115.47
115.47
Designated state official under agreement. The "designated state official" for this state under
s. 115.46 shall be the state superintendent.
115.47 History
History: 1995 a. 27 s.
9145;
1997 a. 27.
115.48
115.48
Contracts under agreement. True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this state pursuant to the agreement shall be kept on file in the department and in the office of the secretary of state. The department shall publish all such contracts in convenient form.
115.48 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 27.
STATE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND STATE CENTER FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
115.51
115.51
Definitions. In this subchapter:
115.51(2)
(2) "Deaf" includes persons who because of some pathological or functional cause cannot attain proficiency in speech without special instruction and training.
115.51(4)
(4) "Visually impaired" means loss of vision, or blindness, as described in the rule promulgated by the state superintendent to define "visual impairments" for the purposes of
s. 115.76 (5) (a) 4.
115.52
115.52
Wisconsin School for the Deaf. 115.52(1)
(1) The object of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf is to afford persons with hearing impairments a practical education and physical rehabilitation which may aid them to make a living, discharge their duties as citizens and secure to them all possible happiness.
115.52(2)
(2) The state superintendent shall maintain and govern the School for the Deaf. The state superintendent may fix the period of the school year at the school at not less than 38 weeks, prescribe the school terms and confer diplomas upon meritorious pupils who have completed the prescribed curricula.
115.52(3)
(3) All the deaf residents of this state 6 to 20 years old, and for the duration of a school term all the deaf residents of this state who become 21 years old during that school term, who are capable of receiving instruction shall be received and taught in the School for the Deaf free of charge. Like nonresident pupils also may be received upon payment in advance of the fees fixed by the state superintendent at an amount not less than $75 per month, but no nonresident shall be received to the exclusion of a resident pupil. The state superintendent also may admit pupils who are 21 years of age or older prior to the beginning of a school term upon the payment of fees fixed by the superintendent and upon the recommendation of the secretary of health and family services, the director of the technical college system or the superintendent of the School for the Deaf. All pupils shall equally and freely enjoy the benefits and privileges of the school and have the use of the library and books of instruction and receive board, lodging and laundry, without discrimination. The school may provide transportation for resident pupils.
115.52(5)
(5) The state superintendent may grant approval for the maintenance of a summer school at the School for the Deaf whenever it will be to the advantage of persons with hearing impairments.
115.52(6)
(6) The state superintendent may make charges for meals, living quarters, laundry and other services furnished to employees of the School for the Deaf and their families. The state superintendent also may make charges for services furnished to visitors at the school and participants in training programs and institutes.
115.52(7)
(7) The Wisconsin School for the Deaf may provide instruction for preschool children with hearing impairments and their parents. Such instruction or treatment shall be subject to the approval of, and shall comply with requirements established by, the department.
115.525
115.525
Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. 115.525(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "center" means the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
115.525(1m)
(1m) Purpose. The purpose of the center is to serve as a statewide educational resource relating to visual impairments to benefit all Wisconsin children who are visually impaired.
115.525(2)
(2) Governance. The state superintendent shall maintain and govern the center. The state superintendent shall appoint an individual who has training and experience in educating pupils who are visually impaired to serve as the director of the center.
115.525(3)
(3) Services. The center shall provide services that benefit children throughout the state who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(a)1.1. `Residents 3 to 20 years old.' The center shall operate a school at which any resident of this state 3 to 20 years old who is visually impaired, and for the duration of a school term any resident of this state who is visually impaired and becomes 21 years old during that school term, shall be received and taught free of charge if the individualized education program for the resident under
s. 115.787 and the educational placement under
s. 115.79 specify the school operated by the center as the appropriate placement.
115.525(3)(a)2.
2. `Residents 21 years old or older.' The state superintendent may admit to the school operated by the center a resident of the state who is visually impaired and is 21 years of age or older prior to the beginning of a school term upon the payment of fees fixed by the state superintendent and upon the recommendation of the secretary of health and family services, the director of the technical college system or the director of the center.
115.525(3)(a)3.
3. `Nonresidents.' A nonresident of this state, who is visually impaired, who either is 3 to 20 years old or becomes 21 years old during a school term, whose individualized education program under
20 USC 1414 (d) and educational placement specify the school operated by the center as the appropriate placement and who is capable of receiving instruction may be received at the school upon payment in advance of the fees fixed by the state superintendent, but no nonresident may be received to the exclusion of a resident pupil.
115.525(3)(a)4.
4. `Pupil use of residential facilities.' Except as provided in
sub. (4), the director of the center shall make the residential facilities at the center available to all pupils received at the school operated by the center.
115.525(3)(a)5.
5. `School term
.' The state superintendent shall fix the period of the school term at the school operated by the center at not less than 38 weeks, prescribe the school sessions and confer diplomas upon meritorious pupils who have completed the prescribed curriculum. Pursuant to a pupil's individualized education program under
s. 115.787, a pupil may be placed at the school for less than a school term.
115.525(3)(a)6.
6. `Transportation.' The center may provide transportation for resident pupils at the school operated by the center.
115.525(3)(b)
(b)
Other statewide services. The center may do any of the following:
115.525(3)(b)1.
1. Provide testing, evaluation and assessment services to assist local educational agencies, cooperative educational service agencies and county children with disabilities education boards.
115.525(3)(b)2.
2. Provide technical assistance and consultation services to entities such as local educational agencies, cooperative educational service agencies, county children with disabilities education boards and private schools.
115.525(3)(b)3.
3. Develop and disseminate curriculum and instructional materials.
115.525(3)(b)4.
4. Provide in service and other training to teachers and other staff serving pupils who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(b)5.
5. Provide training, technical assistance and consultation services for parents of children who are visually impaired and for professionals who work with children who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(b)6.
6. Provide materials in braille, large print and other appropriate formats to children who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(b)7.
7. Train teachers and braillists about braille codes and formats used by individuals who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(b)9.
9. Serve as a clearinghouse for information about children who are visually impaired, including information related to library resources, adapted materials and current research.
115.525(3)(b)10.
10. Assist in providing assistive technology services, as defined in
s. 115.76 (2), for pupils who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(b)11.
11. Lend, rent or lease technological materials and assistive technology devices, as defined in
s. 115.76 (1), to local educational agencies, cooperative educational service agencies and county children with disabilities education boards.
115.525(3)(b)12.
12. Facilitate the preparation of teachers of pupils who are visually impaired by providing assistance to teacher preparation programs.
115.525(3)(b)13.
13. Coordinate and collaborate with public and private agencies and organizations that provide services to individuals who are visually impaired, including the development of employment skills and opportunities.
115.525(3)(b)14.
14. Provide other statewide services that relate to the education of children who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(c)1.1. `Birth to 2 services.' The center may provide instruction or services, or both, for children who are under the age of 2 and are visually impaired and their parents. The instruction or services are subject to the approval of, and shall comply with requirements established by, the department.
115.525(3)(c)2.
2. `Library.' Embossed, clear type or large type books acquired by the center constitute a circulating collection for persons who are visually impaired. The collection shall be kept at the center and be under the supervision of its director. All school age children of the state who are visually impaired may use such books upon compliance with criteria established by the director of the center and approved by the state superintendent.
115.525(3)(c)3.
3. `Summer programs.' The center shall provide summer programs each year for children who are visually impaired.
115.525(3)(c)4.
4. `Adult summer program.' The center shall provide a summer program each year for adults who are visually impaired. The state superintendent may contract with other entities to provide this program.
115.525(3)(c)5.
5. `Independent living skills.' With the approval of the state superintendent, the center may use state-owned housing on the grounds of the center in Janesville as a facility in which individuals receive instruction in and practice independent living skills.
115.525(3)(d)
(d)
Provision of services. In addition to providing services at the center's facility in Janesville, the center may provide services at any location in the state and may operate regional satellite facilities throughout the state to provide services.
115.525(4)
(4) Nondiscrimination. All pupils at the center may equally and freely enjoy the benefits and privileges of the center, have the use of the library and books of instruction and receive board, lodging and laundry, without discrimination, except that the director of the center may determine that board, lodging and laundry may not be provided to an individual because appropriate services are not available for that individual at the center's residential facilities.
115.525(5)
(5) Charges. The state superintendent may charge for meals, living quarters, laundry and other services furnished to employees of the center and their families. The state superintendent may charge for services furnished to visitors at the center and participants in training programs and institutes.
115.525(6)
(6) Leasing of space. The state superintendent may lease space at the center in Janesville that is not required by the center to any person if the state superintendent determines that the use will not be inconsistent with the operation of the center.
115.525(7)
(7) Audit. In the 2002-03 fiscal year, the legislative audit bureau shall perform a performance evaluation audit of the center. 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 June 30, 2003.
115.525 History
History: 1999 a. 9.
