118.33(3)
(3) By September 1, 1986, each school board operating high school grades shall submit to the state superintendent a report describing the school board's policies and guidelines on high school graduation standards, including a list of courses required under
sub. (1) (a) and the number of hours in each school term required to earn one credit under
sub. (1) (a), and thereafter shall notify the state superintendent whenever changes are made in such policies or guidelines. The department shall make reasonable efforts to combine the reports required under this subsection with other required school board reports.
118.33(3m)
(3m) A course taken at a technical college by a child attending the school part-time or in lieu of high school under
s. 118.15 (1) (b), or attending the school under
s. 118.15 (1) (cm), does not fulfill any of the high school graduation requirements under
sub. (1) (a) unless the state superintendent has approved the course for that purpose. If a pupil satisfies all of the high school graduation requirements under
sub. (1), the school board shall grant a high school diploma to the pupil regardless of whether the pupil satisfied all or a portion of the requirements while attending an institution of higher education under
s. 118.55 or a technical college.
118.33(4)(a)(a) The state superintendent shall establish procedures for school boards to certify to the state superintendent whether they are in compliance with the requirements under
sub. (1) and the rules promulgated under
sub. (2).
118.33(4)(b)
(b) The state superintendent may periodically review school district high school graduation standards and shall notify any school board not in compliance with the requirements under
sub. (1) or the rules promulgated under
sub. (2), identifying the changes necessary.
118.33(5)
(5) The department shall include in its biennial report under
s. 15.04 (1) (d) information on the status of statewide high school graduation standards.
118.33(6)(a)1.1. Each school board shall adopt a written policy specifying the criteria for promoting a pupil from the 4th grade to the 5th grade and from the 8th grade to the 9th grade. The criteria shall include the pupil's score on the examination administered under
s. 118.30 (1m) (a) or
(am), unless the pupil has been excused from taking the examination under
s. 118.30 (2) (b); the pupil's academic performance; the recommendations of teachers, which shall be based solely on the pupil's academic performance; and any other academic criteria specified by the school board. Except as provided in
par. (b) 1., the criteria apply to pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district.
118.33(6)(a)2.
2. Except as provided in
par. (b) 2., beginning on September 1, 2002, a school board may not promote a 4th grade pupil enrolled in the school district, including a pupil enrolled in a charter school located in the school district, to the 5th grade, and may not promote an 8th grade pupil enrolled in the school district, including a pupil enrolled in a charter school located in the school district, to the 9th grade, unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified in the school board's policy adopted under
subd. 1.
118.33(6)(b)1.1. Each operator of a charter school under
s. 118.40 (2r) shall adopt a written policy specifying the criteria for promoting a pupil from the 4th grade to the 5th grade and from the 8th grade to the 9th grade. The criteria shall include the pupil's score on the examination administered under
s. 118.30 (1r) (a) or
(am), unless the pupil has been excused from taking the examination under
s. 118.30 (2) (b); the pupil's academic performance; the recommendations of teachers, which shall be based solely on the pupil's academic performance; and any other academic criteria specified by the operator of the charter school.
118.33(6)(b)2.
2. Beginning on September 1, 2002, an operator of a charter school under
s. 118.40 (2r) may not promote a 4th grade pupil to the 5th grade, and may not promote an 8th grade pupil to the 9th grade, unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified in the charter school operator's policy under
subd. 1.
118.33 Note
NOTE: 1983 Wisconsin Act 411, which created this section, has "Legislative declaration" in section 1.
118.33 Note
NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 339, which created sub. (1) (d), contains explanatory notes.
118.34
118.34
Technical preparation programs. 118.34(1)
(1) In cooperation with a technical college district board, each school board shall establish a technical preparation program in each public high school located in the school district. The program shall consist of a sequence of courses, approved by the technical college system board under
s. 38.04 (26), designed to allow high school pupils to gain advanced standing in the technical college district's associate degree program upon graduation from high school.
118.34(2)(a)(a) The technical college district director shall appoint a technical preparation council to coordinate the establishment of the technical preparation programs. The council shall consist of 12 members.
118.34(2)(b)
(b) The technical college district board and the school boards of school districts that operate high schools located in the technical college district shall establish a consortium to implement the technical preparation programs.
118.34(3)
(3) The department and the technical college system board shall provide technical assistance to school boards to develop technical preparation programs in each high school. Annually, the school board shall evaluate its program and report the results to the state superintendent and the technical college system board.
118.34(4)
(4) The governor's work-based learning board shall review the local technical preparation programs established under
sub. (1) as operated during the 1999-2000 fiscal year, the organizational structure used to implement those programs during that fiscal year and the allocation of funding to those programs for that fiscal year to determine whether those programs, that organizational structure and that allocation of funding should continue in the manner in which they were provided during the 1999-2000 fiscal year beyond that fiscal year and shall submit a plan for the implementation of those programs beyond the 1999-2000 fiscal year to the joint committee on finance by June 15, 2000. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the governor's work-based learning board within 14 working days after the date of submittal of the plan that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the board may implement the plan, notwithstanding
subs. (1),
(2) and
(3). If within 14 working days after the date of submittal of the plan, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the governor's work-based learning board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the board may implement the plan, notwithstanding
subs. (1),
(2) and
(3), only as approved or modified by the committee.
118.35
118.35
Programs for gifted and talented pupils. 118.35(1)
(1) In this section, "gifted and talented pupils" means pupils enrolled in public schools who give evidence of high performance capability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership or specific academic areas and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program in order to fully develop such capabilities.
118.35(2)
(2) The state superintendent shall by rule establish guidelines for the identification of gifted and talented pupils.
118.35(3)
(3) Each school board shall ensure that all gifted and talented pupils enrolled in the school district have access to a program for gifted and talented pupils.
118.38
118.38
Waivers of laws and rules. 118.38(1)(a)(a) A school board may request the department to waive any school board or school district requirement in
chs. 115 to
121 or in the administrative rules promulgated by the department under the authority of those chapters, except for statutes or rules related to any of the following:
118.38(1)(a)7.
7. Licensure or certification under
s. 115.28 (7) or
(7m) other than the licensure of the school district administrator or business manager.
118.38(1)(b)
(b) Before requesting a waiver, the school board shall hold a public hearing in the school district on the request.
118.38(1m)
(1m) The school board shall specify in its request for a waiver its reason for requesting the waiver.
118.38(2)
(2) In determining whether to grant the waiver, the department shall consider all of the following factors and may consider additional factors:
118.38(2)(a)
(a) Whether the requirement impedes progress toward achieving a local improvement plan developed under sec. 309 (a) (3) of
P.L. 103-227.
118.38(2)(b)
(b) If the school board has adopted educational goals for the school district, whether the requirement impedes progress toward achieving the goals.
118.38(3)
(3) A waiver is effective for 4 years. The department shall renew the waiver for additional 4-year periods if the school board has evaluated the educational and financial effects of the waiver over the previous 4-year period, except that the department is not required to renew a waiver if the department determines that the school district is not making adequate progress toward improving pupil academic performance.
118.38(4)
(4) By July 1, 2000, the department shall submit a report to the governor, and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under
s. 13.172 (3). The report shall specify the number of waivers requested under this section, a description of each waiver request, the reason given for each waiver request and the educational and financial effects on the school district of each waiver that was granted.
118.38 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 27.
118.40
118.40
Charter schools. 118.40(1)(1)
Notice to state superintendent. Whenever a school board intends to establish a charter school, it shall notify the state superintendent of its intention. Whenever one of the entities under
sub. (2r) (b) intends to establish a charter school, it shall notify the state superintendent of its intention by February 1 of the previous school year. A notice under this subsection shall include a description of the proposed school.
118.40(1m)(a)(a) A written petition requesting the school board to establish a charter school under this section may be filed with the school district clerk. The petition shall be signed by at least 10% of the teachers employed by the school district or by at least 50% of the teachers employed at one school of the school district.
118.40(1m)(b)
(b) The petition shall include all of the following:
118.40(1m)(b)1.
1. The name of the person who is seeking to establish the charter school.
118.40(1m)(b)2.
2. The name of the person who will be in charge of the charter school and the manner in which administrative services will be provided.
118.40(1m)(b)4.
4. The methods the school will use to enable pupils to attain the educational goals under
s. 118.01.
118.40(1m)(b)5.
5. The method by which pupil progress in attaining the educational goals under
s. 118.01 will be measured.
118.40(1m)(b)6.
6. The governance structure of the school, including the method to be followed by the school to ensure parental involvement.
118.40(1m)(b)8.
8. The procedures that the school will follow to ensure the health and safety of the pupils.
118.40(1m)(b)9.
9. The means by which the school will achieve a racial and ethnic balance among its pupils that is reflective of the school district population.
118.40(1m)(b)11.
11. The manner in which annual audits of the financial and programmatic operations of the school will be performed.
118.40(1m)(b)13.
13. The public school alternatives for pupils who reside in the school district and do not wish to attend or are not admitted to the charter school.
118.40(1m)(b)14.
14. A description of the school facilities and the types and limits of the liability insurance that the school will carry.
118.40(1m)(b)15.
15. The effect of the establishment of the charter school on the liability of the school district.
118.40(2)
(2) Public hearing; granting of petition. 118.40(2)(a)(a) Within 30 days after receiving a petition under
sub. (1m) the school board shall hold a public hearing on the petition. At the hearing, the school board shall consider the level of employee and parental support for the establishment of the charter school described in the petition and the fiscal impact of the establishment of the charter school on the school district. After the hearing, the school board may grant the petition.
118.40(2)(b)
(b) A school board may grant a petition that would result in the conversion of all of the public schools in the school district to charter schools if all of the following apply:
118.40(2)(b)1.
1. At least 50% of the teachers employed by the school district sign the petition.
118.40(2)(b)2.
2. The school board provides alternative public school attendance arrangements for pupils who do not wish to attend or are not admitted to a charter school.
118.40(2)(c)
(c) The school board of the school district operating under
ch. 119 shall either grant or deny the petition within 30 days after the public hearing. If the school board of the school district operating under
ch. 119 denies a petition, the person seeking to establish the charter school may, within 30 days after the denial, appeal the denial to the department. The department shall issue a decision within 30 days after receiving the appeal. The department's decision is final and not subject to judicial review under
ch. 227.
118.40(2m)(a)(a) A school board may on its own initiative contract with a person to operate a school as a charter school. The contract shall include all of the provisions specified under
sub. (1m) (b) and may include other provisions agreed to by the parties.
118.40(2m)(am)
(am) At least 30 days before entering in a contract under this subsection that would convert a private school to a charter school or that would establish a charter school that is not an instrumentality of the school district, the school board shall hold a public hearing on the contract. At the hearing, the school board shall consider the level of employee and parental support for the establishment of the charter school and the fiscal impact of the establishment of the charter school on the school district.
118.40(2m)(b)
(b) A school board may not enter into a contract under
par. (a) that would result in the conversion of all of the public schools in the school district to charter schools unless the school board complies with
sub. (2) (b) 2.
118.40(2r)(b)
(b) The common council of the city of Milwaukee, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee area technical college district board may establish by charter and operate a charter school or, on behalf of their respective entities, may initiate a contract with an individual or group to operate a school as a charter school. A charter shall include all of the provisions specified under
sub. (1m) (b) 3. to
14. A contract shall include all of the provisions specified under
sub. (1m) (b) 1. to
14. and shall specify the effect of the establishment of the charter school on the liability of the contracting entity under this paragraph. The contract may include other provisions agreed to by the parties. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee may not establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school under this paragraph without the approval of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
118.40(2r)(c)
(c) An entity under
par. (b) may not establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located outside of the school district operating under
ch. 119. A pupil residing within the school district operating under
ch. 119 may attend a charter school established under this subsection only if one of the following applies:
118.40(2r)(c)1.
1. In the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in the school district operating under
ch. 119.
118.40(2r)(c)2.
2. In the previous school year, the pupil was attending a private school under
s. 119.23.
118.40(2r)(c)3.
3. In the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3 in a private school located in the city of Milwaukee other than under
s. 119.23.
118.40(2r)(c)4.
4. In the previous school year, the pupil was not enrolled in school.
118.40(2r)(c)5.
5. In the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in a charter school under this subsection.
118.40(2r)(d)
(d) The chartering or contracting entity under
par. (b) shall do all of the following:
