SB989: Bill Text

SB989,64 Section 64. 118.301 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,65 Section 65. 118.301 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,193 118.301 (3) (d) Notwithstanding s. 118.30 (1t), beginning in the first full school year following the date on which the research center submitted the list of approved examinations to the department under sub. (2) (a), the governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 that is required to administer an examination under s. 118.30 (1t) is not required to administer an examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under s. 118.30 (1) in any grade for which an examination is required to be administered under s. 118.30 if the governing body administers in that grade an alternative examination approved by the research center under sub. (2). If the governing body of the private school elects to administer an alternative examination under this paragraph, the governing body shall notify the department of its intent to administer the examination and shall publish that fact and information about the examination on the school’s Internet site website.

SB989,66 Section 66. 118.301 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,195 118.301 (4) (a) If a school board, an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), or the governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 administers an alternative examination under sub. (3), the school board, operator, or governing body shall submit the examination results to the research center.

SB989,67 Section 67. 118.33 (1) (f) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,197 118.33 (1) (f) 2m. The governing body of each private school participating 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 develop and periodically review and revise a policy specifying criteria for granting a high school diploma to pupils attending the private school under s. 119.23 or the school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119. The criteria shall include the pupil’s academic performance, successful completion of the civics test under sub. (1m) (a), and the recommendations of teachers.

SB989,68 Section 68. 118.33 (1) (f) 2r. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,199 118.33 (1) (f) 2r. The governing body of each private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 shall develop and periodically review and revise a policy specifying criteria for granting a high school diploma to pupils attending the private school under s. 118.60 the private school choice program. The criteria shall include the pupil’s academic performance, successful completion of the civics test under sub. (1m) (a), and the recommendations of teachers.

SB989,69 Section 69. 118.33 (1) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,201 118.33 (1) (f) 3. Neither a school board nor an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) nor an individual or group or person that, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 1. or 2., or 119.9002 (3) (a) or (b), 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 may grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the school board’s or charter school’s policy under subd. 1. or 2. Neither the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 nor a A 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 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil attending the private school under s. 119.23 or the school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119 unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the governing body’s policy under subd. 2m. The governing body of a private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil attending the private school under s. 118.60 the private school choice program unless the pupil has satisfied the criteria specified in the governing body’s policy under subd. 2r.

SB989,70 Section 70. 118.33 (1m) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,203 118.33 (1m) (a) 1. Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, no No school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), or governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 may, except as provided in subd. 2. and subject to the policies under sub. (2) (m), grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless the pupil takes, during the high school grades, a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the pupil correctly answers at least 65 of those questions.

SB989,71 Section 71. 118.33 (1m) (a) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,205 118.33 (1m) (a) 2. a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., a school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 shall require a pupil for whom an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect and a parentally placed child with a disability, as defined in 34 CFR 300.130, to complete the civics test described under subd. 1. but may not condition graduation on the successful completion of the test.

SB989,72 Section 72. 118.33 (1m) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,207 118.33 (1m) (a) 2. b. If a pupil’s individualized education program under s. 115.787 or a services plan, as defined in 34 CFR 300.37, includes a statement that it is not appropriate to administer the civics test under subd. 1. to the pupil, a school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 may not make completion of the civics test described under subd. 1. a condition of graduation for that pupil.

SB989,73 Section 73. 118.33 (1m) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,209 118.33 (1m) (a) 3. A school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 shall permit a limited-English proficient pupil, as defined in s. 115.955 (7), to take the civics test described under subd. 1. in the pupil’s language of choice.

SB989,74 Section 74. 118.33 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,211 118.33 (1m) (b) A school board, operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and governing body of a private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 may determine the format of the civics test required under this subsection and when in the school year to administer the test.

SB989,75 Section 75. 118.33 (6) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, is repealed.

SB989,76 Section 76. 118.33 (6) (cr) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB989,,214 118.33 (6) (cr) 1. The governing body of each private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 shall adopt a written policy specifying criteria for promoting a pupil who is attending the private school under s. 118.60 the private school choice program from the 4th grade to the 5th grade and from the 8th grade to the 9th grade. The criteria shall include the pupil’s score on the examination administered under s. 118.30 (1t) (a) or (b) or s. 118.301 (3), unless the pupil has been excused from taking the examination under s. 118.30 (2) (b); the pupil’s academic performance; the recommendations of teachers, which shall be based solely on the pupil’s academic performance; and any other academic criteria specified by the governing body of the private school.

SB989,,215 2. The governing body of a private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 may not promote a 4th grade pupil who is attending the private school under s. 118.60 the private school choice program to the 5th grade, and may not promote an 8th grade pupil who is attending the private school under s. 118.60 the private school choice program to the 9th grade, unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified in the governing body’s policy under subd. 1.

SB989,,216 3. By July 1, 2025, the governing body of each private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 shall adopt a written policy specifying the criteria for promoting a pupil from the 3rd grade to the 4th grade that includes at least a requirement to provide to a pupil promoted to 4th grade who scored below grade-level in reading on the examination under s. 121.02 (1) (r) the services described in sub. (5m) (a) 1. to 3. and a good cause exception similar to the exception under sub. (5m) (b). Beginning on September 1, 2027, the governing body of a private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 may not promote a 3rd grade pupil to the 4th grade unless the pupil satisfies the criteria for promotion specified in the governing body’s policy under this subdivision.

SB989,77 Section 77. 118.38 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,78 Section 78. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,219 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p. a. Add the amounts appropriated in the current fiscal year under s. 20.255 (2), except s. 20.255 (2) (ac), (aw), (az), (bb), (dj), (du), (fm), (fp), (fq), (fr), (fu), (k), and (m); and s. 20.505 (4) (es); and the amount, as determined by the secretary of administration, of the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (s) allocated for payments to telecommunications providers under contracts with school districts and cooperative educational service agencies under s. 16.971 (13).

SB989,79 Section 79. 118.56 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,221 118.56 (1) Require a pupil in the program to work at least 280 hours per school year for an employer that complies with sub. (3). Hours of instruction may not be used to satisfy the work requirements under this subsection. Hours that fulfill the work requirements under this subsection shall be counted as hours of direct pupil instruction, as provided under ss. 118.60 (2) (a) 8. and 119.23 (2) (a) 8. s. 118.79 (1).

SB989,80 Section 80. 118.57 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,223 118.57 (1) Annually, by January 31, each school board shall publish as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and post on its Internet site website a description of the educational options available to children in the school district, including public schools, private schools participating in a parental the private school choice program, charter schools, virtual schools, full-time or part-time open enrollment in a nonresident school district, the youth apprenticeship program under s. 106.13, and the early college credit program. A school board that does not operate high school grades is not required to include an educational option offered only to high school pupils in a description of educational options under this subsection.

SB989,81 Section 81. 118.57 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,225 118.57 (2) The school board shall include in the notice under sub. (1) the most recent performance category assigned under s. 115.385 (1) (b) to each school within the school district boundaries, including charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) and private schools participating in a parental the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23. The notice published by the school board shall inform parents that the full school and school district accountability report is available on the school board’s Internet site website.

SB989,82 Section 82. 118.60 (title) and (1) (am) of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,83 Section 83. 118.60 (1) (intro.), (ab), (ad), (af), (ag), (bn), (c), (cm), (d) and (g) of the statutes are renumbered 118.70 (intro.), (1), (2), (4), (5), (10), (13), (14), (15) and (19), and 118.70 (intro.), (2), (4), (5) (intro.) and (c), (10) (a) (intro.) and (b), (13) and (14), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB989,,228 118.70 Definitions. (intro.) In this section subchapter:

SB989,,229 (2) “Administrator” means the superintendent, supervising principal, executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a participating private school participating in the program under this section.

SB989,,230 (4) “Disqualified accrediting organization” means an accrediting organization that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise sanctioned by an accrediting entity.

SB989,,231 (5) (intro.) “Disqualified person” means a person who, when a private school was barred or terminated from participation in the choice program under this section by an order issued under sub. (10) s. 118.85 or s. 118.60 (10), 2023 stats., or s. 119.23 (10), 2023 stats., satisfied at least one of the following:

SB989,,232 (c) Was responsible for an action or circumstance that led to the private school being barred or terminated from participation in the choice program under this section.

SB989,,233 (10) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in subd. 2. par. (b), “new private school” means a school that qualifies as a private school under s. 115.001 (3r) and that satisfies either of the following:

SB989,,234 (b) “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 choice program under this section or under s. 119.23 if all of the following apply:

SB989,,235 1. No payment has been withheld from any private school operated or managed by the governing body under sub. s. 118.85 or s. 118.60 (10) (d) or, 2023 stats., or s. 119.23 (10) (d), 2023 stats., in the 3 immediately preceding school years.

SB989,,236 2. No order barring any private school operated or managed by the governing body from participating in the choice program under this section or s. 119.23 has been issued under sub. s. 118.85 or s. 118.60 (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b) or under, 2023 stats., or s. 119.23 (10) (a), (am), (ar), or (b), 2023 stats., in the 3 immediately preceding school years.

SB989,,237 (13) “Preaccreditation” means the review and approval of an educational plan. Review of an education educational 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.

SB989,,238 (14) “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.

SB989,84 Section 84. 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 118.72 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB989,,240 118.72 (1) Eligibility. (intro.) Subject to pars. (ag) and (ar), any Any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district in this state may attend any a participating 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 the choice program if all of the following apply:

SB989,85 Section 85. 118.60 (2) (a) 1. a. of the statutes is renumbered 118.72 (1) (a) and amended to read:

SB989,,242 118.72 (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (bm) Racine pupils and Milwaukee pupils. For a Racine pupil or a Milwaukee pupil, the pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget. In this subdivision and sub. (3m), family income includes income of the pupil’s parents or legal guardians. Except as provided in subd. 1. c. and d., the family income of the pupil shall be verified as provided in subd. 1. b. A pupil attending a private school under this section whose family income increases may continue to attend a private school under this section.

SB989,86 Section 86. 118.60 (2) (a) 1. b., c. and d. of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,87 Section 87. 118.60 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,88 Section 88. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

SB989,89 Section 89. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,247 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. Except as provided in subd. 3. b. and c. and par. (ag) 1., the private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section or in the program under s. 119.23, and paid the nonrefundable fee, set by the department as required under s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., by January 10 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section and in the program under s. 119.23 for which the school has space.

SB989,90 Section 90. 118.60 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (1) and amended to read:

SB989,,249 118.80 (1) Nondiscrimination. The Each participating private school complies shall comply with 42 USC 2000d.

SB989,91 Section 91. 118.60 (2) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 118.80 (2) and amended to read:

SB989,,251 118.80 (2) Health and safety. The Each participating private school meets shall comply with all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.

SB989,92 Section 92. 118.60 (2) (a) 6. a. of the statutes is renumbered 118.81 (1) (a) and amended to read:

SB989,,253 118.81 (1) (a) Except as provided in subd. 6. c. and d., pars. (b) and (c), a participating private school shall ensure that all of the participating private school’s teachers have a teaching license issued by the department or a bachelor’s degree or a degree or educational credential higher than a bachelor’s degree, including a masters master’s or doctorate, from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education.

SB989,93 Section 93. 118.60 (2) (a) 6. b. of the statutes is renumbered 118.81 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB989,,255 118.81 (2) (a) All Except as provided in par. (b), a participating private school shall ensure that all of the participating private school’s administrators have at least a bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education or a teaching license or administrator’s administrator license issued by the department.