115.53
115.53
State superintendent; powers. The state superintendent may:
115.53(2)
(2) Arrange for vocational, trade or academic training for any pupil in either the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin School for the Deaf qualified to take such training advantageously, in either a public school or technical college or a private business establishment in Janesville or Delavan. The public school and the technical college shall be paid the regular tuition for full-time attendance and proportionally for part-time attendance by the school district responsible for the provision of a free appropriate public education under
subch. V.
115.53(3)(a)(a) Arrange for otological or ophthalmic examination of any pupil or prospective pupil of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. The examination shall be paid for from the appropriation in
s. 20.255 (1) (b),
(gh) or
(gs).
115.53(3)(b)
(b) Arrange for ophthalmic or otological examination of any pupil or prospective pupil of the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The examination shall be paid from the appropriation in
s. 20.255 (1) (b),
(gh),
(gL) or
(gs).
115.53(4)
(4) Apply to the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority for admission to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics of any pupil at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf or the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
115.53(4)(a)
(a) The application shall be accompanied by the report of a physician appointed by the superintendent of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf or the director of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and shall be in the same form as reports of other physicians for admission of patients to such hospital.
115.53(4)(b)
(b) The net cost of hospital treatment shall be at the rate established under
s. 233.40 (1) and shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (b),
(gh) or
(gs) if the patient is a pupil at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf or from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (b),
(gh),
(gL) or
(gs) if the patient is a pupil at the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The state superintendent likewise may authorize payment for the expense of transporting patients to and from the hospital. The state superintendent shall make payments for the treatment to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Funds collected by the state superintendent on account of the hospitalization shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (gh) for the school or center concerned.
115.53(5)
(5) Arrange for visits by members of the staff of either the Wisconsin School for the Deaf or the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to other public schools or to families of deaf children or children who are visually impaired, whenever it appears to the state superintendent that such visits will be of advantage to such children.
115.53(6)
(6) Charge the school district responsible for a pupil's placement in a school under this subchapter for the costs of transporting the pupil to and from the pupil's home on weekends. All fees received under this subsection shall be deposited in the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (gt).
115.53 Annotation
The state superintendent does not have the authority to determine whether public schools are segregated or the authority to take enforceable action to desegregate public schools. 65 Atty. Gen. 282.
115.54
115.54
Compulsory education. If it appears, by affidavit, to any circuit judge that any deaf child or child who is visually impaired between the ages of 6 and 21 is deprived of a suitable education by the failure of the person having the care and custody of the child to provide a suitable education, the judge shall order the person to bring the child before the judge. If the material allegations of the affidavit are denied, the judge shall subpoena witnesses and hear testimony. If the allegations are admitted or established, the judge may order the child sent to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or to some class or other school for instruction, but the order may not make a direct charge for the class or school against any county.
115.54 History
History: 1977 c. 449;
1999 a. 9.
115.58
115.58
Park grounds. The state superintendent may permit the city of Janesville to use portions of the grounds of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired at Janesville, which abut on the Rock river, for purposes of operating a city park. Any construction on such grounds is subject to prior approval by the state superintendent. Any agreement pursuant hereto shall be cancelable at the option of either party without liability. Any such grounds so used by the city of Janesville shall be supervised by the city and shall be subject to the ordinances of the city of Janesville applicable to city parks.
AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM
115.71
115.71
Definitions. In this subchapter:
115.71(1)
(1) "Alternative school" means any nonsectarian private school or tribally operated school in this state which complies with the requirements of
42 USC 2000d and in which at least 75% of the pupils enrolled are American Indians.
115.71(2)
(2) "American Indian" means any person who is:
115.71(2)(a)
(a) A member of a tribe, band or other organized group of Indians, including those tribes, bands or groups terminated since 1940, or who is a descendant in the first or 2nd degree of any such member;
115.71(2)(b)
(b) Considered by the federal government, on May 22, 1980, to be an Indian for any purpose;
115.71(2)(c)
(c) An Eskimo, Aleut or other Alaska native; or
115.71(4)
(4) "Home school coordinator" means a person employed by the school district to promote communication between the school and the American Indian community.
115.71(5)
(5) "Tribal education authority" means the educational authority of a tribe, band or other organized group of American Indians, which may be vested in a tribal department or division of education, a tribal school board, a tribal education committee or any similar body.
115.72
115.72
Establishment of programs. 115.72(1)
(1) Any school district enrolling American Indian pupils, or alternative school, may establish, on a voluntary basis, an American Indian language and culture education program. The program shall be designed to:
