119.23(2)(a)7.br.
br. A private school to which
subd. 7. bg. applies shall apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the first school year that begins after April 10, 2014, in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section, and shall achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year following the school year in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section. If the private school is accredited under this
subd. 7. br., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
119.23(2)(a)7.c.
c. On or after July 1, 2009, a private school participating or seeking to participate in the program under this section or in the program under
s. 118.60 may not apply for accreditation by the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, except that a private school that has applied for accreditation to the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University before July 1, 2009, and that is participating in the program under this section on April 10, 2014, may, subject to
subd. 7. e., complete the accreditation process with the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, and may, subject to
subd. 7. e., seek renewal of accreditation from the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University.
119.23(2)(a)7.d.
d. For a private school that was approved for scholarship funding for the 2005-06 school year by Partners Advancing Values in Education and is participating in the program under this section on November 19, 2011, the private school achieves accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2015. If the private school is accredited as provided under this
subd. 7. d., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under
subd. 7. bg. as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
119.23(2)(a)7.e.
e. For a private school that is accredited by the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University and that is participating in the program under this section on April 10, 2014, the private school achieves accreditation by an accrediting entity under
sub. (1) (ab) 1. by December 31, 2014. If the private school is accredited as provided under this
subd. 7. e., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under
subd. 7. bg. as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.
119.23(2)(a)8.
8. Notwithstanding
s. 118.165 (1) (c), the private school annually provides at least 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1 to 6 and at least 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7 to 12. Hours provided under this subdivision include recess and time for pupils to transfer between classes but do not include the lunch periods.
119.23(2)(ag)
(ag) The governing body of a new private school shall comply with all of the following before the new private school may participate in the program under this section:
119.23(2)(ag)1.
1. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, complete and submit to the department the following on forms provided by the department:
119.23(2)(ag)1.a.
a. A notice of intent to participate and agreement to comply with procedural requirements.
119.23(2)(ag)1.b.
b. A complete anticipated budget for the first fiscal period of participation in the program under this section showing that the private school will have a positive cash flow in each month of the fiscal period and no operating deficit. The governing body shall include on the completed form anticipated enrollments for all pupils enrolled in the new private school and for pupils enrolled in the new private school under this section; estimated revenues and costs; a schedule of anticipated beginning and ending net choice program assets; and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements. The governing body shall include in the budget contingent funding sources the new private school will use in the event that actual enrollments are less than expected.
119.23(2)(ag)1.c.
c. The nonrefundable fee established by the department, as required under
s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., for the school year in which the fee is paid by the new private school. If the amount of the fee paid by the new private school under this
subd. 1. c. increases for the school year in which the new private school will first participate in the program under this section, the new private school shall pay the difference between the fee paid and the fee due to the department. If the amount of the fee paid by the new private school under this
subd. 1. c. decreases for the school year in which the new private school will first participate in the program under this section, the department shall refund the new private school the difference between the fee paid and the fee due to the department.
119.23(2)(ag)2.a.a. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, submit to the department the information required under
sub. (6m) (a) and
(c).
119.23(2)(ag)2.b.
b. If, at the time the new private school submits the information required under
subd. 2. a., the new private school does not have a physical property within which the private school intends to operate, submit a mailing address of an administrator of the private school.
119.23(2)(ag)3.
3. By August 1 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, submit to the department a statement indicating which of the standards under
sub. (7) (a) the private school intends to meet.
119.23(2)(ag)4.
4. Notwithstanding the deadline to obtain preaccreditation under
sub. (2) (a) 7. bg., by December 15 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity.
119.23(2)(ag)5.
5. By August 1 of the first school year in which the new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the new private school has contracted with a 3rd-party payroll service that will remit federal and state payroll taxes for each employee of the new private school for the duration of the school year.
119.23(2)(ar)
(ar) By December 31 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which a new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, the department shall notify the new private school in writing whether it has satisfied those requirements under
par. (ag) that must be satisfied before December 31. If the department determines that the new private school has not satisfied those requirements, the new private school may not participate in the program under this section in the following school year, but may reinitiate the process under
par. (ag) for the next following school year.
119.23(2)(c)1.1. Notwithstanding
par. (a) 6., a teacher employed by a private school participating in the program under this section who teaches only courses in rabbinical studies is not required to have a bachelor's degree.
119.23(2)(c)2.
2. Notwithstanding
par. (a) 6., an administrator of a private school participating in the program under this section that prepares and trains pupils attending the school in rabbinical studies is not required to have a bachelor's degree.
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. If more than one pupil from the same family applies to attend the same private school, the pupils may use a single application. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify each applicant, in writing, whether his or her application has been accepted. If the private school rejects an application, the notice shall include the reason. A private school may reject an applicant only if it has reached its maximum general capacity or seating capacity. 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 any of the following:
119.23(3)(a)1.
1. Pupils who attended the private school under this section during the school year prior to the school year for which the application is being made.
119.23(3)(a)2.
2. Siblings of pupils who attended the private school during the school year prior to the school year for which the application is being made and to siblings of pupils who have been accepted to the private school for the school year for which the application is being made.
119.23(3)(a)3.
3. Pupils who attended another private school under this section or
s. 118.60 during the school year prior to the school year for which the application is being made.
119.23(3)(b)
(b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the applicant may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available. An applicant rejected under this paragraph may be admitted to a private school participating in the program under this section for the following school year, provided that the applicant continues to reside within the city. The department may not require, in that following school year, the private school to submit financial information regarding the applicant or to verify the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income.
119.23(3m)(a)(a) A private school participating in the program under this section may not charge or receive any additional tuition payment for a pupil participating in the program under this section other than the payment the school receives under
sub. (4) and, if applicable,
sub. (4m), if either of the following applies:
119.23(3m)(a)1.
1. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from kindergarten to 8.
119.23(3m)(a)2.
2. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the family income of the pupil, as determined under
sub. (2) (a) 1., does not exceed an amount equal to 2.2 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.
119.23(3m)(am)1.1. Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, a private school participating in the program under this section may recover the cost of providing the following to a pupil participating in the program under this section through reasonable fees in an amount determined by the private school and charged to the pupil, except that no participating private school may retroactively recover any uncollected costs incurred prior to November 19, 2011:
119.23(3m)(am)1.b.
b. Social and extracurricular activities if not necessary to the private school's curriculum.
119.23(3m)(am)1.e.
e. High school classes that are not required for graduation and for which no credits toward graduation are given.
119.23(3m)(am)2.
2. A private school may not prohibit an eligible pupil from attending the private school, expel or otherwise discipline the pupil, or withhold or reduce the pupil's grades because the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian cannot pay or has not paid fees charged under
subd. 1.
119.23(3m)(b)
(b) Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, a private school participating in the program under this section may, in addition to the payment it receives for a pupil under
sub. (4) and, if applicable,
sub. (4m), charge the pupil tuition in an amount determined by the school if both of the following apply:
119.23(3m)(b)2.
2. The family income of the pupil, as determined under
sub. (2) (a) 1., exceeds an amount equal to 2.2 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.
119.23(3m)(c)
(c) A private school participating in the program under this section shall determine whether the private school may charge additional tuition to a pupil on the basis of the pupil's family income as permitted under
par. (b). The private school shall establish a process for accepting an appeal to the governing body of the private school of the determination made under this paragraph.
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)(bg)1.1. In the 2013-14 school year, 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 private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an 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, or $6,442, whichever is less.
119.23(4)(bg)2.
2. Except as provided in
subd. 4., in the 2014-15 school year, 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 private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), the lesser of an 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, or an amount either of $7,210, if the pupil is enrolled in a grade from kindergarten to 8, or of $7,856, if the pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12.
119.23(4)(bg)3.
3. In the 2015-16 school year and in each school year thereafter, 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 private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), the lesser of the following:
119.23(4)(bg)3.a.
a. An 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)(bg)3.b.
b. Except as provided in
subd. 5., an amount equal to the sum of the maximum amount per pupil the state superintendent paid a private school under this section in the previous school year for the grade in which the pupil is enrolled; the amount of the per pupil revenue adjustment under
s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under
s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.
119.23(4)(bg)4.
4. If the pupil described in
subd. 2. is enrolled in a private school that enrolls pupils under the program in any grade between kindergarten to 8 and also in any grade between 9 to 12, the state superintendent shall pay to the private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil's parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), the lesser of an 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, or an amount determined as follows:
119.23(4)(bg)4.a.
a. Multiply the number of pupils participating in the program under this section who are enrolled in the private school in any grade between kindergarten to 8 by $7,210.
119.23(4)(bg)4.b.
b. Multiply the number of pupils participating in the program under this section who are enrolled in the private school in any grade between 9 to 12 by $7,856.
119.23(4)(bg)4.d.
d. Divide the amount determined under
subd. 4. c. by the total number of pupils participating in the program under this section who are enrolled at the private school.
119.23(4)(bg)5.
5. If the pupil described in
subd. 3. is enrolled in a private school that enrolls pupils under the program in any grade between kindergarten to 8 and also in any grade between 9 to 12, the state superintendent shall substitute for the amount described in
subd. 3. b. the amount determined under
subd. 4. a. to
d., with the following modifications:
119.23(4)(bg)5.a.
a. Multiply the number of pupils participating in the program who are enrolled in the private school in any grade between kindergarten to 8 by the sum of the maximum amount per pupil the state superintendent paid a private school under this section in the previous school year for the grade in which the pupil is enrolled; the amount of the per pupil revenue adjustment under
s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under
s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.
119.23(4)(bg)5.b.
b. Multiply the number of pupils participating in the program who are enrolled in the private school in any grade between 9 to 12 by the sum of the maximum amount per pupil the state superintendent paid a private school under this section in the previous school year for the grade in which the pupil is enrolled; the amount of the per pupil revenue adjustment under
s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under
s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.
119.23(4)(c)
(c) The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount under this subsection in September, 25% in November, 25% in February, and 25% in May. Each installment may consist of a single check for all pupils attending the private school under this section. The state superintendent shall include the entire amount under
sub. (4m) in the November installment, but the payment shall be made in a separate check from the payment under this subsection.
119.23(4)(d)
(d) In determining a private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil under
par. (bg), the department shall do all of the following, but may not determine separate costs for pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 8 and for pupils enrolled in grades 9 to 12:
119.23(4)(d)1.
1. Subtract only the following, up to the actual cost of the service or material related to each item:
119.23(4)(d)1.a.
a. Fees charged pupils for books and supplies used in classes and programs.
119.23(4)(d)1.e.
e. Interest and other income resulting from the investment of debt proceeds.
119.23(4)(d)2.
2. If legal title to the private school's buildings and premises is held in the name of the private school's parent organization or other related party and the private school requests that the department do so, include an amount equal to 10.5 percent of the fair market value of the school and its premises. If legal title to the private school's buildings and premises is held in the name of the private school's parent organization or other related party but the private school was not permitted to include an amount equal to 10.5 percent of the fair market value of the school and its premises in the 2012-13 school year, the private school may, beginning on July 2, 2013, request the department to include that amount. A request made by a private school under this subdivision remains effective in subsequent school years and may not be withdrawn by the private school.
119.23(4)(d)3.
3. If immediately prior to July 1, 2011, a private school's operating and debt service costs, as determined by the department, included the amount described in
subd. 2., continue to include the amount described in
subd. 2. in subsequent school years.
119.23(4)(d)4.
4. Permit a private school to accumulate up to 15 percent of the private school's annual operating and debt service costs related to educational programming in a reserve account and include any increase to that reserved amount in the department's determination of the private school's operating and debt service costs related to programming for that school year.
119.23(4m)(a)(a) In addition to the payment under
sub. (4), the state superintendent shall, subject to
par. (b), pay to each private school participating in the program under this section, on behalf of the parent or guardian of each pupil attending summer school in the private school under this section during a summer and in the manner described in
sub. (4) (c), an amount determined as follows:
119.23(4m)(a)1.
1. Determine the maximum amount that could have been paid, at the end of the immediately preceding school term, per pupil under
sub. (4) (bg) for the grade in which the pupil is attending summer school under this section.
119.23(4m)(b)
(b) A participating private school may receive a per pupil payment under
par. (a) if all of the following are satisfied:
119.23(4m)(b)1.
1. The private school offers no fewer than 19 summer days of instruction during that summer.
119.23(4m)(b)2.
2. Each summer day of instruction offered by the private school under
subd. 1. is comprised of no fewer than 270 minutes of instruction.
119.23(4m)(b)3.
3. Each pupil for whom the private school seeks a payment under
par. (a) attends no fewer than 15 days of summer instruction at the private school during that summer.
119.23(4r)
(4r) If, after the 3rd Friday in September in any school year, a private school participating in the program under this section closes, for each installment under
sub. (4) (c) that was not paid to the private school in that school year, the state superintendent shall pay to the board, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fv), the amount determined as follows for each pupil who had been attending the private school under this section in that school year and who enrolls in the school district operating under this chapter in that school year:
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 and in the program under
s. 118.60.
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(6m)
(6m) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall do all of the following:
119.23(6m)(a)
(a) Provide to each pupil, or the parent or guardian of each minor pupil, who applies to attend the private school all of the following:
119.23(6m)(a)1.
1. The name, address, and telephone number of the private school and the name of one or more contact persons at the school.
119.23(6m)(a)2.
2. A list of the names of the members of the private school's governing body and of the private school's shareholders, if any.
119.23(6m)(a)3.
3. A notice stating whether the private school is an organization operated for profit or not for profit. If the private school is a nonprofit organization, the private school shall also provide the applicant with a copy of the certificate issued under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code verifying that the private school is a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax.
