AB129: Bill Text

LRB-2255/1

FFK:amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 129

March 25, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Jagler, Murphy, Brandtjen, Brooks, Dittrich, Horlacher, Hutton, Katsma, Knodl, Kulp, Sanfelippo, Skowronski, Tusler, Zimmerman and Plumer, cosponsored by Senators Kooyenga, Kapenga, Craig, Cowles, Jacque and Stroebel. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB129,1,3 An Act to amend 118.60 (2) (a) 8. and 119.23 (2) (a) 8. of the statutes; relating to: allowing private schools participating in a parental choice program to provide hours of direct pupil instruction virtually.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to count hours of instruction that are offered virtually when a private school participating in a parental choice program is closed because of an emergency or inclement weather. Additionally, the bill specifically authorizes a private school participating in a parental choice program to provide hours of direct pupil instruction by providing instruction virtually or in another alternative setting if the method of providing the instruction applies to the entire school or an entire grade. Current law requires a private school participating in a parental choice program to 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.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB129,1 Section 1. 118.60 (2) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB129,2,11 118.60 (2) (a) 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. Hours provided under this subdivision may include hours of instructional programming provided virtually, outside of the normal school day, or in another alternative setting if the method of providing the instructional programming applies to the entire school or an entire grade level. Annually, no more than 140 hours of work under s. 118.56 may be counted as hours of direct pupil instruction. In computing the number of instructional hours provided under this subdivision, the department shall count hours of instruction offered virtually on days and parts of days on which schools are closed because of inclement weather or an emergency.

AB129,2 Section 2. 119.23 (2) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB129,2,25 119.23 (2) (a) 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. Hours provided under this subdivision may include the hours of instructional programming provided virtually, outside of the normal school day, or in another alternative setting if the method of providing instructional programming applies to the entire private school or an entire grade level. Annually, no more than 140 hours of work under s. 118.56 may be counted as hours of direct pupil instruction. In computing the number of instructional hours provided under this subdivision, the department shall count hours of instruction offered virtually on a day or during part of day on which the private school is closed because of inclement weather or an emergency.

AB129,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB129,3,2 (1) This act first applies to the school year beginning after publication.

AB129,3,3 (End)