SB989: Bill Text

SB989,218 Section 218. 118.79 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,647 118.79 (5) Virtual instruction. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, if a participating private school offers virtual instruction to pupils, the participating private school shall ensure that a teacher is responsible for all of the following for each pupil receiving the virtual instruction:

SB989,,648 (a) Improving learning by planned instruction.

SB989,,649 (b) Diagnosing learning needs.

SB989,,650 (c) Prescribing content delivery through class activities.

SB989,,651 (d) Assessing learning.

SB989,,652 (e) Reporting outcomes to administrators and parents.

SB989,,653 (f) Evaluating the effects of instruction.

SB989,219 Section 219. 118.80 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,655 118.80 (title) Participating private schools; general requirements.

SB989,220 Section 220. 118.80 (4) (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:

SB989,,657 118.80 (4) (a) The participating private school maintains a website for the participating private school.

SB989,,658 (b) The participating private school is included in the most recent accountability report under s. 115.385.

SB989,221 Section 221. 118.80 (9) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,660 118.80 (9) (title) Student records.

SB989,222 Section 222. 118.80 (9) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,662 118.80 (9) (d) 2. The private school shall send written notice to each pupil, or to the parent of a minor pupil, of the transfer of progress records under this paragraph.

SB989,223 Section 223. 118.81 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,664 118.81 (title) School personnel requirements.

SB989,224 Section 224. 118.81 (1) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,666 118.81 (1) (title) Teacher educational requirements.

SB989,225 Section 225. 118.81 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,668 118.81 (1) (c) An individual employed by a participating private school who holds a substitute teacher permit issued under s. 118.19 (7m) may teach at the participating private school as allowed under the substitute teacher permit.

SB989,226 Section 226. 118.81 (2) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,670 118.81 (2) (title) Administrator educational requirements.

SB989,227 Section 227. 118.82 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,672 118.82 (title) Tuition and fees.

SB989,228 Section 228. 118.82 (4) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,674 118.82 (4) (title) Additional fees.

SB989,229 Section 229. 118.83 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,676 118.83 (title) Financial requirements; participating private schools.

SB989,230 Section 230. 118.83 (2) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,678 118.83 (2) (title) Financial audit.

SB989,231 Section 231. 118.84 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,680 118.84 (title) Payments and state aid reductions.

SB989,232 Section 232. 118.84 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,682 118.84 (1) Per pupil amount. (a) In the 2024-25 school year, upon receipt from the pupil’s parent of proof of the pupil’s enrollment in the participating private school during a school term, the state superintendent shall pay to the participating private school in which the pupil is enrolled on behalf of the pupil’s parent, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (fr), an amount of $10,237, if the pupil is enrolled in a grade from kindergarten to 8, or of $12,731, if the pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12.

SB989,233 Section 233. 118.84 (2) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,684 118.84 (2) (title) Summer school payment.

SB989,234 Section 234. 118.84 (4) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,686 118.84 (4) (title) State aid reduction.

SB989,235 Section 235. 118.84 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,688 118.84 (4) (a) 1. The pupil is a Racine pupil or a Wisconsin pupil.

SB989,236 Section 236. 118.84 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,690 118.84 (7) Enrollment attestation reports. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, a participating private school shall engage an independent auditor to complete an enrollment attestation report for the September count date and for the January count date. An independent auditor completing an enrollment attestation report under this subsection shall comply with the attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Each enrollment attestation report shall identify at least all of the following:

SB989,,691 (a) Pupils who were not eligible for a payment under this section but for whom the participating private school received a payment under this section.

SB989,,692 (b) Pupils who have incorrect data in the department’s database who are attending the participating private school under the choice program.

SB989,,693 (c) Pupils attending the participating private school under the choice program for whom the participating private school did not receive a payment under this section.

SB989,237 Section 237. 118.85 (title) and (3) (title) of the statutes are created to read:

SB989,,695 118.85 (title) Penalties for private schools. (3) (title) Accreditation.

SB989,238 Section 238. 118.87 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,697 118.87 (6) Alternative count date. If pupils enrolled in a participating private school will not be in attendance at the participating private school on the 3rd Friday in September or the 2nd Friday in January because of a regularly scheduled holiday or for a reason approved by the governing body of the participating private school, upon request from the participating private school, designate an alternative count date.

SB989,239 Section 239. 119.23 of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

SB989,240 Section 240. 119.23 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,700 119.23 (2) (a) 3. Except as provided in par. (ag) 1., the The private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section or in the program under s. 118.60, and paid the nonrefundable annual fee set by the department, 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. 118.60 for which the school has space. The department shall by rule set the fee charged under this subdivision at an amount such that the total fee revenue covers the costs of employing one full-time auditor to evaluate the financial information submitted by private schools under subs. (7) (am) and (d) 3. and (7m) (a) 2. and under s. 118.60 (7) (am) and (d) 3. and (7m) (a) 2.

SB989,241 Section 241. 119.23 (2) (ag) 1. (intro.) and a. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 119.23 (2) (ag) 1. and amended to read:

SB989,,702 119.23 (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 private school.

SB989,242 Section 242. 119.23 (2) (ag) 1. b. and c. of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,243 Section 243. 119.23 (2) (ag) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,705 119.23 (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).

SB989,244 Section 244. 119.23 (2) (ag) 2. b. of the statutes is repealed.

SB989,245 Section 245. 119.23 (2) (ag) 2. c. of the statutes is created to read:

SB989,,708 119.23 (2) (ag) 2. c. By 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, provide a surety bond payable to the state in an amount equal to the greater of $25,000 or 25 percent of the total payment the new private school expects to receive under the program under this section during its first school year participating in the program on the basis of the information submitted under subd. 1.

SB989,246 Section 246. 119.23 (2) (ag) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,710 119.23 (2) (ag) 4. Notwithstanding the deadline to obtain preaccreditation under par. (a) 7. bg., by December 15 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, obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity.

SB989,247 Section 247. 119.23 (2) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,712 119.23 (2) (ar) By the first weekday in December 31 of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which a new private school intends to participate in the program under this section, the department shall notify the new private school in writing whether it has satisfied those requirements under par. (ag) that must be satisfied before December 31. If the department determines that the new private school has not satisfied those requirements, the new private school may not participate in the program under this section in the following school year, but may reinitiate the process under par. (ag) for the next following school year.

SB989,248 Section 248. 119.33 (2) (b) 3. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,714 119.33 (2) (b) 3. c. The governing body of a nonsectarian private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23. The superintendent of schools may proceed under this subd. 3. c. only if one of the following applies: the performance on the most recent examinations administered under s. 118.30 (1s) or (1t) of pupils attending a school operated by the governing body exceeds the performance on the most recent examinations administered under s. 118.30 (1) of pupils attending the school being transferred to the governing body under this subdivision; or, in each of the 3 preceding consecutive accountability reports published under s. 115.385 (1), the performance category assigned to a school operated by the governing body exceeds the performance category assigned to the school being transferred to the governing body under this subdivision. If fewer than 3 accountability reports have been published for a private school described in this subd. 3. c., the superintendent of schools shall determine an alternative method for comparing the school’s performance.

SB989,249 Section 249. 119.46 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,716 119.46 (1) As part of the budget transmitted annually to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), the board shall report the amount of money required for the ensuing school year to operate all public schools in the city under this chapter, including the schools transferred to the superintendent of schools opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33 and to the opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. II, to repair and keep in order school buildings and equipment, including school buildings and equipment transferred to the superintendent of schools opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33 and to the opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. II, to make material improvements to school property, and to purchase necessary additions to school sites. The report shall specify the amount of net proceeds from the sale or lease of city-owned property used for school purposes deposited in the immediately preceding school year into the school operations fund as specified under s. 119.60 (2m) (c) or (5) and the net proceeds from the sale of an eligible school building deposited in the immediately preceding school year into the school operations fund as specified under s. 119.61 (5). The amount included in the report for the purpose of supporting the pupils who reside in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under s. 119.23 participating in the private school choice program shall be reduced by the amount of aid received by the board under s. 121.136 and by the amount specified in the notice received by the board under s. 121.137 (2). The common council shall levy and collect a tax upon all the property subject to taxation in the city, which shall be equal to the amount of money required by the board for the purposes set forth in this subsection, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected. Such taxes shall be in addition to all other taxes which the city is authorized to levy. The taxes so levied and collected, any other funds provided by law and placed at the disposal of the city for the same purposes, and the moneys deposited in the school operations fund under ss. 119.60 (1), (2m) (c), and (5) and 119.61 (5) shall constitute the school operations fund.

SB989,250 Section 250. 119.9002 (2) (d) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,718 119.9002 (2) (d) 3. (intro.) The governing body of a nonsectarian private school participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23. The commissioner may proceed under this subdivision only if one of the following applies:

SB989,251 Section 251. 121.07 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,720 121.07 (2) (b) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year who were incoming choice pupils, as defined in s. 118.60 (4d) (a) 118.84 (4) (a), and for whom a payment was made under s. 118.60 (4) (bg) 118.84 (1) in the previous school year.

SB989,252 Section 252. 121.08 (4) (b) (intro.) and 2. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 121.08 (4) (b) and amended to read:

SB989,,722 121.08 (4) (b) The amount of state aid that the school district operating under ch. 119 is eligible to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) shall be reduced by the amount calculated as follows: 2. Multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2009-10 school year by 3.4 percent, and multiply by multiplying the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2010-11 school year and 118.84 (1) and (2) for Milwaukee pupils, as defined in s. 118.70 (9), in each school year thereafter by 6.6 percent.

SB989,253 Section 253. 121.08 (4) (b) 1. and 3. of the statutes are repealed.

SB989,254 Section 254. 121.085 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,725 121.085 State aid; other reductions. (1) The department shall make state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17) before making a reduction under s. 115.7915 (4m) (f), 118.40 (2r) (g) or (2x) (f), or 118.60 (4d) (b) 118.84 (4) (b).

SB989,,726 (2) For purposes of ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 2., 118.40 (2r) (g) 2. and (2x) (f) 2., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 2. 118.84 (4) (b) 2., a school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover a reduction if, after making state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17), the amount of the school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover all of the reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. 118.84 (4) (b) 1.

SB989,,727 (3) The state superintendent shall ensure that the aid reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. 118.84 (4) (b) 1. lapse to the general fund.

SB989,255 Section 255. 121.137 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,729 121.137 (2) Annually, the department shall calculate the amount of the state aid reduction under s. 121.08 (4) (b) 2. in the current school year and shall notify the board, in writing, of the result.

SB989,256 Section 256. 121.91 (2m) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,731 121.91 (2m) (c) 1. Divide the sum of the amount of state aid received in the previous school year and property taxes levied for the previous school year, excluding funds described under sub. (4) (c), by a number calculated by adding the number of pupils enrolled in the 3 previous school years, subtracting from that total the number of pupils attending private schools under s. 119.23, 2023 stats., in the 4th, 3rd and 2nd preceding school years, and dividing the remainder by 3.

SB989,257 Section 257. 121.91 (2m) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB989,,733 121.91 (2m) (c) 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 private schools under s. 119.23, 2023 stats., in the 3 previous school years, and dividing the remainder by 3.

SB989,258 Section 258. 121.91 (2m) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read: