional staff in the elementary grades of each identified school or private service provider shall participate in in-service training that focuses on educational practices and policies identified by the department as effective in improving pupil achievement.
115.45(4)(g)1.
1. Establish a council composed of teachers, parents of pupils enrolled in the school district, school board members and community leaders to monitor and make recommendations to the school board concerning the school's educational programs.
115.45(4)(g)2.
2. Develop plans to encourage and increase parental involvement in efforts to improve the quality of education.
115.45(4)(h)
(h) Annually, each identified school or private service provider shall report to the state superintendent all of the following:
