AB43: Bill Text

AB43,,5558 115.422 Grow your own programs; teacher pipeline capacity building. (1) In this section, “grow your own program” means a program to encourage individuals to pursue a career in teaching or to facilitate teacher licensure. “Grow your own programs” include high school clubs that encourage careers in teaching, payment of costs associated with current staff acquiring education needed for licensure, support for career pathways using dual enrollment, support for partnerships focused on attracting or developing new teachers, or incentives for paraprofessionals to gain licensure.

AB43,,5559 (2) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ch), the department shall award grants to a school district or the operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) to reimburse the school district or charter school for costs associated with grow your own programs.

AB43,,5560 (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including criteria for awarding a grant.

AB43,2060 Section 2060. 115.424 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5562 115.424 Cooperating teacher stipends. From the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (3) (ct), beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the department shall provide payments, in the amount of $1,000 per teacher per semester, to a cooperating teacher who is overseeing an individual who is completing student teaching. The department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB43,2061 Section 2061. 115.436 (3) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 115.436 (3) (am) 1. and amended to read:

AB43,,5564 115.436 (3) (am) 1. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, from From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ae), the department shall, subject to par. (b), pay to each school district that received aid under this section par. (a) in the previous school year but does not satisfy the requirement under sub. (2) (a) or (2m) (a) is ineligible to receive aid under pars. (a) and (c) in the current school year 50 percent of the amount received by the school district under par. (a) in the previous school year.

AB43,2062 Section 2062. 115.436 (3) (am) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5566 115.436 (3) (am) 2. From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ae), the department shall, subject to par. (b), pay to each school district that received aid under par. (c) in the previous school year but is ineligible to receive aid under pars. (a) and (c) in the current school year 50 percent of the amount received by the school district under par. (c) in the previous school year.

AB43,2063 Section 2063. 115.437 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5568 115.437 (1) In this section, “number of pupils enrolled” has the meaning given in s. 121.90 (1) (intro.) and includes 40 percent of the summer enrollment. “Number of pupils enrolled” does not include pupils described in the exception under s. 121.90 (1) (f) (g).

AB43,2064 Section 2064. 115.437 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 115.437 (2) and amended to read:

AB43,,5570 115.437 (2) Except as provided in par. (b), annually Annually, on the 4th Monday of March, the department shall pay to each school district an amount equal to the average of the number of pupils enrolled in the school district in the current and 2 preceding school years multiplied by $75 in the 2013-14 school year, by $150 in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years, by $250 in the 2016-17 school year, by $450 in the 2017-18 school year, by $654 $766 in the 2018-19 2023-24 school year, and by $679 and $63 in $811 in the 2024-25 school year and each school year thereafter. The department shall make the payments from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (aq).

AB43,2065 Section 2065. 115.437 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2066 Section 2066. 115.449 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5573 115.449 Out-of-school-time programs; grants. (1) In this section, “out-of-school-time program” means any of the following:

AB43,,5574 (a) A program that provides programming, activities, learning support, and supervision for pupils in grades kindergarten to 12 before school, after school, or both before and after school.

AB43,,5575 (b) A day camp licensed by the department of children and families.

AB43,,5576 (c) A recreational or educational camp licensed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or a local health department under s. 97.67.

AB43,,5577 (d) A program that the department determines will help program participants make progress in the following goals as appropriate for age groups served:

AB43,,5578 1. Developing a sense of connection to school and their place in it.

AB43,,5579 2. Improving academic outcomes, including homework completion, grades, and study behaviors.

AB43,,5580 3. College graduation and career readiness.

AB43,,5581 4. Reducing rates of participation in risky behaviors through access to a safe and welcoming environment during out-of-school-time hours.

AB43,,5582 5. Improving social and emotional skills and accessing opportunities to demonstrate leadership.

AB43,,5583 6. Accessing experiences and opportunities that contribute to the development of the whole child, such as civic engagement and community service.

AB43,,5584 (2) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dk), the department shall award grants to school boards, charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and organizations to support high-quality after-school programs and other out-of-school-time programs that provide services to school-age children.

AB43,,5585 (3) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

AB43,2067 Section 2067. 115.76 (12) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5587 115.76 (12) (a) 1. A biological natural parent.

AB43,2068 Section 2068. 115.76 (12) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2069 Section 2069. 115.76 (12) (a) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2070 Section 2070. 115.76 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5591 115.76 (13) “Person acting as a parent of a child” means a relative of the child or a private individual allowed to act as a parent of a child by the child’s biological natural or adoptive parents or guardian, and includes the child’s grandparent, neighbor, friend or private individual caring for the child with the explicit or tacit approval of the child’s biological natural or adoptive parents or guardian. “Person acting as a parent of a child” does not include any person that receives public funds to care for the child if such funds exceed the cost of such care.

AB43,2071 Section 2071. 115.77 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5593 115.77 (1) In sub. (1m) (a) to (d), except as provided in s. 118.51 (12) (b), if a child with a disability is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, or 121.84 (1) (a) or (4), “local educational agency” means the school district that the child is attending.

AB43,2072 Section 2072. 115.79 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5595 115.79 (1) (b) An educational placement is provided to implement a child’s individualized education program. Except as provided in s. 118.51 (12) (b), if a child with a disability is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, or 121.84 (1) (a) or (4), the school board of the school district that the child is attending shall provide an educational placement for the child and shall pay tuition charges instead of the school district in which the child resides if required by the placement.

AB43,2073 Section 2073. 115.7915 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 115.7915 (1) (ah).

AB43,2074 Section 2074. 115.7915 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5598 115.7915 (1) (ad) “Accrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (ab).

AB43,2075 Section 2075. 115.7915 (1) (ap) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5600 115.7915 (1) (ap) “Preaccreditation” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (c).

AB43,2076 Section 2076. 115.7915 (1) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5602 115.7915 (1) (at) “Preaccrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (cm).

AB43,2077 Section 2077. 115.7915 (1) (aw) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5604 115.7915 (1) (aw) “Program cap” means the total number of children who attended eligible schools under the scholarship program under this section in the 2023-24 school year.

AB43,2078 Section 2078. 115.7915 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5606 115.7915 (2) Scholarship requirements. (intro.) Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the department shall, subject to sub. (2m), provide to a child with a disability a scholarship under sub. (4m) (a) to attend an eligible school if all of the following apply:

AB43,2079 Section 2079. 115.7915 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5608 115.7915 (2) (b) The governing body of the eligible school notified the department of its intent to participate in the program under this section as provided under sub. (3) (a).

AB43,2080 Section 2080. 115.7915 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5610 115.7915 (2) (c) (intro.) Any of the following applies to the eligible school:

AB43,2081 Section 2081. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. a. and amended to read:

AB43,,5612 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. a. The For the 2023-24 school year, the eligible school has been either is approved as a private school by the state superintendent under s. 118.165 (2) or is accredited by Cognia, Inc., Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Christian Schools International, Association of Christian Schools International, the diocese or archdiocese within which the eligible school is located, or any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation, as of the an accrediting entity on August 1 preceding the school term for which the scholarship is awarded, 2023.

AB43,2082 Section 2082. 115.7915 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5614 115.7915 (2) (c) 1. The eligible school participates in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 for the school year for which the scholarship is awarded.

AB43,2083 Section 2083. 115.7915 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5616 115.7915 (2) (c) 2. The eligible school is accredited by an accrediting entity by August 1 of the school year for which the scholarship is awarded.

AB43,2084 Section 2084. 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5618 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. (intro.) If the eligible school participates in the program under this section in the 2023-24 school year, all of the following apply to the eligible school:

AB43,2085 Section 2085. 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. b., c. and d. of the statutes are created to read:

AB43,,5620 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. b. If the eligible school is not accredited as provided under subd. 3. a., the eligible school obtains preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by August 1, 2024. The eligible school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from only one preaccrediting entity. If the eligible school fails to obtain preaccreditation as required under this subd. 3. b., the eligible school may not participate in the program under this section in the 2024-25 school year or in any school year thereafter until the eligible school obtains accreditation as provided under subd. 2.

AB43,,5621 c. If subd. 3. b. applies to the eligible school, the eligible school applies for accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2024, and obtains accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2027.

AB43,,5622 d. This subd. 3. does not apply after the 2027-28 school year.

AB43,2086 Section 2086. 115.7915 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5624 115.7915 (2) (f) The child’s parent or guardian on behalf of the child, or, for a child with a disability who has reached the age of 18 and has not been adjudicated incompetent, the child, submitted an application for a scholarship under this section as provided under sub. (3) (am) and on a form prepared by the department that includes the document developed by the department under sub. (4) to the eligible school that the child will attend. A child’s parent or guardian or a child with a disability who has reached the age of 18 may apply for a scholarship at any time during a school year and, subject to sub. (3) (b), a child may begin attending an eligible school under this section at any time during the school year.

AB43,2087 Section 2087. 115.7915 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5626 115.7915 (2) (g) The Subject to sub. (3) (d), the eligible school, or the department on behalf of the eligible school, has accepted the child’s application to attend the eligible school under a scholarship awarded under this section.

AB43,2088 Section 2088. 115.7915 (2) (i) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5628 115.7915 (2) (i) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., beginning on July 1, 2026, all of the eligible school’s teachers have a teaching license or permit issued by the department.

AB43,,5629 2. a. A teacher employed by the eligible school on July 1, 2026, who has been teaching for at least the 5 consecutive years immediately preceding July 1, 2026, and who does not satisfy the requirements under subd. 1. on July 1, 2026, may apply to the department on a form prepared by the department for a temporary, nonrenewable waiver from the requirements under subd. 1. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subd. 2. a., including the form of the application and the process by which the waiver application will be reviewed. The application form shall require the applicant to submit a plan for satisfying the requirements under subd. 1. No waiver granted under this subd. 2. a. is valid after July 1, 2031.

AB43,,5630 b. A teacher employed by the eligible school who teaches only courses in rabbinical studies is not required to hold a license or permit to teach issued by the department.

AB43,2089 Section 2089. 115.7915 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5632 115.7915 (2m) Program cap. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, the total number of children who may attend eligible schools under the scholarship program under this section during a school year may not exceed the program cap.

AB43,2090 Section 2090. 115.7915 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5634 115.7915 (3) (title) Participating schools; selection of pupils application process; waiting list.

AB43,2091 Section 2091. 115.7915 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5636 115.7915 (3) (a) The governing body of an eligible school that intends to participate in the program under this section shall notify the department of its intent by the 1st Monday in March of the previous school year. The governing body of the eligible school shall include in the notice under this paragraph the number of spaces the eligible school has available for children receiving a scholarship under this section.

AB43,2092 Section 2092. 115.7915 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5638 115.7915 (3) (am) The governing body of an eligible school that has submitted a notice of intent to participate under par. (a) may accept applications for scholarships under sub. (2) (f) for the following school year between the first weekday in April and the 3rd Thursday in June.

AB43,2093 Section 2093. 115.7915 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2094 Section 2094. 115.7915 (3) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5641 115.7915 (3) (bm) Upon receipt of an application for a scholarship under sub. (2) (f) par. (am), the governing body of the eligible school shall determine whether the application satisfies the requirements under sub. (2), other than the requirement under sub. (2) (d), and shall request verification from the local education agency that developed the child’s individualized education program or services plan that the child has an individualized education program or services plan in place that meets the requirement in sub. (2) (d). The governing body of the eligible school shall also notify the child’s resident school board that, pending verification that the requirements of sub. (2) have been satisfied and subject to par. (d), the child will be awarded a scholarship under this section. The local education agency shall, within 5 business days of receiving a request under this paragraph, provide the governing body of the eligible school with a copy of the child’s individualized education program or services plan.

AB43,2095 Section 2095. 115.7915 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5643 115.7915 (3) (c) The By the first weekday in May immediately following the application period under par. (am), the governing body of a private an eligible school participating in the program under this section that received applications for scholarships under par. (am) shall notify report to the department when it verifies that a child has the names of children who applied under par. (am) to attend the eligible school for whom the governing body has verified that an individualized education program or services plan is in effect and accepts the child’s application to attend the private school under a scholarship awarded under this section the names of those applicants who have siblings who are already attending the eligible school.

AB43,2096 Section 2096. 115.7915 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5645 115.7915 (3) (d) After the end of the application period described under par. (am), upon receipt of the information under par. (c), the department shall determine the sum of all applicants for scholarships under this section. In determining the sum, the department shall count a child who has applied for more than one scholarship under this section only once. If the sum of all applicants exceeds the program cap, the department shall determine which applications to accept on a random basis, subject to the number of available spaces each eligible school specified in its notice under par. (a), except that the department shall give preference to the following in accepting applications for each eligible school, in the order of preference listed:

AB43,,5646 1. Children who attended a different eligible school under a scholarship under this section during the previous school year.