Chapter 115

115.28(7)(e)1. 1. In this paragraph, “alternative education program” means an instructional program, approved by the school board, that utilizes successful alternative or adaptive school structures and teaching techniques and that is incorporated into existing, traditional classrooms or regularly scheduled curricular programs or that is offered in place of regularly scheduled curricular programs. “Alternative educational program” does not include a private school, a tribal school, or a home-based private educational program.

115.28(7)(e)2. 2. Promulgate rules establishing requirements for licensure as an alternative education program teacher and for the approval of teacher education programs leading to licensure as an alternative education program teacher. The rules shall encompass the teaching of multiple subjects or grade levels or both, as determined by the state superintendent. The rules may require teacher education programs to grant credit towards licensure as an alternative education program teacher for relevant experience or demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and knowledge.

115.28 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 34, Wis. adm. code.

115.28(7)(f) (f) The department may not charge a fee for the issuance of a license, permit, or certificate to an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44.

115.28(7)(g) (g) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (3), (4m), (6) to (9), (12), and (14), grant a charter school teaching license to any person who has a bachelor’s degree and demonstrates, based upon criteria established by the department, that the person is proficient in the subject or subjects that he or she intends to teach. The license authorizes the person to teach that subject or those subjects in a charter school.

115.28(7)(gm) (gm) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (8), (9), and (11), grant an initial charter school principal license to any person who is licensed, or otherwise credentialed, to be a school principal in another state if the person holds the license or other credential in good standing, has completed at least 3 years of full-time classroom teaching, and is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10). The license authorizes the person to be a principal of a charter school.

115.28(7)(h) (h) Promulgate a rule requiring an applicant for a license to provide his or her home address.

115.28(7g) (7g) Evaluation of teacher preparatory programs.

115.28(7g)(a) (a) The department shall, in consultation with the governor’s office, the chairpersons of the committees in the assembly and senate whose subject matter is elementary and secondary education and ranking members of those committees, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, do all of the following:

115.28(7g)(a)1. 1. Determine how the performance of individuals who have recently completed a teacher preparatory program described in sub. (7) (a) and located in this state or a teacher education program described in sub. (7) (e) 2. and located in this state will be used to evaluate the teacher preparatory and education programs. The determination under this subdivision shall, at minimum, define “recently completed” and identify measures to assess an individual’s performance, including the performance assessment made prior to making a recommendation for licensure.

115.28(7g)(a)2. 2. Determine how the measures of performance of individuals who have recently completed a teacher preparatory or education program identified as required under subd. 1. will be made accessible to the public.

115.28(7g)(a)3. 3. Develop a system to publicly report the measures of performance identified as required under subd. 1. for each teacher preparatory and education program identified in subd. 1.

115.28(7g)(b) (b) Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, the department shall use the system developed under par. (a) 3. to annually report for each program identified in par. (a) 1. the passage rate on first attempt of students and graduates of the program on examinations administered for licensure under sub. (7) and any other information required to be reported under par. (a) 1.

115.28(7g)(c) (c) Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, each teacher preparatory and education program shall prominently display and annually update the passage rate on first attempt of recent graduates of the program on examinations administered for licensure under sub. (7) and any other information required to be reported under par. (a) 1. on the program’s website and provide this information to persons receiving admissions materials to the program.

115.28(7m) (7m) Certification of school nurses. Certify school nurses, make rules for the examination and certification of school nurses and file in the state superintendent’s office all papers relating to school nurses certification and register each such certification.

115.28(9) (9) Federal aids. Accept federal funds for any function over which the state superintendent has jurisdiction and act as the agent for the receipt and disbursement of such funds.

115.28 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 23, Wis. adm. code.

115.28(9m) (9m) Waiver of pupil assessment requirements.

115.28(9m)(a) (a) Request a waiver from the federal department of education that would permit the state superintendent to approve between 3 and 5 examinations, selected by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Value-Added Research Center under s. 118.301 (2), for administration to pupils as provided under s. 118.301 (3).

115.28(9m)(b) (b) Upon receipt of the waiver under par. (a), submit the waiver, together with a request to supplement the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (fm) with the funds that are held in the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a) for the purposes described under s. 118.301, to the joint committee on finance for consideration by the committee at its next quarterly meeting under s. 13.10. Upon approval of the state superintendent’s request under this paragraph, the joint committee on finance shall release the funds.

115.28(10) (10) Educational assessment. Develop an educational assessment program to measure objectively the adequacy and efficiency of educational programs offered by public schools in this state. The program shall include methods by which pupil achievement in reading, mathematics, writing, science, social science and other areas of instruction commonly offered by public schools will be objectively measured each year. Assessment shall be undertaken at several grade levels on a uniform, statewide basis.

115.28(10m) (10m) Report to the superintendent of schools of a 1st class city school district and to the commissioner of the opportunity schools and partnership programs.

115.28(10m)(a) (a) Annually by November 30, submit to the commissioner of the opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. II of ch. 119 and to the superintendent of schools of the school district operating under ch. 119 a report that identifies the schools in Milwaukee County and located in a school district that was placed in the lowest performance category on the most recent accountability report published for that school district under s. 115.385 (1) to which any of the following applies, and that disaggregates the schools by elementary school, middle school, junior high school, high school, and senior high school:

115.28(10m)(a)1. 1. The school was assigned to the lowest performance category on the most recent accountability report published for the school under s. 115.385 (1).

115.28(10m)(a)2. 2. The school building is vacant or an underutilized building, as defined in s. 119.61 (1) (c).

115.28(10m)(b) (b) By November 30 of the first year in which the state superintendent determines that a school district is an eligible school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (1) (d), and annually thereafter, submit to the commissioner of the opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. IX a report that identifies each school in that eligible school district that was assigned to the lowest performance category on the most recent accountability report published for the school under s. 115.385 (1) and that disaggregates the schools by elementary school, middle school, junior high school, high school, and senior high school.

115.28(10o) (10o) Notice of eligible school district.

115.28(10o)(a) (a) Annually by November 30, determine whether any school district qualifies as an eligible school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (1) (d).

115.28(10o)(b) (b) Notify the governor, the appropriate county executive, as defined in s. 115.999 (1) (b), and the appropriate mayor, as defined in s. 115.999 (1) (e), as soon as the state superintendent determines that a school district qualifies as an eligible school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (1) (d).

115.28(10o)(c) (c) Beginning in November of the 2017-18 school year, annually determine whether any unified school district qualifies as an eligible unified school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (2m) (a).

115.28(10o)(d) (d) By November 30, 2017, and each November 30 thereafter, notify the clerk of each village located in an eligible unified school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (2m) (a), and the school district administrator of the eligible unified school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (2m) (a), that the unified school district qualifies as an eligible unified school district, as defined in s. 115.999 (2m) (a).

115.28(11) (11) Driver education courses. Approve driver education courses offered by school districts, county children with disabilities education boards, and technical college districts for the purposes of s. 343.16 (1) (c) 1. and establish minimum standards for driver education courses offered in private schools and tribal schools for the purposes of s. 343.16 (1) (c) 3. All driver education courses approved or for which standards are established under this subsection shall do all of the following:

115.28(11)(a) (a) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by farm machinery and animals on highways and provide instruction in safely dealing with such hazards.

115.28(11)(b) (b) Provide at least 30 minutes of instruction relating to organ and tissue donation and organ and tissue donation procedures.

115.28(11)(c) (c) Provide at least 30 minutes of instruction on motorcycle awareness, as approved by a recognized motorcycle safety and awareness organization, and pedestrian and bicycle awareness, as approved by a recognized pedestrian and bicycle safety and awareness organization.

115.28(11)(d) (d) Include instruction relating to passing stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and highway machinery equipment.

115.28(11)(e) (e) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by railroad highway grade crossings and provide at least 30 minutes of instruction in safely dealing with these hazards.

115.28(11)(f) (f) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by composing or sending electronic text messages or electronic mail messages while driving and with the provisions of s. 346.89 (3).

115.28 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 21, Wis. adm. code.

115.28(11)(g) (g) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by motor vehicles to vulnerable highway users, as defined in s. 340.01 (74p), and provide at least 30 minutes of instruction in safely dealing with these hazards.

115.28(11)(h) (h) Using materials determined under s. 84.01 (38), acquaint each student with the hazards posed by highway work zones and provide at least 30 minutes of instruction in safely dealing with these hazards.

115.28(13) (13) Uniform financial fund accounting. Prescribe a uniform financial fund accounting system, applicable to all school districts and county children with disabilities education boards, which provides for the recording of all financial transactions inherent in the management of schools and county children with disabilities education board programs and the administration of the state’s school aid programs.

115.28(13m) (13m) Financial transparency of school district and school information; Internet.

115.28(13m)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, make detailed information related to the receipt and expenditure data collected through the uniform accounting system under sub. (13) and financial information collected under s. 120.18 available on a single web page of the department’s Internet site in a format that allows the public to download, sort, search, and access the information at no cost.

115.28(13m)(b) (b) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, to the extent feasible without requiring additional information solely for this purpose from charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), include on the web page required under par. (a) detailed information related to receipt and expenditure data collected from charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

115.28(13m)(c) (c) Ensure that information required to be available on the department’s Internet site under par. (a) is updated at least annually.

115.28(13m)(d) (d) Annually, conduct a public information campaign on the availability of financial information on the department’s Internet site.

115.28(14) (14) Minority group pupil census. Establish procedures under which school districts report annually the number of minority group pupils, as defined in s. 121.845 (2), residing in the school district and attending public schools in the district so as to be able to classify school districts under s. 121.85 (2).

115.28(15) (15) Bilingual-bicultural education.

115.28(15)(a) (a) Establish, by rule, standards for the approval of the abilities of certified teachers and counselors and their aides participating in bilingual-bicultural education programs under subch. VII to read, write and speak a non-English language and to possess knowledge of the culture of limited-English proficient pupils.

115.28(15)(b) (b) Establish, by rule, minimum standards for bilingual-bicultural education programs under subch. VII.

115.28(17) (17) American Indian language and culture education.

115.28(17)(a) (a) Establish by rule standards for certifying the abilities of teachers participating in American Indian language and culture education programs under subch. IV to read and write or speak an American Indian language and to possess knowledge of American Indian history and culture.

115.28(17)(b) (b) Establish by rule standards for certifying the abilities of home school coordinators, counselors and aides participating in American Indian language and culture education programs under subch. IV to possess knowledge of American Indian history and culture.

115.28(17)(c) (c) Promulgate rules which further define “American Indian” under s. 115.71 (2) (d).

115.28(17)(d) (d) Develop a curriculum for grades 4 to 12 on the Chippewa Indians’ treaty-based, off-reservation rights to hunt, fish and gather.

115.28(18) (18) Pupil membership audits. Annually require at least 25 percent of school boards to audit the number of pupils reported for membership purposes under s. 120.14 (1).

115.28(19) (19) Federal discretionary funds. Ensure that federal aid received under 20 USC 1411 (c) (1) (A) is not used to supplant or replace funding available from other sources.

115.28(20) (20) Council for Milwaukee public schools grant programs. Appoint a council under s. 15.04 (1) (c) composed of residents of the school district established under ch. 119 who are selected to reflect the pluralistic nature of the school district. The council shall:

115.28(20)(a) (a) Advise the state superintendent on funding criteria and evaluation plans for grant programs for the school district operating under ch. 119.

115.28(20)(b) (b) Advise the state superintendent on the programs that meet or do not meet the funding criteria.

115.28(20)(c) (c) Assist the state superintendent in monitoring the progress of funded programs.

115.28(20)(d) (d) Recommend to the state superintendent needed changes in statutes or rules relating to grant programs.

115.28(20)(e) (e) Submit to the state superintendent an annual report detailing the council’s activities, accomplishments and projected needs.

115.28(20)(f) (f) Assist in ensuring that various grant programs operate compatibly.

115.28(22) (22) Information for tax bills. By November 1, provide to the department of revenue the information about school aids distributed to each school district that will enable that department to furnish to taxation districts the information required under s. 73.03 (31).

115.28(23) (23) Wisconsin educational opportunity programs. Administer Wisconsin educational opportunity programs on a statewide basis to assist minority and economically disadvantaged youth and adults in pursuing higher education opportunities. The statewide programs shall consist of all of the following:

115.28(23)(a) (a) A talent search program which shall provide information to youths and adults about postsecondary education and counseling to aid pupils in defining educational goals, applying and enrolling in postsecondary institutions and obtaining financial aid.

115.28(23)(b) (b) A talent incentive program which shall provide supplemental aid to financially needy pupils to promote attendance at postsecondary institutions.

115.28(23)(c) (c) An early identification program which shall provide services to pupils under s. 115.44.

115.28(23)(d) (d) The precollege scholarship program under s. 115.43.

115.28(24) (24) Priority in awarding grants. Give priority in awarding grants to school boards under s. 115.36, and in awarding grants from federal funds received under 20 USC 2301 to 2471, 20 USC 4601 to 4665 and 29 USC 2862 (b) (1) (B), to programs that provide more than one of the educational services specified under s. 115.36, 115.915, 118.01 (2) (d) 7. or 8. or 118.153 or 20 USC 2301 to 2471, 20 USC 4601 to 4665 or 29 USC 2862 (b) (1) (B).

115.28(25) (25) School technology resource grants. Consult with the department of administration before awarding school technology resource grants under 20 USC 6842.

115.28(26) (26) Periodical and reference information databases. Contract with one or more persons to provide statewide access, through the Internet, to periodical and reference information databases.

115.28(27) (27) WISElearn. Develop and maintain an online resource, called WISElearn, to provide educational resources for parents, teachers, and pupils; offer online learning opportunities; provide regional technical support centers; provide professional development for teachers; and enable video conferencing.

115.28(28) (28) Recollection Wisconsin. Annually distribute the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (3) (s) to Wisconsin Library Services, Inc., to support the digitization of historic materials in public libraries throughout the state.

115.28(30) (30) Career and technical student organizations.

115.28(30)(a) (a) Give priority to assisting school boards to operate career and technical student organizations and related career and technical education programs.

115.28(30)(b) (b) Provide in the department administrative leadership for career and technical student organizations and the following career and technical student organization educational consultants:

115.28(30)(b)1. 1. One full-time consultant in agriculture education.

115.28(30)(b)2. 2. One full-time consultant in business education.

115.28(30)(b)3. 3. One full-time consultant in technology education.

115.28(30)(b)4. 4. One full-time consultant in family and consumer sciences education.

115.28(30)(b)5. 5. One full-time consultant in marketing education.

115.28(30)(b)6. 6. One half-time consultant in health science education.

115.28(30)(d) (d) Provide in the department a career and technical education and career and technical student organizations team consisting of those educational consultants specified in par. (b).

115.28(31) (31) Accommodation of religious beliefs. Promulgate rules providing for the reasonable accommodation of a pupil’s sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to all examinations and other academic requirements.

115.28 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 41, Wis. adm. code.

115.28(36) (36) Report on goals. Report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) the progress made by school districts toward attaining state educational goals and the state vision for education.