119.18(6)
(6) School calendar. The board may determine the school calendar and vacation periods for each school year for the regular day schools, summer schools, social centers and playgrounds, except that:
119.18(6)(a)
(a) The period of teaching service in the regular day schools shall not exceed 200 days, including the legal holidays and educational convention days on which the schools are closed.
119.18(6)(b)
(b) The board may close any school or dismiss any class in the event of an emergency, fire or other casualty, quarantine or epidemic.
119.18(7)
(7) School hours. The board may establish rules scheduling the hours of each school day during which the schools shall be in session. The board may differentiate between the various grades in scheduling such school hours.
119.18(8)
(8) Schools closed. The board may determine on which national, state and local legal holidays and for which educational conventions the public schools shall be closed. There shall be no deductions from the annual or monthly compensation of employes not rendering services on such days.
119.18(9)
(9) Enrollment under legal name. The board may require that any pupil attending public school shall be enrolled under the pupil's legal name.
119.18(10)(b)(b) Subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53 when applicable, the board may employ and determine the qualifications, duties and compensation of any persons as are required in the operation and management of the schools.
119.18(10)(c)
(c) The board may employ a staff to aid it in its duties. The board shall determine the compensation, duties and qualifications of its staff, including whether or not employment of such staff shall be subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53.
119.18(11)
(11) Bonded officers and employes. The board may require any officer or employe of the board to give security for the faithful performance of the officer's or employe's duties in such form and amount as the board determines, and may require at any time additional bonds and sureties of any officer or employe.
119.18(12)
(12) Employer contribution. The board may make as the employer agency the contributions to the city retirement system payable under
chapter 396, laws of 1937, in respect to its employes who are members of such system.
119.18(13)
(13) Exchange teachers. The board may make an agreement with the managing body of the schools in any city or school district in the United States or another country for the exchange of one of the board's teachers for a teacher of such other city or school district for a period not exceeding one school year. The board shall determine the qualifications and compensation of the teacher rendering service under the agreement in the schools under its jurisdiction, who shall be counted as a regular teacher in the city in the computation of state and county school aids. The agreement shall state:
119.18(13)(a)
(a) The manner and by whom the salaries of such exchange teachers shall be paid.
119.18(13)(b)
(b) That any teacher regularly employed by the board under this chapter shall receive credit for the year of exchange teaching service in the computation of any benefits to which the teacher is entitled under
ch. 40 and the manner in which the monthly reservations shall be paid under that subchapter.
119.18(13)(c)
(c) Such other provisions as the board and the other managing body deem appropriate.
119.18(14)
(14) Sales and charges. The board may establish and maintain, in any of the schools or playgrounds under its jurisdiction, cafeterias and stores for the sale of schoolbooks, candies, refreshments and supplies. The board also may charge or permit the making of a charge for admission to any school, social center or athletic entertainment or activity, under such terms and conditions as the board prescribes.
119.18(15)
(15) Lease school property. In addition to any other authority, the board may lease school sites, buildings and equipment not needed for school purposes to any person for any lawful use at a reasonable rental for a term not exceeding 15 years.
119.18(16)
(16) Gifts and grants. The board may receive, accept and use gifts or grants of furniture, books, equipment, supplies, moneys, securities or other property used or useful for school and educational purposes. The board shall make such use of gifts or grants, or invest the same in the case of moneys, as the donor or grantor specifies. In the absence of any specific direction as to the use of such gifts or grants by a donor or grantor, the board may determine the use of or may invest the same in accordance with the law applicable to trust investments. In the use, control or investment of such gifts or grants, the board may exercise the rights and powers generally conferred upon trustees.
119.18(17)
(17) Purchases from house of correction. The board may purchase for use in the schools, from any county in which the city is located, furniture, furnishings and equipment manufactured in any house of correction under
s. 303.16 (1). The board may waive the furnishing by the county or institution of bid bonds and performance bonds otherwise required by the statutes in connection with any such purchase.
119.18(18)
(18) Copyright materials. The board may copyright under the applicable federal laws any book, pamphlet, bulletin or record form edited and published by or under the direction of the board.
119.18(19)
(19) Fences. The board may construct around any schoolhouse or playground site a fence of materials and design approved by the board.
119.18(20)
(20) Diplomas. The board may grant diplomas in testimony of the completion of high school or special education requirements, including the requirements of special schools established under
s. 119.28.
119.18(21)
(21) Rules on conduct and dress. The board may establish rules pertaining to conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum and a favorable academic atmosphere.
119.18(22)
(22) Records custodian. On behalf of any school district authority as defined in
s. 19.32 (1), including the board, school district officers and any subunit of the board or school district, designate one or more persons to be legal custodians of records.
119.18(23)
(23) School closings. The board may close any school that it determines is low in performance by adopting a resolution to that effect. If the superintendent of schools recommends to the board that a school be closed, he or she shall state the reasons for the recommendation in writing. If the board closes a school, the superintendent of schools may reassign the school's staff members without regard to seniority in service. If the board reopens the school, the superintendent of schools may reassign staff members to the school without regard to seniority in service.
119.19
119.19
Released time for religious instruction. 119.19(1)
(1) The board may permit a pupil, with the written permission of the pupil's parent or guardian, to be absent from school for up to 180 minutes per week to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. The board shall determine periods allotted for the pupil to be absent from school for the purpose of religious instruction. Monthly, the supervisor of the religious instruction shall report the names of the pupils who attended such weekly religious instruction to the principal of the school that the pupil regularly attends. The board may withdraw permission to be absent from school if a pupil does not attend the religious instruction.
119.19(2)
(2) The board is not responsible for transporting a pupil to or from religious instruction under
sub. (1).
119.19(3)
(3) The board is released from all liability for a pupil who is absent from school under
sub. (1).
119.19 History
History: 1989 a. 267.
119.22
119.22
Sex discrimination in physical education or physical training prohibited. Courses in physical education or physical training may not discriminate on the basis of sex in the provision of necessary facilities, equipment, instruction or financial support, or the opportunity to participate in any physical education or training activity as provided in
20 USC 1681 et seq.
119.23
119.23
Milwaukee parental choice program. 119.23(2)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within the city may attend, at no charge, any private school located in the city if all of the following apply:
119.23(2)(a)1.
1. The pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 1.75 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.
119.23(2)(a)2.
2. In the previous school year the pupil was enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter, was attending a private school under this section, was enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3 in a private school located in the city other than under this section or was not enrolled in school.
119.23(2)(a)3.
3. The private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section by May 1 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section for which the school has space.
119.23(2)(a)5.
5. The private school meets all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.
119.23(2)(b)
(b) No more than 15% of the school district's membership may attend private schools under this section. If in any school year there are more spaces available in the participating private schools than the maximum number of pupils allowed to participate, the department shall prorate the number of spaces available at each participating private school.
119.23(3)(a)(a) The pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian shall submit an application, on a form provided by the state superintendent, to the participating private school that the pupil wishes to attend. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether the application has been accepted. The state superintendent shall ensure that the private school determines which pupils to accept on a random basis, except that the private school may give preference in accepting applications to siblings of pupils accepted on a random basis.
119.23(3)(b)
(b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the pupil may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available.
119.23(4)
(4) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school, the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the total amount to which the school district is entitled under
s. 121.08 divided by the school district membership, or an amount equal to the private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil that is related to educational programming, as determined by the department, whichever is less. The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The department shall send the check to the private school. The parent or guardian shall restrictively endorse the check for the use of the private school.
119.23(5)
(5) The state superintendent shall:
119.23(5)(a)
(a) Annually reduce the aid paid to the board under
s. 121.08 by an amount determined as follows:
119.23(5)(a)1.
1. Divide the total amount to which the school district is entitled under
s. 121.08 by the school district membership.
119.23(5)(a)2.
2. Multiply the quotient under
subd. 1. by the number of pupils attending private schools under this section.
119.23(5)(b)
(b) Ensure that aid paid to other school districts under
s. 121.08 is neither reduced nor increased as a result of the payments under
sub. (4) or the reduction in aid to the board under
par. (a) and that the amount of the aid reduction under
par. (a) lapses to the general fund.
119.23(5)(c)
(c) Ensure that pupils and parents and guardians of pupils who reside in the city are informed annually of the private schools participating in the program under this section.
119.23(6)
(6) The board shall provide transportation to pupils attending a private school under this section if required under
s. 121.54 and may claim transportation aid under
s. 121.58 for pupils so transported.
119.23(7)(a)(a) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall meet at least one of the following standards:
119.23(7)(a)1.
1. At least 70% of the pupils in the program advance one grade level each year.
119.23(7)(a)2.
2. The private school's average attendance rate for the pupils in the program is at least 90%.
119.23(7)(a)3.
3. At least 80% of the pupils in the program demonstrate significant academic progress.
119.23(7)(a)4.
4. At least 70% of the families of pupils in the program meet parent involvement criteria established by the private school.
119.23(7)(am)
(am) Each private school participating in the program under this section is subject to uniform financial accounting standards established by the department and annually shall submit to the department an independent financial audit of the private school.
119.23(7)(b)
(b) The state superintendent shall monitor the performance of the pupils attending private schools under this section. If the state superintendent determines in any school year that the private school is not meeting at least one of the standards under
par. (a), that private school may not participate in the program under this section in the following school year.
119.23(7)(c)
(c) 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.
119.23(8)
(8) There is created a pupil assignment council composed of one representative from each private school participating in the program under this section. Annually by June 30, the council shall make recommendations to the participating private schools to achieve, to the extent possible, a balanced representation of pupils participating in the program under this section.
119.23(9)
(9) The legislative audit bureau shall perform a financial and performance evaluation audit on the program under this section. The bureau shall submit copies of the audit report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3) by January 15, 2000.
119.23 Annotation
This section is constitutional. Jackson v. Benson, 218 W (2d) 835, 578 NW (2d) 602 (1998).
119.23 Annotation
Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Upheld. Beard. 75 MLR 673 (1992).
119.23 Annotation
The Constitutional Implications of School Choice. 1992 WLR 459.
119.23 Annotation
Opening the Door to School Choice in Wisconsin. Is Agnosti v. Felton the Key? Kimball. 81 MLR 843 (1998).
119.235
119.235
Contracts with private schools and agencies. 119.235(1)(1) The board may contract with any nonsectarian private school located in the city or any nonsectarian private agency located in the city to provide educational programs to pupils enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter. The board shall ensure that each private school or agency under contract with the board complies with
ss. 118.125 and
118.13,
20 USC 1232g,
20 USC 1681 to
1688,
20 USC 3171 to
3197,
29 USC 794,
42 USC 2000d and
42 USC 6101 to
6107, and all health and safety laws and rules that apply to public schools.
119.235(2)
(2) Each private school or agency under contract with the board shall do all of the following:
119.235(2)(b)
(b) Participate in the board's parent information program.
119.235(2)(c)
(c) Offer diverse opportunities for parents to participate in the school's programs.
119.235(2)(d)
(d) Meet insurance and financial requirements established by the board.
119.235(2)(e)
(e) Develop a pupil recruitment and enrollment plan that incorporates all of the following:
119.235(2)(e)2.
2. A pupil selection process that gives preference to the siblings of enrolled pupils and that gives no other preferences except those approved by the board.
119.235(2)(e)3.
3. A statement describing how the plan will serve the needs of low-academic achievers and pupils from low-income families.
119.235(2)(f)
(f) Report to the board any information requested by the board.
119.235(3)
(3) Any pupil enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter may attend, at no charge, any private school or agency with which the board has contracted under
sub. (1) if space is available in the private school or agency.
119.235(4)
(4) The board shall establish appropriate, quantifiable performance standards for pupils at each private school or agency with which it contracts in such areas as attendance, reading achievement, pupil retention, pupil promotion, parent surveys, credits earned and grade point average.
119.235(5)
(5) Annually, the board shall monitor the performance of the program under this section. The board may use the results of standardized basic educational skills tests to do so. The board shall include a summary of its findings in its annual report to the state superintendent under
s. 119.44.
119.235 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
119.24
119.24
Admission of pupils. Each school under the jurisdiction of the board shall be open to pupils residing within the attendance district established for that school under
s. 119.16 (2). A pupil residing in any such district may attend a school in another district with the written permission of the superintendent of schools.
119.24 History
History: 1985 a. 29.
119.25
119.25
Expulsion of pupils.