SB989,94 Section 94. 118.60 (2) (a) 6. c. and d. of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,95 Section 95. 118.60 (2) (a) 7. a. of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,96 Section 96. 118.60 (2) (a) 7. b. of the statutes is renumbered 118.74 (1) and amended to read:

SB989,,259 118.74 (1) Preaccreditation. Each private school that begins participation in the choice program under this section on or after April 10, 2014, and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity, shall obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by the first weekday in August 1 before the first school term in which the private school begins participation in the choice program under this section, or by the first weekday in May 1 if the private school begins participating in the choice program during summer school. In any school year, a A private school to which this subd. 7. b. applies may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from only one preaccrediting entity each school year. A private school to which this subd. 7. b. applies that fails to obtain preaccreditation as required under this subd. 7. b. subsection may not participate in the choice program under this section or under s. 119.23 until preaccreditation has been obtained, but the private school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity for the following a subsequent school year. The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accrediting entity to accredit the private school.

SB989,97 Section 97. 118.60 (2) (a) 7. c. of the statutes is renumbered 118.74 (2) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB989,,261 118.74 (2) Initial accreditation. (intro.) A private school to which subd. 7. b. applies that is not accredited by the first weekday in August before the first school term in which the private school begins participating in the choice program shall apply do all of the following:

SB989,,262 (a) Apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by the last weekday in December 31 of the first school year that begins after April 10, 2014, in which the private school begins participation in the choice program under this section, and shall achieve.

SB989,,263 (b) Achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity by the first weekday in December 31 of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school begins participation in the choice program under this section. If the private school is accredited under this subd. 7. c., the private school is not required to obtain preaccreditation under subd. 7. b. as a prerequisite to providing instruction under this section in additional grades or in an additional or new school.

SB989,98 Section 98. 118.60 (2) (a) 8. of the statutes is renumbered 118.79 (1) and amended to read:

SB989,,265 118.79 (1) Hours of instruction. Notwithstanding s. 118.165 (1) (c), the each participating private school shall annually provides provide 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 subsection include recess and time for pupils to transfer between classes but do not include the lunch periods. Annually, no more than 140 hours of work under s. 118.56 may be counted as hours of direct pupil instruction.

SB989,99 Section 99. 118.60 (2) (a) 9. of the statutes is renumbered 118.79 (2) and amended to read:

SB989,,267 118.79 (2) Instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides. If the a participating private school operates any grade from 5 to 12, the participating private school includes shall include in its curriculum the instruction required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 8., so far as applicable.

SB989,100 Section 100. 118.60 (2) (ag) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,101 Section 101. 118.60 (2) (ag) 1. (intro.) and a. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 118.60 (2) (ag) 1. and amended to read:

SB989,,270 118.60 (2) (ag) 1. By the first weekday in 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: a. A , a notice of intent to participate and agreement to comply with procedural requirements. If, at the time the new private school submits the information required under this subdivision, 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 new private school.

SB989,102 Section 102. 118.60 (2) (ag) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 118.77 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB989,,272 118.77 (1) Initial submissions to department. (intro.) By the first weekday in August of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the a new private school intends to participate in the choice program under this section, complete and, the new private school shall submit all of the following to the department, on forms provided by the department, a notice of intent to participate and:

SB989,,273 (a) An agreement to comply with procedural requirements.

SB989,,274 (c) The physical location of the new private school. If, at the time the new private school submits the information required under this subdivision subsection, the new private school does not have a physical property within which the private school intends to operate, the new private school shall submit a mailing address of an administrator of the new private school.

SB989,103 Section 103. 118.60 (2) (ag) 1. b. and c. of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,104 Section 104. 118.60 (2) (ag) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,277 118.60 (2) (ag) 2. a. By August 1 the 3rd Monday in October 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 under sub. (6p) (a) and (b).

SB989,105 Section 105. 118.60 (2) (ag) 2. a. of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

SB989,106 Section 106. 118.60 (2) (ag) 2. b. of the statutes is repealed.