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)(a)(a) Annually, on or before October 15, a private school participating in the program under this section shall file with the department a report stating its summer average daily membership equivalent and its summer choice average daily membership equivalent for the purpose of
sub. (4m).
119.23(4)(b)
(b) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school during a school term, the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the lesser of the following:
119.23(4)(b)1.
1. The 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.
119.23(4)(b)2.
2. The amount paid per pupil under this paragraph in the previous school year multiplied by the sum of 1.0 plus the percentage change from the previous school year to the current school year in the total amount appropriated under
s. 20.255 (2) (ac) and
(r) expressed as a decimal, but not less than zero.
119.23(4)(c)
(c) The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount under
par. (b) in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The state superintendent may include the entire amount under
sub. (4m) in one of those installments or apportion the entire amount among one or more of those installments. 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(4m)
(4m) In addition to the payment under
sub. (4) the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in a private school under this section, in the manner described in
sub. (4) (c), an amount determined by multiplying 40% of the payment under
sub. (4) by the quotient determined by dividing the summer choice average daily membership equivalent of the private school by the total number of pupils for whom payments are being made under
sub. (4).
119.23(5)
(5) The state superintendent shall 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. Annually by September 1 following a school year in which a private school participated in the program under this section, the private school shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(am)1.
1. An independent financial audit of the private school conducted by a certified public accountant, accompanied by the auditor's statement that the report is free of material misstatements and fairly presents pupil costs under
sub. (4) (b) 1. The audit under this subdivision shall be limited in scope to those records that are necessary for the department to make payments under
subs. (4) and
(4m).
119.23(7)(am)2.
2. Evidence of sound fiscal practices, as prescribed by the department by rule.
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(7)(d)
(d) By August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program, or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program during summer school, each private school participating in the program under this section shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(d)1.
1. A copy of the school's current certificate of occupancy issued by the city. If the private school moves to a new location, the private school shall submit a copy of the new certificate of occupancy issued by the city to the department before the attendance of pupils at the new location and before the next succeeding date specified in
s. 121.05 (1) (a). A temporary certificate of occupancy does not meet the requirement of this subdivision.
119.23(7)(d)2.
2. Evidence of financial viability, as prescribed by the department by rule.
119.23(7)(d)3.
3. Proof that the private school's administrator has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by the department.
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(10)(a)(a) The state superintendent may issue an order barring a private school from participating in the program under this section in the current school year if the state superintendent determines that the private school has done any of the following:
119.23(10)(a)3.
3. Failed to refund to the state any overpayment made under
sub. (4) (b) or
(4m) by the date specified by department rule.
119.23(10)(a)4.
4. Failed to meet at least one of the standards under
sub. (7) (a) by the date specified by department rule.
119.23(10)(b)
(b) The state superintendent may issue an order immediately terminating a private school's participation in the program under this section if he or she determines that conditions at the private school present an imminent threat to the health or safety of pupils.
119.23(10)(c)
(c) Whenever the state superintendent issues an order under
par. (a) or
(b), he or she shall immediately notify the parent or guardian of each pupil attending the private school under this section.
119.23(10)(d)
(d) The state superintendent may withhold payment from a parent or guardian under
subs. (4) and
(4m) if the private school attended by the child of the parent or guardian violates this section.
119.23(11)
(11) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
119.23 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
PI 35, Wis. adm. code.
119.23 Annotation
The Cleveland, Ohio school choice program, which provides tuition aid to parents who may use the money to pay tuition to private, religious schools, does not violate the establishment of religion clause of the 1st Amendment. When an aid program is neutral with respect to religion and provides assistance to a broad class of citizens who, in turn, direct the aid to religious schools through individual choice, the program is not subject to challenge. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, ___ U.S. ___,
153 L. Ed. 2d 604 (2002).
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. A pupil may attend a school in an attendance district other than the one in which he or she resides with the written permission of the superintendent of schools. Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, the board shall provide spaces in each school for pupils who reside outside the attendance district for the school, but shall fill any unused spaces with pupils who reside in the attendance district. A pupil who attends a school may continue to attend that school until he or she graduates from the school and each sibling of that pupil shall be given priority over other pupils in the process of admission for that school.
119.24 History
History: 1985 a. 29;
1999 a. 9.
119.25
119.25
Expulsion of pupils. 119.25(1)(1) The board may adopt a resolution, which is effective only during the school year in which it is adopted, authorizing any of the following to determine pupil expulsion from school under
sub. (2) instead of using the procedure under
s. 120.13 (1) (c):
119.25(1)(a)
(a) An independent hearing panel appointed by the board.
119.25(1)(b)
(b) An independent hearing officer appointed by the board.
119.25(2)(a)(a) During any school year in which a resolution adopted under
sub. (1) is effective, the independent hearing officer or independent hearing panel appointed by the board:
119.25(2)(a)1.
1. May expel a pupil from school whenever the hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under
s. 120.13 (1) (c) 1. or
2.
119.25(2)(a)2.
