SB989: Bill Text

SB989,259 Section 259. 121.91 (2m) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,737 121.91 (2m) (d) 4. Multiply the result under subd. 3. by a number calculated by adding the number of pupils enrolled in the current and the 2 preceding school years, subtracting from that total the number of pupils attending charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) and private schools under s. 119.23, 2023 stats., in the 3 previous school years and dividing the remainder by 3.

SB989,260 Section 260. 121.91 (4) (n) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,739 121.91 (4) (n) 1. The limit otherwise applicable to a school district under sub. (2m) in any school year is increased by an amount equal to the amount determined for that school district under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. 118.84 (4) (b) 1.

SB989,261 Section 261. 146.89 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,741 146.89 (1) (d) 2. A private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), that participates in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under s. 119.23, as defined in s. 115.001 (3t), or 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.

SB989,262 Section 262. 146.89 (1) (g) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,743 146.89 (1) (g) 3. A private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), that participates in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under s. 119.23, as defined in s. 115.001 (3t).

SB989,263 Section 263. 938.49 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,745 938.49 (2) (b) Notify the juvenile’s last school district or, if the juvenile was last enrolled in a private school participating in the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or in the program under s. 119.23, as defined in s. 115.001 (3t), or, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 3., or 119.9002 (3) (c), in a school under the operation and general management of the governing body of a private school, the private school or the governing body of a private school, in writing of its obligation under s. 118.125 (4).

SB989,264 Section 264. 938.78 (2) (L) of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,265 Section 265. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB989,,748 (1) New schools; first participating in 2025-26 school year. If a new private school, as defined in s. 118.60 (1) (bn) or 119.23 (1) (ai), that applies to first participate in the program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 in the 2025-26 school year selects to provide a surety bond under s. 118.60 (7m) or 119.23 (7m), the new private school shall, by May 1, 2025, provide an updated surety bond if all of the following apply:

SB989,,749 (a) The total payments the new private school expects to receive on the basis of the intent to participate provided under s. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. or 119.23 (2) (a) 3. exceeds the total expected choice program payments on the basis of the form provided under s. 118.60 (2) (ag) 2. c. or 119.23 (2) (ag) 2. c. by at least $50,000.

SB989,,750 (b) The amount of the required surety bond based on the intent to participate that the new private school provided to the department of public instruction under s. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. or 119.23 (2) (a) 3. is more than $25,000.

SB989,,751 (2) Intent to participate in the 2025-26 school year; virtual instruction. A private school that notifies the department of public instruction during the 2024-25 school year of its intent to participate in a program under s. 115.7915, 118.60, or 119.23 in the 2025-26 school year shall include all of the following in the notice of intent to participate:

SB989,,752 (a) Whether or not the private school intends to offer virtual instruction in the 2025-26 school year.

SB989,,753 (b) If the private school intends to offer virtual instruction in the 2025-26 school year, the amount and type of virtual instruction the private school intends to offer.

SB989,,754 (3) Private school choice programs during the 2025-26 school year. During the 2025-26 school year, the department of public instruction shall administer the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, as indicated by the notices of intent to participate in the 2025-26 school year received by the department during the 2024-25 school year.

SB989,,755 (4) Pupil assessments exemption; 2025-26 school year. Notwithstanding s. 118.30 (1t), a private school participating in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), at which fewer than 20 Milwaukee pupils, as defined in s. 118.70 (9), in grades 3 to 12 are attending under the choice program, is not required to administer the examinations required under s. 118.30 (1t). Notwithstanding s. 118.30 (1t), a private school participating in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), at which fewer than a total of 20 Racine pupils, as defined in s. 118.70 (16), and Wisconsin pupils, as defined in s. 118.70 (20), in grades 3 to 12 are attending under the choice program, is not required to administer the examinations required under s. 118.30 (1t).

SB989,,756 (5) Certificate of occupancy requirements; 2025-26 school year. Notwithstanding s. 118.75 (3), (4), and (5), in the 2025-26 school year, a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under s. 119.23, 2023 stats., shall comply with s. 119.23 (7) (d) 1. b., 2023 stats., and a private school participating in a program under s. 118.60, 2023 stats., shall comply with s. 118.60 (7) (d) 1. b., 2023 stats.

SB989,,757 (6) First time private school participants; 2025-26 school year. Notwithstanding s. 118.76 (5) and (6), a private school that first participates in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), in the 2025-26 school year shall comply with the requirements under s. 118.76 (5) and (6) (b) by no later than August 1, 2025.

SB989,,758 (7) Combined private schools. For purposes of s. 118.73 (2), a private school that submitted to the department of public instruction a notice of intent to participate only in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program in the 2025-26 school year and participated only in the part of the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), administered by the department of public instruction as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program in the 2025-26 school year is not considered to have participated in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), in the 2025-26 school year.

SB989,,759 (8) Private school choice program; positions. The authorized FTE positions for the department of public instruction are increased by 2.0 GPR positions, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (a).

SB989,,760 (9) Emergency rules; private school choice program. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of public instruction shall promulgate the rules required under subch. II of ch. 118 for the period before the effective date of the permanent rules promulgated under subch. II of ch. 118, but not to exceed the period authorized under s. 227.24 (1) (c), subject to extension under s. 227.24 (2). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department of public instruction is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

SB989,,761 (10) Emergency rules; special needs scholarship program. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of public instruction shall promulgate the rules required under s. 115.7915 for the period before the effective date of the permanent rules promulgated under s. 115.7915, but not to exceed the period authorized under s. 227.24 (1) (c), subject to extension under s. 227.24 (2). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department of public instruction is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

SB989,266 Section 266. Initial applicability.

SB989,,763 (1) Pupil applications. Section 118.72, as affected by this act, first applies to pupil applications to attend a participating private school under the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), in the 2026-27 school year.

SB989,,764 (2) Private school eligibility. Section 118.73, as affected by this act, first applies to a private school that intends to participate in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), in the 2026-27 school year.

SB989,,765 (3) Certificate of occupancy. Section 118.75 (3), as affected by this act, first applies to a private school that first participates in the choice program, as defined in s. 118.70 (3), in the 2026-27 school year. Section 118.75 (4), as affected by this act, first applies to a participating private school that moves its location during the 2026-27 school year.

SB989,267 Section 267. Effective dates. This act takes effect on July 1, 2025, except as follows:

SB989,,767 (1) The treatment of ss. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. a. (by Section 89), (ag) 1. (intro.) and a. (by Section 101), b., and c., 2. a. (by Section 104), b., and c. (by Section 107), and 4. (by Section 109), and (ar) (by Section 112) and 119.23 (2) (a) 3. (by Section 240), (ag) 1. (intro.) and a. (by Section 241) and b. and c. (by Section 242), 2. a. (by Section 243), b. (by Section 244), and c. (by Section 245), and 4. (by Section 246), and (ar) (by Section 247) and Section 265 (1), (2), (8), (9), and (10) of this act take effect on the day after publication.

SB989,,768 (end)