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)(a)(a) In this subsection, "instructional staff" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the department under
s. 121.02 (1) (a) 2.
118.40(2r)(b)1.1. All of the following entities 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:
118.40(2r)(b)1.c.
c. On a pilot basis, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
118.40(2r)(b)2.
2. 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 or of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 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)(b)3.
3. If the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside contracts for the establishment of a charter school, the contract shall also provide that the charter school must be operated by a governing board and that the chancellor or his or her designee must be a member of the governing board. In addition, if the contract provides that the instructional staff of the charter school shall consist of employees of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the contract shall also include provisions that do all of the following:
118.40(2r)(b)3.a.
a. Delegate to the governing board of the charter school the board of regents' authority to establish and adjust all compensation and fringe benefits of instructional staff, subject to the terms of any collective bargaining agreement under
subch. V of ch. 111 that covers the instructional staff. In the absence of a collective bargaining agreement, the governing board may establish and adjust all compensation and fringe benefits of the instructional staff only with the approval of the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
118.40(2r)(b)3.b.
b. Authorize the governing board of the charter school to perform specified duties for the board of regents with respect to the instructional staff. This authorization may include duties related to supervising the instructional staff, taking disciplinary actions with respect to the instructional staff, recommending new hires or layoffs, collective bargaining, claims, complaints, or benefits and records administration.
118.40(2r)(bm)
(bm) 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 only establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located in the school district operating under
ch. 119. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside may only establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located in a unified school district that is located in the county in which the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is situated or in an adjacent county.
118.40(2r)(c)1.1. Only pupils who reside in the school district in which a charter school established under this subsection is located may attend the charter school.
118.40(2r)(c)2.
2. A pupil may attend a charter school established in the school district operating under
ch. 119 under this subsection only if one of the following applies:
118.40(2r)(c)2.a.
a. In the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in the school district operating under
ch. 119.
118.40(2r)(c)2.c.
c. 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)2.d.
d. In the previous school year, the pupil was not enrolled in school.
118.40(2r)(c)2.e.
e. In the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in a charter school under this subsection.
118.40(2r)(cm)
(cm) The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside may establish or enter into a contract for the establishment of only one charter school under this subsection, which may not operate high school grades and which may not accommodate more than 400 pupils.
118.40(2r)(d)
(d) The chartering or contracting entity under
par. (b) shall do all of the following:
118.40(2r)(d)1.
1. Ensure that all instructional staff of charter schools under this subsection hold a license or permit to teach issued by the department.
118.40(2r)(e)1.1. From the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fm), the department shall pay to the operator of the charter school an amount equal to the sum of the amount paid per pupil under this subdivision in the previous school year and the amount of revenue increase per pupil allowed under
subch. VII of ch. 121 in the current school year, multiplied by the number of pupils attending the charter school. The department shall pay 25% of the total amount in September, 25% in December, 25% in February, and 25% in June. The department shall send the check to the operator of the charter school.
118.40(2r)(e)2.
2. If the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside establishes or contracts for the establishment of a charter school under this subsection, in March the department shall pay to the unified school district in which the charter school is located, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fm), an amount equal to the amount of school aid per pupil to which the unified school district is eligible in the current school year multiplied by the number of pupils attending the charter school who were previously enrolled in the unified school district.
118.40(2r)(f)
(f) If the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside establishes or contracts for the establishment of a charter school under this subsection, biennially the chancellor shall submit a report to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2). The report shall include information on the academic performance of the pupils who attend the charter school and on the success of the governance structure of the charter school.
118.40(3)(a)(a) If the school board grants the petition under
sub. (2), the school board shall contract with the person named in the petition under
sub. (1m) (b) 1. to operate the school as a charter school under this section. The contract shall include all of the provisions specified in the petition and may include other provisions agreed to by the parties.
118.40(3)(b)
(b) A contract under
par. (a) or under
subs. (2m) or
(2r) may be for any term not exceeding 5 school years and may be renewed for one or more terms not exceeding 5 school years. The contract shall specify the amount to be paid to the charter school during each school year of the contract.
118.40(3)(c)
(c) A school board may not enter into a contract for the establishment of a charter school located outside the school district, except that if 2 or more school boards enter into an agreement under
s. 66.0301 to establish a charter school, the charter school shall be located within one of the school districts, and if one or more school boards enter into an agreement with the board of control of a cooperative educational service agency to establish a charter school, the charter school shall be located within the boundaries of the cooperative educational service agency. A school board may not enter into a contract that would result in the conversion of a private, sectarian school to a charter school.
118.40(3)(d)
(d) A school board or an entity under
sub. (2r) (b) shall give preference in awarding contracts for the operation of charter schools to those charter schools that serve children at risk, as defined in
s. 118.153 (1) (a).
118.40(4)
(4) Charter school duties and restrictions. 118.40(4)(a)(a)
Duties. A charter school shall do all of the following:
118.40(4)(a)1.
1. If the charter school replaces a public school in whole or in part, give preference in admission to any pupil who resides within the attendance area or former attendance area of that public school.
118.40(4)(a)2.
2. Be nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices and all other operations.
118.40(4)(b)
(b)
Restrictions. A charter school may not do any of the following:
118.40(4)(b)2.
2. Discriminate in admission or deny participation in any program or activity on the basis of a person's sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
118.40(5)
(5) Charter revocation. A charter may be revoked by the school board or the entity under
sub. (2r) (b) that contracted with the charter school if the school board or, if applicable, the entity under
sub. (2r) (b) finds that any of the following occurred:
118.40(5)(a)
(a) The charter school violated its contract with the school board or the entity under
sub. (2r) (b).
118.40(5)(b)
(b) The pupils enrolled in the charter school failed to make sufficient progress toward attaining the educational goals under
s. 118.01.
118.40(5)(c)
(c) The charter school failed to comply with generally accepted accounting standards of fiscal management.
118.40(6)
(6) Program voluntary. No pupil may be required to attend a charter school without his or her approval, if the pupil is an adult, or the approval of his or her parents or legal guardian, if the pupil is a minor.
118.40(7)
(7) Legal status; applicability of school laws. 118.40(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (am), the school board of the school district in which a charter school is located shall determine whether or not the charter school is an instrumentality of the school district. If the school board determines that the charter school is an instrumentality of the school district, the school board shall employ all personnel for the charter school. If the school board determines that the charter school is not an instrumentality of the school district, the school board may not employ any personnel for the charter school.
118.40(7)(am)1.1. Except as provided in
subds. 2. and
3., if a charter school is established under
sub. (2m) and located in the school district operating under
ch. 119, the school board of that school district shall determine whether or not the charter school is an instrumentality of the school district. If the school board determines that a charter school is an instrumentality of the school district, the school board shall employ all personnel for the charter school. If the school board determines that a charter school is not an instrumentality of the school district, the school board may not employ any personnel for the charter school.
118.40(7)(am)2.
2. A charter school established under
sub. (2r) or a private school located in the school district operating under
ch. 119 that is converted to a charter school is not an instrumentality of any school district and no school board may employ any personnel for the charter school. If the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside contracts for the establishment of a charter school under
sub. (2r), the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System may employ instructional staff for the charter school.
118.40(7)(am)3.
3. Notwithstanding
subd. 2., if the city of Milwaukee contracts with an individual or group operating for profit to operate a school as a charter school, the charter school is an instrumentality of the school district operating under
ch. 119 and the board of the school district operating under
ch. 119 shall employ all personnel for the charter school.
118.40(7)(ar)
(ar) Nothing in this subsection affects the rights of personnel of a charter school that is an instrumentality of the school district in which it is located to engage in collective bargaining pursuant to
subch. IV of ch. 111.
118.40(7)(b)
(b) Except as otherwise explicitly provided,
chs. 115 to
121 do not apply to charter schools.
118.43
118.43
Achievement guarantee contracts; state aid. 118.43(1)(a)
(a) "Class size" means the number of pupils assigned to a regular classroom teacher on the 3rd Friday of September.
118.43(1)(b)
(b) "Low income" means the measure of low income that is used by the school district under
20 USC 2723.
118.43(2)(a)(a) The school board of any school district in which a school in the previous school year had an enrollment that was at least 50% low-income is eligible to participate in the program under this section, except that a school board is eligible to participate in the program under this section in the 2000-01 school year if in the 1998-99 school year a school in the school district had an enrollment that was at least 0% low-income.
118.43(2)(b)
(b) In the 1996-97 school year, the school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year achievement guarantee contract with the department on behalf of one school in the school district if all of the following apply:
118.43(2)(b)1.
1. In the previous school year, the school had an enrollment that was at least 30% low-income.
118.43(2)(b)2.
2. The school board is not receiving a grant under the preschool to grade 5 program on behalf of the school under
s. 115.45.
118.43(2)(bg)
(bg) In the 1998-99 school year, the school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year achievement guarantee contract with the department on behalf of one school in the school district if all of the following apply:
118.43(2)(bg)1.
1. In the previous school year, the school had an enrollment that was at least 30% low-income.
118.43(2)(bg)2.
2. The school board is not receiving a grant under the preschool to grade 5 program on behalf of the school under
s. 115.45.
118.43(2)(br)
(br) In the 2000-01 school year, the school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year achievement guarantee contract with the department on behalf of one or more schools in the school district if all of the following apply:
118.43(2)(br)2.
2. The school board is not receiving a grant under the preschool to grade 5 program on behalf of any of the schools under
s. 115.45.
118.43(2)(br)3.
3. The school board, if eligible to participate in the program under this section in the 1996-97 and 1998-99 school years, had participated in the program during either school year.
118.43(2)(br)4.
4. None of the schools is a beneficiary of a contract under this section.
118.43(2)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
pars. (b) and
(bg), the school board of the school district operating under
ch. 119 may enter into an achievement guarantee contract on behalf of up to 10 schools under
par. (b) and up to 10 schools under
par. (bg).
118.43(2)(d)
(d) If an eligible school district has more than one school that qualifies under
par. (b), the school board shall apply on behalf of the school with the largest number of low-income pupils in grades kindergarten and one.
118.43(2)(e)1.1. If the school board of an eligible school district does not enter into an achievement guarantee contract with the department, a school board that has entered into such a contract, other than the school board of the school district operating under
ch. 119, may apply to the department to enter into such a contract on behalf of one or more schools that meet the requirements under
par. (b),
(bg) or
(br).
118.43(2)(e)2.
2. If more than one school board applies under
subd. 1., the department shall determine which school board to contract with based on the number of low-income pupils in grades kindergarten and one enrolled in the schools and on the balance of rural and urban school districts currently participating in the program.
118.43(2)(g)
(g) The department may renew an achievement guarantee contract under
pars. (b),
(bg), and
(br) for one or more terms of 5 school years. As a condition of receiving payments under a renewal of an achievement guarantee contract, a school board shall maintain the reduction of class size achieved during the last school year of the original achievement guarantee contract for the grades specified for the last school year of the contract.
118.43(3)
(3) Contract requirements. Except as provided in
pars. (am) and
(ar), an achievement guarantee contract shall require the school board to do all of the following in each participating school:
118.43(3)(a)
(a) Class size. Reduce each class size to 15 in the following manner:
118.43(3)(a)1.
1. In the 1996-97 school year, in at least grades kindergarten and one.
118.43(3)(a)2.
2. In the 1997-98 school year, in at least grades kindergarten to 2.
118.43(3)(a)3.
3. In the 1998-99 to 2000-01 school years, in at least grades kindergarten to 3.
118.43(3)(am)
(am)
Class size; additional contracts. For contracts that begin in the 1998-99 school year, reduce each class size to 15 in the following manner:
118.43(3)(am)1.
1. In the 1998-99 school year, in at least grades kindergarten and one.
118.43(3)(am)2.
2. In the 1999-2000 school year, in at least grades kindergarten to 2.