2. Shall commence proceedings under
par. (b) and expel a pupil from school for not less than one year whenever the hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under
s. 120.13 (1) (c) 2m.
119.25(2)(b)
(b) No administrator may be designated to participate in an expulsion hearing if he or she was involved in the incident that led to the expulsion proceeding. Prior to expelling a pupil, the hearing officer or panel shall hold a hearing. Upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. The pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, may be represented at the hearing by counsel. The hearing officer or panel shall keep a full record of the hearing. The hearing officer or panel shall inform each party of the right to a complete record of the proceeding. Upon request, the hearing officer or panel shall direct that a transcript of the record be prepared and that a copy of the transcript be given to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. Upon the ordering by the hearing officer or panel of the expulsion of a pupil, the school district shall mail a copy of the order to the board, the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. A school board, hearing officer or panel may disclose the transcript to the parent or guardian of an adult pupil, if the adult pupil is a dependent of his or her parent or guardian under section
152 of the internal revenue code. Within 30 days after the date on which the order is issued, the board shall review the expulsion order and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the order. The order of the hearing officer or panel shall be enforced while the board reviews the order. The expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the board's decision to the state superintendent. If the board's decision is appealed to the state superintendent, within 60 days after the date on which the state superintendent receives the appeal, the state superintendent shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the board shall be enforced while the state superintendent reviews the decision. An appeal from the decision of the state superintendent may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court for the county in which the school is located.
119.25(2)(c)
(c) Not less than 5 days' written notice of the hearing under
par. (b) shall be sent to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The notice shall include all of the information specified in
s. 120.13 (1) (e) 4.
119.25(2)(d)1.a.
a. "Early reinstatement" means the reinstatement to school of an expelled pupil before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under
par. (b).
119.25(2)(d)1.b.
b. "Early reinstatement condition" means a condition that a pupil is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement or a condition that a pupil is required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under
par. (b).
119.25(2)(d)2.
2. An independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer appointed by the board may specify one or more early reinstatement conditions in the expulsion order under
par. (b) if the early reinstatement conditions are related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion. Within 15 days after the date on which the expulsion order is issued, the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the determination regarding whether an early reinstatement condition specified in the expulsion order is related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion to the board. The decision of the board regarding that determination is final and not subject to appeal.
119.25(2)(d)3.
3. If the superintendent of schools or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school, determines that a pupil has met the early reinstatement conditions that he or she is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement, the superintendent of schools or designee may grant the pupil early reinstatement. The determination of the superintendent of schools or designee is final.
119.25(2)(d)4.
4. If a pupil violates an early reinstatement condition that the pupil was required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion, the superintendent of schools or a principal or teacher designated by the superintendent of schools may revoke the pupil's early reinstatement as provided in
s. 120.13 (1) (h) 4.
119.25(2)(d)5.
5. Except as provided in
subd. 6., if the pupil's early reinstatement is revoked under
subd. 4., the pupil's expulsion shall continue to the expiration of the term specified in the expulsion order unless the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian and the board, independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer agree, in writing, to modify the expulsion order.
119.25(2)(d)6.
6. Within 5 school days after the revocation of a pupil's early reinstatement under
subd. 4., the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may request a conference with the superintendent of schools or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school. If a conference is requested, it shall be held within 5 school days following the request. If, after the conference, the superintendent of schools or his or her designee finds that the pupil did not violate an early reinstatement condition or that the revocation was inappropriate, the pupil shall be reinstated to school under the same reinstatement conditions as in the expulsion order and the early reinstatement revocation shall be expunged from the pupil's record. If the superintendent of schools or his or her designee finds that the pupil violated an early reinstatement condition and that the revocation was appropriate, he or she shall mail separate copies of the decision to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The decision of the superintendent of schools or his or her designee is final.
119.25 Annotation
Having established the right to an education, the state may not withdraw the right on grounds of misconduct absent fundamentally fair procedures to determine if misconduct occurred. Attendance by the student at expulsion deliberations is not mandatory; all that is required is that the student have the opportunity to attend and present his or her case. Remer v. Burlington Area School District,
149 F. Supp. 2d 665 (2001).
119.26
119.26
Partial annexation of school district. When the city has annexed a portion of the territory of a school district and such annexation does not include the site of any school building of such school district, the school board of the district and the board may enter into an agreement to permit pupils residing in the annexed territory to continue to attend school in the school district, and the board shall pay tuition to the school district for the pupils in accordance with
s. 121.78.
119.26 History
History: 1985 a. 29 s.
3202 (43).
119.28
119.28
Special schools. 119.28(1)(1) The board shall establish and maintain such special schools for children with disabilities, as defined in
s. 115.76 (5), as are required to accommodate pupils of school age desiring to attend school. The board shall prescribe the courses of study and the educational and other activities in special schools.
119.28(2)
(2) The board may employ teachers to give instruction in homes or hospitals to pupils unable to attend special schools.
119.28(3)
(3) The board may provide transportation for pupils attending special schools and provide school lunches for pupils under such terms as it determines.
