119.23(6m)(a)4.
4. A copy of the appeals process used if the private school rejects the applicant.
119.23(6m)(a)6.
6. A copy of the non-harassment policy used by the private school, together with the procedures for reporting and obtaining relief from harassment.
119.23(6m)(a)7.
7. A copy of the suspension and expulsion policies and procedures, including procedures for appealing a suspension or expulsion, used by the private school.
119.23(6m)(a)8.
8. A copy of the policy used by the private school for accepting or denying the transfer of credits earned by a pupil attending the private school under this section for the satisfactory completion of coursework at another school.
119.23(6m)(a)9.
9. A copy of the policy governing visitors and visits to the private school, developed as required under
sub. (7) (b) 2m.
119.23(6m)(b)
(b) Annually, by August 1st, provide to the department the material specified in
par. (a) and all of the following information:
119.23(6m)(b)1.
1. The number of pupils attending the private school under this section in the previous school year.
119.23(6m)(b)2.
2. The number of pupils attending the private school other than under this section in the previous school year.
119.23(6m)(b)3.
3. For each of the previous 5 school years in which the private school has participated in the program under this section, all of the following information:
119.23(6m)(b)3.a.
a. The number of pupils who attended the private school under this section and other than under this section in the 12th grade and the number of those pupils who graduated from the private school.
119.23(6m)(b)3.b.
b. The number of pupils who attended the private school under this section and other than under this section in the 8th grade and the number of those pupils who advanced from grade 8 to grade 9.
119.23(6m)(b)3.c.
c. The number of pupils who attended the private school under this section and other than under this section in the 4th grade and the number of those pupils who advanced from grade 4 to grade 5.
119.23(6m)(c)
(c) Provide to the department a signed statement from each individual who is a member of the private school's governing body verifying that the individual is a member of the governing body.
119.23(6m)(d)
(d) Upon request by any pupil, or the parent or guardian of any minor pupil, who is attending or who applies to attend the private school, provide the material specified in
pars. (a) and
(b).
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 an independent 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). The auditor shall conduct his or her audit, including determining sample sizes and evaluating financial viability, in accordance with the auditing standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The department may not require an auditor to comply with standards that exceed the scope of the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
119.23(7)(am)2.
2. Evidence of sound fiscal and internal control practices, as prescribed by the department by rule. An auditor engaged to evaluate the private school's fiscal and internal control practices shall conduct his or her evaluation, including determining sample sizes, in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
119.23(7)(b)
(b) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall do all of the following:
119.23(7)(b)1.
1. Administer to any pupils attending the 3rd grade in the private school under this section a standardized reading test developed by the department.
119.23(7)(b)2m.
2m. Develop a written policy governing visitors and visits to the private school.
119.23(7)(b)3.
3. Ensure that any teacher's aide employed by the private school has graduated from high school, been granted a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, or been issued a general educational development certificate of high school equivalency.
119.23(7)(b)3m.
3m. Annually, schedule two meetings at which members of the governing body of the private school will be present and at which pupils, and the parents or guardians of pupils, applying to attend the private school or attending the private school may meet and communicate with the members of the governing body. The private school shall, within 30 days after the start of the school term, notify the department in writing of the scheduled meeting dates and shall, at least 30 days before the scheduled meeting date, notify in writing each pupil, or the parent or guardian of each minor pupil, applying to attend the private school or attending the private school of the meeting date, time, and place.
119.23(7)(b)4.
4. Maintain progress records for each pupil attending the private school under this section while the pupil attends the school and, except as provided under
subd. 7., for at least 5 years after the pupil ceases to attend the school.
119.23(7)(b)5.
5. Upon request, provide a pupil or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil who is attending the private school under this section with a copy of the pupil's progress records.
119.23(7)(b)6.
6. Issue a high school diploma or certificate to each pupil who attends the private school under this section and satisfactorily completes the course of instruction and any other requirements necessary for high school graduation.
119.23(7)(b)7.a.a. Except as provided in
subd. 7. b., if the private school ceases operating as a private school, immediately transfer all of the progress records of the pupils who attended the school under this section to the board. The private school shall send written notice to each pupil, or to the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, of the transfer of progress records under this
subd. 7. a.
119.23(7)(b)7.b.
b. If the private school is affiliated with an organization that will maintain the progress records of each pupil who attended the school under this section for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as a private school, the private school may transfer a pupil's records to the organization if the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, consents in writing to the release of the progress records to the affiliated organization. The private school shall send to the department a copy of the consent form for each pupil who consents to the transfer of progress records under this
subd. 7. b. The written notice shall be signed by the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, and shall include the name, phone number, mailing address, and other relevant contact information of the organization that will maintain the progress records, and a declaration by the affiliated organization that the organization agrees to maintain the progress records for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as a private school.
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.b.
b. A copy of the school's current certificate of occupancy issued by the municipality within which the school is located. 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 municipality within which the school is located 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). If the municipality within which the private school is located does not issue certificates of occupancy, the private school may submit a certificate of occupancy issued by the local or regional governmental unit with authority to issue certificates of occupancy. 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(7)(e)1.1. In the 2009-10 school year, each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer a nationally normed standardized test in reading, mathematics, and science to pupils attending the school under the program in the 4th, 8th, and 10th grades. Beginning in the 2010-11 school year and annually thereafter, each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer the examinations required under
s. 118.30 (1s) to pupils attending the school under the program. The private school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils. Beginning in 2006 and annually thereafter until 2011, the private school shall provide the scores of all standardized tests and examinations that it administers under this subdivision to the School Choice Demonstration Project.
119.23(7)(e)2.
2. The legislative audit bureau shall review and analyze the standardized test score data received from the School Choice Demonstration Project. Based on its review, in 2007 and annually thereafter until 2011, the bureau shall report to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) the results of the standardized tests administered under
subd. 1., the scores of a representative sample of pupils participating in the program on the tests under
ss. 118.30 and
121.02 (1) (r), and the scores of a comparable group of pupils enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter on the tests under
ss. 118.30 and
121.02 (1) (r).
119.23(7)(f)
(f) A private school that is neither accredited nor approved under
sub. (2) (a) 7., and to which either of the following applies, shall apply for accreditation by December 31 of the school year in which it enters or reenters the program under this section:
119.23(7)(f)1.
1. The private school did not participate in the program under this section during the 2005-06 school year.
119.23(7)(f)2.
2. The private school participated in the program under this section during the 2005-06 school year but did not participate in the program during the 2006-07 school year.
119.23(7)(g)1.1. By the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the month in which the department establishes the model management plan and practices for maintaining indoor environmental quality in public and private schools under
s. 118.075 (3), or by October 1 of a private school's first school year of participation in the program under this section, whichever is later, the private school shall provide for the development of a plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in the private school.
119.23(7)(g)2.
2. By the first day of the 12th month beginning after the month in which the department establishes the model management plan and practices for maintaining indoor environmental quality in public and private schools under
s. 118.075 (3), or by the beginning of the 2nd school year of participation in the program under this section, whichever is later, the private school shall implement a plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in the private school.
119.23(7)(g)3.
3. Each private school participating in the program under this section shall provide a copy of the plan implemented under
subd. 2. to any person upon request.
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) If any accrediting agency specified under
sub. (2) (a) 7. a.,
b., or
d. determines during the accrediting or preaccrediting process that a private school does not meet all of the requirements under
s. 118.165 (1), it shall report that failure to the department.
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)2.
2. Failed to provide the notice or pay the fee required under
sub. (2) (a) 3. or
3m. b., or provide the information required under
sub. (7) (am) or
(d), by the date or within the period specified.
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)(a)8.
8. Before the end of a 7-year period beginning on the date of an order issued by the state superintendent under this subsection, retained a disqualified person, for compensation or as a volunteer, as an owner, officer, director, trustee, administrator, person designated by the administrator to assist in processing pupil applications, or person responsible for administrative, financial, or pupil health and safety matters.
119.23(10)(am)
(am) If the state superintendent determines that any of the following have occurred, he or she may issue an order barring the private school from participating in the program under this section in the following school year:
119.23(10)(am)2.
2. The private school's application for accreditation has been denied by the accrediting organization.
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),
(am), 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 private school under
subs. (4) and
(4m) if the private school violates this section.
119.23(11)
(11) The department shall do all of the following:
119.23(11)(a)
(a) Promulgate rules to implement and administer this section. The department may not by rule establish standards under
sub. (7) (am) that exceed the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
119.23(11)(b)
(b) Notify each private school participating in the program under this section of any proposed changes to the program or to administrative rules governing the program, including changes to application or filing deadlines but not including changes to provisions governing health or safety, prior to the beginning of the school year in which the change takes effect.
119.23 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
PI 35, Wis. adm. code.
119.23 Annotation
Although portions of the plaintiff's property were located in Milwaukee, the school itself was not when it's buildings were not in the city and it was unable to obtain a certificate of occupancy form Milwaukee as required under sub. (7) (d). Without the requisite certificate on file, the plaintiff is ineligible to participate in the choice program under this section. Thomas More High School v. Burmaster,
2005 WI App 204,
287 Wis. 2d 220,
704 N.W.2d 349,
04-2511.
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,
536 U.S. 639,
153 L. Ed. 2d 604,
122 S. Ct. 2460 (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:
