AB56: Bill Text

AB56,831,9 115.7915 (6) (L) Allow a child attending the private school under this section to refrain from participating in any religious activity if the child's parent submits to the child's teacher or the private school's principal a written request that the child be exempt from such activities.

AB56,1506 Section 1506 . 115.7915 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,831,13 115.7915 (6m) Private school accreditation requirements. If a private school does not participate in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 as provided under sub. (2) (c) 1. or 2. c., all of the following apply to the private school:

AB56,831,15 (a) If the private school is not accredited by an accrediting entity on August 1, 2019, the private school shall do all of the following:

AB56,831,18 1. Obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by August 1, 2020. The eligible school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from only one preaccrediting entity.

AB56,831,20 2. Apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2020, and obtain accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2023.

AB56,832,3 (b) If the private school is accredited by an accrediting entity to offer instruction in any elementary grade, but not any high school grade, and the private school seeks to offer instruction in any high school grade, the private school shall apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the first school year in which the private school begins offering instruction in the additional grades and shall obtain accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school begins offering instruction in the additional grades.

AB56,832,11 (c) If the private school is accredited by an accrediting entity to offer instruction in any high school grade, but not any elementary grade, and the private school seeks to offer instruction in any elementary grade, the private school shall apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the first school year in which the private school begins offering instruction in the additional grades and shall obtain accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31 of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school begins offering instruction in the additional grades.

AB56,832,15 (d) If the private school is accredited, the governing body of the private school shall ensure that the private school continuously maintains the accreditation from an accrediting entity as long as the private school continues to participate in the program under this section.

AB56,832,21 (e) If the private school learns that an accrediting organization with which the private school is maintaining accreditation, as required under par. (d), is a disqualified organization, the private school shall immediately notify the department in writing of this fact and shall obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity no later than 3 years from the date on which the private school learns that the accrediting organization is a disqualified organization.

AB56,833,2 (f) The governing body of the private school shall annually, by August 1, provide the department with evidence demonstrating that the private school remains accredited for the current school year as required under par. (d), and the governing body of the private school shall immediately notify the department if the private school's accreditation status changes.

AB56,833,6 (g) If a preaccrediting entity or accrediting entity determines during the preaccrediting or accrediting process that the private school does not meet all of the requirements under s. 118.165 (1), the preaccrediting entity or accrediting entity shall report that failure to the department.

AB56,833,9 (h) If the state superintendent determines that any of the following occurs, the state superintendent may issue an order barring the private school from participating in the program under this section in the following school year:

AB56,833,11 1. The governing body of the private school does not comply with the requirements under par. (f).

AB56,833,13 2. An application by the private school for preaccreditation or accreditation is denied by the preaccrediting entity or accrediting entity.

AB56,833,16 3. The private school does not obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity or accreditation by an accrediting entity within the period allowed under par. (a), (b), (c), or (e).

AB56,833,23 (i) 1. If the state superintendent determines that the private school has failed to continuously maintain accreditation as required under par. (d), that the governing body of the private school has withdrawn the private school from the accreditation process, or that the private school's accreditation has been revoked, denied, or terminated by an accrediting entity, the state superintendent shall issue an order barring the private school's participation in the program under this section at the end of the current school year.

AB56,834,3 2. A private school whose participation in the program under this section is barred under subd. 1. may not participate in the program under this section until the governing body of the private school demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the private school has obtained accreditation from any of the following:

AB56,834,6 a. If the private school failed to continuously maintain accreditation, an accrediting entity other than the entity with which the private school failed to continuously maintain accreditation.

AB56,834,8 b. If the private school withdrew from the accreditation process, an accrediting entity other than the entity from whose process the private school withdrew.

AB56,834,11 c. If the private school's accreditation was revoked, denied, or terminated, an accrediting entity other than the entity that revoked, denied, or terminated the private school's accreditation.

AB56,1507 Section 1507 . 115.7915 (8) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,834,14 115.7915 (8) (a) 5. Failed to comply with the eligibility criteria under sub. (2) (c).

AB56,1508 Section 1508 . 115.7915 (8) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,834,16 115.7915 (8) (a) 6. Failed to comply with the requirement under sub. (6) (L).

AB56,1509 Section 1509. 115.7915 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,834,24 115.7915 (11) Sunset. Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, the department may not provide a scholarship under this section to a child with a disability to attend a private school unless the child attended a private school under a scholarship under this section in the 2019-20 school year. If the child does not attend a private school under a scholarship under this section in any school year after the 2019-20 school year, the department may not provide a scholarship under this section to the child for any school year after that school year.

AB56,1510 Section 1510. 115.881 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,835,4 115.881 (2) For each child whose costs exceeded $30,000 under sub. (1), the department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bd), pay an eligible applicant in the current school year an amount equal to 0.90 multiplied by that portion of the cost costs under sub. (1) that exceeded $30,000.

AB56,1511 Section 1511. 115.881 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1512 Section 1512. 115.881 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1513 Section 1513. 115.883 of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1514 Section 1514. 115.884 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,835,15 115.884 (1) (intro.) In the 2016-17 2019-20 school year and each school year thereafter, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bf), the department shall award an incentive grant in the amount of $1,000 per individual determined under sub. (3) to a school district, or to an operator of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), that applies for a grant under this section and that if the school district or operator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the individual satisfies all of the following criteria:

AB56,1515 Section 1515. 115.884 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1516 Section 1516. 115.884 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,835,19 115.884 (3) The per individual grant amount under sub. (1) is the lesser of the following:

AB56,835,23 (a) In each school year, the amount determined by dividing the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (bf) for that school year by the total number of individuals statewide for whom a grant will be awarded under sub. (1) in that school year.

AB56,835,24 (b) One thousand five hundred dollars.

AB56,1517 Section 1517. Subchapter VII (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.94] of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,836,3 CHAPTER 115

AB56,836,5 SUBCHAPTER VII Office of school safety

AB56,1518 Section 1518. Subchapter VII (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.95] of the statutes is renumbered subchapter VIII (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.95].

AB56,1519 Section 1519. 115.957 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,836,15 115.957 Bilingual-bicultural education supplemental aid. (1) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year and annually thereafter, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cd), the department shall pay each school district an amount equal to $100 multiplied by the number of limited-English proficient pupils enrolled in the school district in the previous school year for whom the school board was not required to provide a bilingual-bicultural education program under s. 115.97 in the previous school year.

AB56,836,18 (2) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cd) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount under sub. (1), the department shall prorate the payments to school districts entitled to aid in that fiscal year.

AB56,1520 Section 1520. 115.958 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,836,24 115.958 Bilingual-bicultural education grants. (1) A school board or the operator of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) may apply to the department for a grant to support bilingual-bicultural education programs or other educational programming for limited-English proficient pupils enrolled in the school district or charter school.

AB56,837,4 (2) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cb), the department may award grants under sub. (1) to school districts and charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x) in amounts determined by the department.

AB56,837,9 (3) A school district or charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant moneys to develop, implement, and provide bilingual-bicultural education programs or other educational programming to meet the specific needs of limited-English proficient pupils enrolled in the school district or charter school.

AB56,837,11 (4) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

AB56,1521 Section 1521. 115.96 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 115.96 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB56,837,20 115.96 (1) Count of limited-English proficient pupils. (intro.) Annually, on or before March 1, each school board shall conduct a count of the limited-English proficient pupils in the public schools of the district, assess the language proficiency of such pupils, and classify such pupils by language group, grade level, age, and English language proficiency. The department shall establish, by rule, 6 classifications of English language proficiency, of which the first classification is the least proficient and the 6th classification is fully proficient.

AB56,1522 Section 1522. 115.993 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,838,6 115.993 Report on bilingual-bicultural education. Annually, on or before August 15, the school board of a district operating a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter shall report to the state superintendent the number of pupils, including both limited-English proficient pupils and other pupils, instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, the number of eligible limited-English proficient pupils, as defined in s. 115.994 (1), instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, an itemized statement on oath of all disbursements on account of the bilingual-bicultural education program operated during the previous school year, and a copy of the estimated budget for that program for the current school year.

AB56,1523 Section 1523. 115.994 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,838,11 115.994 Targeted aid program. (1) In this section, “eligible limited-English proficient pupil” means a limited-English proficient pupil whose English language proficiency is in one of the first 3 classifications established by the department, by rule, under s. 115.96 (1).

AB56,838,16 (2) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ce), the department shall pay to each school district $100 multiplied by the number of eligible limited-English proficient pupils instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, as reported to the state superintendent under s. 115.993.

AB56,838,19 (3) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ce) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount under sub. (2), the department shall prorate the payments among the school districts eligible to receive aid under sub. (2).

AB56,1524 Section 1524. Subchapter VIII (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.997] of the statutes is renumbered subchapter IX (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.997].

AB56,1525 Section 1525. Subchapter IX (title) of chapter 115 [precedes 115.999] of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1526 Section 1526. 115.999 of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1527 Section 1527. 117.05 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,839,4 117.05 (1m) Board and appeal panel meetings. The state superintendent shall set the time and place for meetings of the board under ss. 117.10, 117.105 (2m) and (4m), 117.12 (5), and 117.132 and for meetings of appeal panels under ss. 117.12 (4) and 117.13.

AB56,1528 Section 1528. 117.05 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,839,13 117.05 (2) (a) Board. The state superintendent shall appoint 7 members of the board to perform any review under ss. 117.10, 117.105 (2m) and (4m), 117.12 (5), and 117.132. The 7 members shall include the state superintendent or his or her designee on the board, 2 board members from school districts with small enrollments, 2 board members from school districts with medium enrollments, and 2 board members from school districts with large enrollments. Any action of the board under this chapter requires the affirmative vote of at least 4 of the 7 members appointed under this paragraph.

AB56,1529 Section 1529. 117.05 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,839,19 117.05 (4) (a) Pending proceedings. (intro.) A reorganization proceeding is pending from the date that a petition is filed under s. 117.105 (1) (a), 117.11 (2), or 117.12 (2) or a resolution is adopted under s. 117.08 (1), 117.09 (1), 117.10 (1), 117.105 (1) (b) or (4m), 117.13 (2), or 117.132 (2) until the date on which the latest of any of the following occurs:

AB56,1530 Section 1530. 117.05 (4) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,840,2 117.05 (4) (d) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no petition may be filed or resolution adopted for the creation of a new school district under s. 117.105 (1) (a) or (b) before the 5th July 1 following the filing of a petition under s. 117.105 (1) (a) or the adoption of a resolution under s. 117.105 (1) (b) or the date of an order issued under s. 117.105 (4m) (c) for any reorganization that includes any of the same territory.

AB56,1531 Section 1531. 117.05 (9) (a) 1m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1532 Section 1532. 117.105 (4m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,1533 Section 1533. 117.20 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,840,14 117.20 (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a referendum is required under ss. 117.08 to 117.11, it shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following receipt of the petition or adoption of the resolution under s. 117.08 (3) (a), 117.09 (3) (a), 117.10 (3) (a) or 117.11 (4) (a). If a referendum is required under s. 117.105 (3), it shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in the 2nd November following receipt of the petition or adoption of the resolution under s. 117.105 (1). If a referendum is required under s. 117.105 (4m), it shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the date an order is issued by the board under s. 117.105 (4m) (c).

AB56,1534 Section 1534. 117.22 (2) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,840,18 117.22 (2) (bm) If an order of reorganization is issued under s. 117.105, the first election of school board members shall be held at the spring election following the referendum under s. 117.105 (3) or (4m).

AB56,1535 Section 1535. 118.017 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,840,22 118.017 (1) (a) Those programs established under subch. VII VIII of ch. 115 where instruction shall be in the English language and in the non-English language of the bilingual-bicultural education program.

AB56,1536 Section 1536. 118.125 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,841,17 118.125 (4) Transfer of records. No later than the next working day, a school district, and a private school participating in the program under s. 118.60 or in the program under s. 119.23, and the governing body of a private school that, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 3., or 119.9002 (3) (c), is responsible for the operation and general management of a school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119 shall transfer to another school, including a private or tribal school, or school district all pupil records relating to a specific pupil if the transferring school district or private school has received written notice from the pupil if he or she is an adult or his or her parent or guardian if the pupil is a minor that the pupil intends to enroll in the other school or school district or written notice from the other school or school district that the pupil has enrolled or from a court that the pupil has been placed in a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), or a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g). In this subsection, “ school" and “school district" include any juvenile correctional facility, secured residential care center for children and youth, adult correctional institution, mental health institute, or center for the developmentally disabled that provides an educational program for its residents instead of or in addition to that which is provided by public, private, and tribal schools.

AB56,1537 Section 1537 . 118.163 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,841,20 118.163 (4) A person who is under 17 years of age a minor on the date of disposition is subject to s. 938.342.

AB56,1538 Section 1538. 118.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,842,2 118.19 (1) Except as provided in subs. (1b) and (1c) and s. 118.40 (8) (b) 1. and 2., any person seeking to teach in a public school, including a charter school, or in a school or institution operated by a county or the state, in a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, or in a private school participating in the program under s. 115.7915 shall first procure a license or permit from the department.

AB56,1539 Section 1539. 118.19 (1b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,842,9 118.19 (1b) An individual may teach an online course in a subject and level in a public school, including a charter school, in a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, or in a private school participating in the program under s. 115.7915 without a license or permit from the department if the individual holds a valid license or permit to teach the subject and level in the state from which the online course is provided.

AB56,1540 Section 1540. 118.19 (1c) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: