Chapter 115

115.28(63)(c) (c) Youth mental health first aid.

115.28(64) (64) College Possible. Annually, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (3) (fc), award a grant to College Possible, Inc., to work with pupils and college students in Milwaukee. The grant amount shall be determined on a matching basis, under which College Possible, Inc., provides matching funds in an amount equal to 20 percent of the grant amount.

115.28(65) (65) Wisconsin Reading Corps. Annually distribute the amounts appropriated under s. 20.255 (3) (fr) to Wisconsin Reading Corps to provide one-on-one tutoring if Wisconsin Reading Corps provides matching funds of $250,000 in each school year.

115.28(66) (66) Holocaust education resource center. Annually distribute the amounts appropriated under s. 20.255 (3) (eh) to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Inc., to support the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center.

115.28 History History: 1971 c. 40, 125; 1973 c. 89, 90; 1975 c. 39, 115, 199, 220, 224, 395, 422; 1977 c. 26, 29, 203, 418, 429; 1979 c. 28, 331; 1979 c. 346 ss. 10, 15; 1979 c. 355; 1981 c. 20, 241; 1983 a. 27, 412; 1985 a. 12; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1686m, 1689, 3202 (43); 1987 a. 27, 159; 1989 a. 31, 56, 297, 336, 359; 1991 a. 39, 93, 108, 164, 227, 250, 269, 315; 1993 a. 16, 27, 213, 223, 335, 339, 437, 455, 492; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3847g to 3858, 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 27, 113, 114, 164, 240, 245, 252; 1999 a. 9, 19, 32, 124, 185, 186; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 42; 2005 a. 25 ss. 1108, 1855, 1856m, 1856w; 2005 a. 218, 220, 466; 2007 a. 20 ss. 2683 to 2684m, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 68, 222; 2009 a. 28, 64, 99, 220, 302, 329; 2011 a. 32, 157, 166, 173, 209; 2013 a. 20, 253, 256, 258; 2015 a. 55, 190; 2017 a. 31, 59, 143, 209; 2017 a. 365 s. 112; 2019 a. 9, 86; 2021 a. 30, 89; 2021 a. 239 s. 74; 2023 a. 19, 20, 160, 248, 262; s. 35.17 correction in (7) (g).

115.28 Note NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 339, which created sub. (7) (e), contains explanatory notes.

115.28 Annotation The Department of Public Instruction may, if so authorized under s. 16.54, implement the school lunch program and special food service plan for children in secular and sectarian private schools and child-care institutions without violating the U.S. or Wisconsin Constitutions. 63 Atty. Gen. 473.

115.29 115.29 General powers. The state superintendent may:

115.29(1) (1) Designate representative. Designate the deputy state superintendent or another employee of the department as the state superintendent’s representative on any body on which the state superintendent is required to serve, except the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

115.29(2) (2) Educational meetings. Attend such educational meetings and make such investigations as the state superintendent deems important and as will acquaint the state superintendent with the different systems of public schools in the United States.

115.29(3) (3) Auxiliary instructional employees. By order, establish classes of auxiliary instructional employees and authorize their employment in the instructional program of the elementary and high schools for specific purposes and their reimbursement from the instructional budget. Auxiliary instructional employees shall not be covered as teachers as defined in s. 40.02 (55) or under s. 118.21, 118.22 or 121.006 (2) but shall be eligible under the public employee trust fund as participating employees as defined in s. 40.02 (46), if it is made applicable, other than through s. 40.21 (3), to the school district employing them.

115.29(4) (4) High school graduation equivalency.

115.29(4)(a) (a) Grant a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation to an individual if the individual has successfully completed the civics test required under s. 118.33 (1m) (a) and if, in the state superintendent’s judgment, the individual has presented satisfactory evidence of having completed a recognized high school course of study or its equivalent. The state superintendent may establish the standards by which high school graduation equivalency is determined. Such standards may consist of evidence of high school courses completed in high schools recognized by the proper authorities as accredited, results of examinations given by or at the request of the state superintendent, successful completion of correspondence study courses given by acceptable correspondence study schools, a general educational development certificate of high school equivalency issued by an agency of the U.S. government, course credits received in schools meeting the approval of the state superintendent, or other standards established by the state superintendent.

115.29(4)(b) (b) Promulgate rules establishing fees for issuing a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation or a general educational development certificate under par. (a). The rules may provide exemptions from the fees based on financial need.

115.29 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 5, Wis. adm. code.

115.29(5) (5) Teacher supply, information and analysis. Assist school boards, cooperative educational service agencies and county children with disabilities education boards to locate qualified professional school personnel, assist qualified professional school personnel to locate vacant positions and provide information and analysis of the professional school personnel supply.

115.29(6) (6) English language proficiency assessment system. Assist in the establishment of, and participate in, a consortium of state education agencies organized to obtain public and private funds to be used to purchase an English language proficiency assessment system.

115.29(7) (7) Teen pregnancy prevention. Apply for all federal funds allocated for providing instruction in any of the subjects identified in s. 118.019.

115.29(8) (8) Alternative data collection method; low-income pupils. Use an alternative data collection method established by the department to identify pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

115.29 History History: 1971 c. 100 s. 23; 1971 c. 125, 211; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 32, 301; 1981 c. 96; 1983 a. 27; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 27, 111; 1997 a. 27, 35, 164; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 134; 2011 a. 216; 2015 a. 55.

115.293 115.293 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium; Common Core State Standards Initiative; prohibition.

115.293(1) (1) Beginning on July 14, 2015, the state superintendent shall cease all participation in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

115.293(2) (2) The state superintendent may not give effect to any academic standard developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative and adopted and implemented in this state before July 14, 2015. The state superintendent may not require any school board to give effect to any such academic standard.

115.293(3) (3) Beginning on July 14, 2015, the state superintendent may not take any action to adopt or implement any academic standard developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative, and may not direct any school board to adopt or implement any such standard.

115.293 History History: 2015 a. 55.

115.295 115.295 Federal appropriations adjustments.

115.295(1) (1) In this section, “the schedule” means the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) as published in the biennial budget act for the first fiscal year of a fiscal biennium and as approved by the joint committee on finance under s. 20.004 (2) for the 2nd fiscal year of a fiscal biennium.

115.295(2) (2) 

115.295(2)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), annually by December 1 or within 30 days after the applicable federal appropriation bill for that federal fiscal year has been enacted, whichever is later, the state superintendent shall submit to the joint committee on finance a plan identifying how the state superintendent proposes to adjust the department’s federal appropriations for that state fiscal year to reflect the most recent estimate of the amount of federal funds that the department will be appropriated in that state fiscal year.

115.295(2)(b) (b) The state superintendent is required to submit a plan under par. (a) only if the department’s most recent estimate of the amount of federal funds that the department will be appropriated under s. 20.255 in the current state fiscal year is less than 95 percent or more than 105 percent of the amount of federal revenue shown in the schedule for the appropriations under s. 20.255 in that fiscal year.

115.295(3) (3) After receiving a plan under sub. (2) (a), the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance jointly shall determine whether the plan is complete. If the joint committee on finance meets and either approves or modifies and approves a plan submitted under sub. (2) (a) within 14 days after the cochairpersons determine that the plan is complete, the state superintendent shall implement the plan as approved by the committee. If the joint committee on finance does not meet and either approve or modify and approve a plan submitted under sub. (2) (a) within 14 days after the cochairpersons determine that the plan is complete, the state superintendent shall implement the proposed plan.

115.295 History History: 1997 a. 86.

115.297 115.297 Cooperative research on education programs; statewide student data system.

115.297(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

115.297(1)(a) (a) “Agencies” means the department, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the department of children and families, the department of workforce development, the technical college system board, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

115.297(1)(b) (b) “Personally identifiable” means personally identifiable information, as defined in 34 CFR 99.3.

115.297(1)(c) (c) “Postsecondary education” means education at an institution of higher education occurring after the completion of high school, including undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

115.297(1)(d) (d) “Student data” means information contained in education records, as defined in 34 CFR 99.3, and pupil records, as defined in s. 118.125 (1) (d).

115.297(2) (2) Evaluations and studies of education programs. Any of the agencies on their own or jointly with one or more of the other agencies may evaluate and study education programs operated or supervised by one or more of the other agencies, pursuant to the written agreement entered into under sub. (3), for the purpose of improving student academic achievement beginning with preschool programs and continuing through postsecondary education.

115.297(3) (3) Written agreement. By February 1, 2010, the agencies shall enter into a written agreement that does all of the following:

115.297(3)(a) (a) Requires that the agencies establish and maintain a longitudinal data system of student data that links such data from preschool programs to postsecondary education programs, describes the process by which the data system will be established and maintained, and ensures its interoperability with the work force data systems maintained by the department of workforce development. The data system may consist of separate record systems integrated through agreement and data transfer mechanisms.

115.297(3)(b) (b) Describes the process by which any of the agencies on their own or jointly with one or more of the other agencies may evaluate and study education programs operated or supervised by one or more of the other agencies for the purpose of improving student academic achievement beginning with preschool programs and continuing through postsecondary education.

115.297(3)(c) (c) Prohibits any of the agencies from evaluating or studying another agency’s education programs without the approval of the latter agency and a written agreement specifying the level of supervision and involvement that each of the agencies will have in the work performed.

115.297(3)(d) (d) Requires the agencies to exchange student and work force data to the extent necessary to perform the evaluation or study approved under par. (c).

115.297(3)(e) (e) Establishes a system for the agencies to enter into data-sharing agreements with each other and with public and private research organizations under sub. (4).

115.297(3)(f) (f) Establishes a process by which one or more of the agencies may collaborate with other persons, including state agencies, to import workforce or other data into the longitudinal data system under par. (a) to assist with an evaluation or study approved under par. (c).

115.297(3)(g) (g) Commits the agencies to protect student privacy and comply with laws pertaining to the privacy of student data.

115.297(4) (4) Data sharing.

115.297(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any of the agencies may submit student or work force data to the longitudinal data system under sub. (3) (a), to another agency, or to a public or private research organization, to support an evaluation or study under this section.

115.297(4)(b) (b) Any of the agencies may disclose personally identifiable student data to the longitudinal data system under sub. (3) (a), to another agency, or to a public or private research organization, to support an evaluation or study under this section if the disclosure is in connection with a data-sharing agreement that does all of the following:

115.297(4)(b)1. 1. Specifies the purpose, scope, and duration of the data-sharing agreement.

115.297(4)(b)2. 2. Requires the recipient to use personally identifiable student data only for the purpose specified in subd. 1.

115.297(4)(b)3. 3. Describes the specific data access, use, and security restrictions with which the recipient will comply.

115.297(4)(b)4. 4. Requires that the personally identifiable student data be destroyed or returned when no longer needed for the purpose specified in subd. 1. or upon expiration of the data-sharing agreement, whichever occurs first.

115.297(4)(b)5. 5. If the disclosure is to a public or private research organization, prohibits the personal identification of any person by individuals other than authorized representatives of the recipient who have legitimate interests in the information.

115.297(5) (5) Existing authority; exceptions.

115.297(5)(a) (a) Nothing in this section, and nothing in the written agreement under sub. (3) or in a data-sharing agreement entered into under sub. (4), may be construed to infringe upon or diminish the legal authority of any of the agencies.

115.297(5)(b) (b) Failure of any of the agencies to enter into a written agreement under sub. (3) does not affect the powers and duties conferred upon the other agencies under this section or under s. 38.04 (19).

115.297(5)(c) (c) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities is not required to enter into the written agreement under that subsection. Notwithstanding sub. (2), if the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities does not enter into the written agreement, none of the other agencies may evaluate or study the association’s education programs without the approval of the association.

115.297(6) (6) Report. Annually by October 1, the agencies shall submit a joint report to the secretary of administration regarding their progress in establishing a longitudinal data system under sub. (3) (a).

115.297 History History: 2009 a. 59; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

115.298 115.298 Disclosure of pupil records.

115.298(1) (1) 

115.298(1)(a) (a) The department of public instruction may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department of children and families that permits the department of public instruction to disclose information contained in pupil records, as defined in s. 118.125 (1) (d), that is pertinent to addressing a pupil’s educational needs to a caseworker or other representative of the department of children and families, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, or a tribal organization, as defined in 25 USC 450b (L), that is legally responsible for the care and protection of the pupil, if the caseworker or other representative is authorized by that department, county department, or tribal organization to access the pupil’s case plan.

115.298(1)(b) (b) A school board may enter into a memorandum of understanding with a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal organization, as defined in 25 USC 450b (L), that permits the school board to disclose information contained in pupil records as provided under s. 118.125 (2) (q) in cases in which the pupil’s parent or guardian, if the pupil is a minor, or the pupil, if the pupil is an adult, does not grant permission for such disclosure.

115.298(2) (2) A department, county department, or tribal organization that receives information contained in pupil records under sub. (1) (a) or (b) may not further disclose that information except as follows:

115.298(2)(a) (a) To a person who is engaged in addressing the pupil’s educational needs, who is authorized by that department, county department, or tribal organization to receive that disclosure, and to whom that disclosure is authorized under s. 118.125 or under a substantially similar tribal law.

115.298(2)(b) (b) Upon request, to any court of this state or of the United States that needs to review those records or that information for the purpose of addressing the educational needs of a pupil who is the subject of a proceeding in that court.

115.298(2)(c) (c) In response to an order of a court conducting proceedings under s. 48.135, 48.21, 938.135, 938.18, 938.183, or 938.21, proceedings related to a petition under s. 48.13, 48.133, 48.42, 938.12, or 938.13, or dispositional proceedings under subch. VI or VIII of ch. 48 or subch. VI of ch. 938 or in response to a subpoena issued in such a proceeding, to any person who is engaged in addressing the educational needs of the pupil and who is authorized to receive that disclosure under that order or subpoena. Except as provided in 20 USC 1232g (b) (2) (B), a department, county department, or tribal organization that is issued an order or subpoena described in this paragraph shall provide notice of the order or subpoena to the pupil’s parent or guardian before complying with the order or subpoena.

115.298 History History: 2015 a. 161.

115.30 115.30 Forms and reports.

115.30(1) (1) The department shall prepare for the use of school officers suitable forms for making reports, and suitable outlines as aids in conducting school meetings. With the exception of changes due to statute or rule revision, the department shall give school districts a one-year advance notice of any changes to be made to the forms and reports. School district officers and employees shall maintain a uniform recording of accounting as prescribed by the department and make such reports to the department as will enable it to distribute state school fund appropriations and state educational appropriations to the schools and persons entitled thereto, and to properly discharge the other duties of the department.

115.30(2) (2) The department may require all school boards to report to it, on forms provided, the name of the school and its location, the name and address of the teachers, the number of months of school maintained during the year, the opening and closing dates, the names and ages of all pupils enrolled between the ages of 6 and 18, the names and post-office addresses and places of residence of the parents of such pupils, the number of the school district and the distance such pupils reside from the schoolhouse, the number of days each pupil was present during each month and any other information requested by it.

115.30(3) (3) On or before each October 15, each administrator of a public or private school system or a home-based private educational program shall submit, on forms provided by the department, a statement of the enrollment on the 3rd Friday of September in the elementary and high school grades under his or her jurisdiction to the department which shall prepare such reports as will enable the public and private schools and home-based private educational programs to make projections regarding school buildings, teacher supply and funds required. The administrator of each private school system and home-based private educational program shall indicate in his or her report whether the system or program meets all of the criteria under s. 118.165 (1).

115.30(4) (4) In the biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d), the state superintendent also shall report:

115.30(4)(a) (a) The condition of all schools under the state superintendent’s supervision.

115.30(4)(b) (b) An abstract of the public school reports made to the state superintendent.

115.30(4)(c) (c) The state superintendent’s visits to educational institutions.

115.30(4)(d) (d) The work done by the department in the performance of its duties.

115.30(4)(e) (e) Plans for improving the schools and advancing education.

115.30(4)(f) (f) A summary of the receipts and disbursements of all schools under the state superintendent’s jurisdiction.

115.30(4)(g) (g) Such other matters as the state superintendent deems appropriate.

115.30(5) (5) The department shall make certified copies, when required, of any papers deposited or filed or records kept in the department, and of any act or decision made by it. The fee therefor shall be 15 cents per page.

115.30 History History: 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 196 s. 131; 1977 c. 273; 1981 c. 314; 1983 a. 512; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3864 to 3866, 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

115.31 115.31 License or permit revocation; reports; investigation.

115.31(1) (1) In this section:

115.31(1)(a) (a) “Administrator” means the chief administrative officer of an educational agency. If the chief administrative officer is the subject of a report under this section, “administrator” means the presiding officer of the governing board of the educational agency or the secretary of the department in which the educational agency is located.

115.31(1)(b) (b) “Educational agency” means a school district, cooperative educational service agency, state correctional institution under s. 302.01, juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g), the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Mendota Mental Health Institute, the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, a state center for the developmentally disabled, a private school, or a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian agency under contract with a school board under s. 118.153 (3) (c).

115.31(1)(c) (c)