118.58(3)(b) (b) If a high school’s class enrollment is at least 15 but less than 20 pupils, the school board, operator of the charter school, or governing body of the private school or tribal school shall identify the highest ranked and 2nd highest ranked pupils in the class using the ranking method under sub. (2). For purposes of par. (a) and sub. (4) and s. 36.11 (3m), the highest ranked pupil shall be considered to be in the top 5 percent of the pupil’s high school class and the 2nd highest ranked pupil shall be considered to be in the top 10 percent of the pupil’s high school class.

118.58(4) (4) After completing the class ranking required under sub. (2), a school board, operator of a charter school, or governing body of a private school or tribal school shall do all of the following:

118.58(4)(a) (a) Notify each pupil ranked in the top 10 percent of the pupil’s high school class that the pupil is ranked, as applicable, in the top 5 percent or in the top 10 percent of the pupil’s high school class.

118.58(4)(b) (b) For each pupil notified under par. (a), include that the pupil is ranked, as applicable, in the top 5 percent or in the top 10 percent of the pupil’s high school class on the pupil’s high school transcript as of the pupil’s completion of grade 11.

118.58(5) (5) This section does not apply to a virtual private school.

118.58 History History: 2023 a. 95.

118.60 118.60 Parental choice program for eligible school districts and other school districts.

118.60(1) (1) In this section:

118.60(1)(ab) (ab) “Accrediting entity” means Cognia, Inc., Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, Association of Christian Schools International, the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located, and any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.

118.60(1)(ad) (ad) “Administrator” means the superintendent, supervising principal, executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a private school participating in the program under this section.

118.60(1)(af) (af) “Disqualified organization” means an accrediting organization that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise sanctioned by an accrediting entity.

118.60(1)(ag) (ag) “Disqualified person” means a person who, when a private school was barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section by an order issued under sub. (10), satisfied at least one of the following:

118.60(1)(ag)1. 1. Had a controlling ownership interest in, or was the administrator or an officer, director, or trustee of, the private school.

118.60(1)(ag)2. 2. Was a person designated by the administrator of the private school to assist in processing pupil applications.

118.60(1)(ag)3. 3. Was responsible for an action or circumstance that led to the private school being barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section.

118.60(1)(am) (am) “Eligible school district” means the school district that was identified as an eligible school district under 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9137 (3u).

118.60(1)(bn) (bn)

118.60(1)(bn)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., “new private school” means a school that qualifies as a private school under s. 115.001 (3r) and that satisfies either of the following:

118.60(1)(bn)1.a. a. The school has been in continuous operation in this state for less than 12 consecutive months.

118.60(1)(bn)1.b. b. The school provides education to fewer than 40 pupils divided into 2 or fewer grades.

118.60(1)(bn)2. 2. “New private school” does not include a private school the governing body of which operates or manages a private school that is participating in the program under this section or under s. 119.23 if all of the following apply:

118.60(1)(bn)2.a. a. No payment has been withheld from any private school operated or managed by the governing body under sub. (10) (d) or s. 119.23 (10) (d) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.

118.60(1)(bn)2.b. b. No order barring any private school operated or managed by the governing body from participating in the program under this section or s. 119.23 has been issued under sub. (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) or under s. 119.23 (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.

118.60(1)(c) (c) “Preaccreditation” means the review and approval of an educational plan. Review of an education plan includes consideration of whether the school submitting the plan meets the requirements under s. 118.165 (1). The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accrediting entity to accredit the private school.

118.60(1)(cm) (cm) “Preaccrediting entity” means the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, Association of Christian Schools International, and the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.

118.60(1)(d) (d) “Progress records” has the meaning given in s. 118.125 (1) (c).

118.60(1)(g) (g) “Teacher” means a person who has primary responsibility for the academic instruction of pupils.

118.60(2) (2) 

118.60(2)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (ag) and (ar), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any private school under this section and, subject to pars. (ag), (ar), (be), (bm), and (bs), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, may attend any private school under this section if all of the following apply: