Chapter 115

115.3615 History History: 1989 a. 122 ss. 53c to 53e; 1991 a. 39, 269 s. 614g; Stats. 1991 s. 115.3615; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 25.

115.363 115.363 Second Chance Partners for Education.

115.363(1) (1) In this section:

115.363(1)(a) (a) “Disengaged pupils” means pupils who are children at risk, as defined in s. 118.153 (1) (a), and other pupils identified by the school board.

115.363(1)(b) (b) “Work-based learning program” means a program that provides occupational training and work-based learning experiences.

115.363(2) (2) 

115.363(2)(a) (a) A school board may contract under s. 118.15 (1) (d) or 118.153 (3) (c) with the Second Chance Partners for Education, or any other nonprofit corporation operating a program in which disengaged high school pupils attend a work-based learning program while earning high school diplomas, for pupils enrolled in the school district.

115.363(2)(b) (b) The school board shall pay to each nonprofit corporation with which it contracts under par. (a) an amount that is no more than the amount paid per pupil under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2m., 2n., or 2p. in the current school year multiplied by the number of pupils participating in the program under the contract.

115.363 History History: 2011 a. 157 ss. 2 to 5; 2013 a. 20.

115.364 115.364 Aid for school mental health programs.

115.364(1) (1) In this section:

115.364(1)(a) (a) “Eligible independent charter school” is a school under contract with one of the entities under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. or with the director under s. 118.40 (2x) that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(1)(am) (am) “Eligible private school” means a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(1)(b) (b) “Eligible school district” is a school district that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(2) (2) 

115.364(2)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year and annually thereafter, the state superintendent shall do all of the following:

115.364(2)(a)1. 1. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible school district an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the school district increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(2)(a)2. 2. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible independent charter school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the independent charter school increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(2)(a)3. 3. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible private school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the private school increased it expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

115.364(2)(b) (b)

115.364(2)(b)1. 1. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under par. (a), the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools eligible for the aid.

115.364(2)(b)2. 2.

115.364(2)(b)2.a. a. Subject to subd. 2. b., if, after making the payments required under par. (a), moneys remain in the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (2) (da), the state superintendent shall reimburse eligible school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools for an amount equal to expenditures made by the school district, private school, or independent charter school in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers less the amount of increased expenditures for which the school district, private school, or independent charter school was reimbursed under par. (a).

115.364(2)(b)2.b. b. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under subd. 2. a., the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools eligible for the aid.

115.364(3) (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

115.364 History History: 2017 a. 59.

115.365 115.365 Assistance to schools for suicide prevention programs.

115.365(1) (1) The purpose of this section is to enable and encourage public, private, and tribal schools to develop programs designed to prevent suicide among minors.

115.365(2) (2) The department, in conjunction with the department of health services and the department of children and families, shall:

115.365(2)(a) (a) Develop and conduct training programs in suicide prevention for the professional staff of public, private, and tribal schools and county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 51.42. The programs shall include information on how to assist minors in the positive emotional development which will help prevent suicidal tendencies; the detection, by minors, school staff, and parents, of conditions which indicate suicidal tendencies; the proper action to take when there is reason to believe that a minor has suicidal tendencies or is contemplating suicide; and the coordination of school suicide prevention programs and activities with the suicide prevention and intervention programs and activities of other state and local agencies. Persons other than the professional staff of public, private, and tribal schools and county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 51.42 may attend the training programs. The department may charge such persons a fee sufficient to cover the increased costs to the department of their participation in the programs.

115.365(2)(b) (b) Provide consultation and technical assistance to public, private, and tribal schools for the development and implementation of suicide prevention programs and the coordination of those programs with the suicide prevention and intervention programs of other state and local agencies.

115.365(3) (3) Each school board and the governing body of each private school annually shall inform their professional staff of the resources available from the department and other sources regarding suicide prevention. The department annually shall provide school boards and the governing bodies of private and tribal schools with a model notice, describing the suicide prevention services that it has developed and how staff may access those services, that school boards and governing bodies of private and tribal schools may use to inform their professional staff.

115.365 History History: 1985 a. 29, 176; 1987 a. 403; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 ss. 2690, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 220; 2009 a. 302.

115.366 115.366 Grants to support peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs.

115.366(1) (1) Grant program. The department shall establish and implement a competitive grant program to award grants for the purpose of supporting peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in public, private, and tribal schools that operate high school grades. A recipient of a grant under this section may use the grant to support an existing peer-to-peer suicide prevention program or to implement a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program at a school at which pupils attend high school grades. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give preference to applications for a grant to implement a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.

115.366(2) (2) Eligible entities. Any of the following that operates high school grades may apply for a grant under this section:

115.366(2)(a) (a) A school board.

115.366(2)(b) (b) An operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

115.366(2)(c) (c) The governing body of a private school.

115.366(2)(d) (d) A tribal school.

115.366(3) (3) Awards. Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (du), the department shall award up to $1,000 for each school for which a grant is awarded under sub. (1).

115.366(4) (4) Renewals. A recipient of a grant under this section may apply to renew a grant to implement or support a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program at a specific school. The department may renew a grant under this subsection without requiring the applicant to participate in the competitive application processes established under sub. (1). The department may renew a grant to support a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program at a specific school up to 3 times.

115.366(5) (5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

115.366 History History: 2019 a. 83.

115.367 115.367 School-based mental health services grants.

115.367(1) (1) Grant program. The department shall establish and administer a program to award grants to school boards and operators of charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) for the purpose of collaborating with mental health providers to provide mental health services to pupils.

115.367(1m) (1m) Grant amount. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year and in each school year thereafter, the department shall award a grant under this section to each school board and operator of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dt), in an amount determined as follows:

115.367(1m)(a) (a) Add the total number of pupils enrolled, as defined in s. 115.437 (1), in school districts statewide to the total number of pupils attending charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) statewide in the current school year.

115.367(1m)(b) (b) Divide the number of pupils enrolled, as defined in s. 115.437 (1), in the school district or attending the charter school in the current school year by the sum under par. (a).

115.367(1m)(c) (c) Multiply the quotient under par. (b) by the total amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (dt) for the current school year.

115.367(4) (4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

115.367 History History: 2017 a. 59; 2023 a. 19.

115.368 115.368 Assistance to schools for protective behaviors programs.

115.368(1) (1) The purpose of this section is to enable and encourage public, private, and tribal schools to develop protective behaviors programs and anti-offender behavior programs designed to assist minors and their parents or guardians in recognizing, avoiding, preventing, and halting physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations that may be harmful to minors.

115.368(2) (2) The department, in conjunction with the department of health services and the department of children and families, and after consulting with established organizations providing services with a focus on children of risk, shall:

115.368(2)(a) (a) Develop and conduct protective behaviors training programs for the professional staff of public, private, and tribal schools and counties under ss. 46.034, 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, and 51.437. The training programs shall include information on how to assist a minor and his or her parent or guardian in recognizing, avoiding, preventing, and halting physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations that may be harmful to the minor, including child abuse, sexual abuse, and child enticement. The training programs shall emphasize how to help minors to develop positive psychological, emotional, and problem-solving responses to such situations, and to avoid relying on negative, fearful, or solely reactive methods of dealing with such situations. The training programs shall also include information on the detection, by other minors, their parents or guardians, and school staff, of conditions that indicate that a minor is being or has been subjected to such situations; the proper action to take when there is reason to believe that a minor is being or has been subjected to such situations; and the coordination of school protective behaviors programs and activities with programs and activities of other state and local agencies. Persons other than the professional staff of public, private, and tribal schools and counties under ss. 46.034, 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, and 51.437 may attend the training programs. The department may charge such persons a fee sufficient to cover the increased costs of materials, but not personnel cost, to the department of their participation in the programs. The department may not deny any resident of Wisconsin the opportunity to participate in a program if the person is unable to pay any fee.

115.368(2)(b) (b) Provide consultation and technical assistance to public, private, and tribal schools for the development and implementation of protective behaviors programs and the coordination of those programs with programs of other state and local agencies.

115.368 History History: 1985 a. 213; 1985 a. 332 ss. 153, 253; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 ss. 2691, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 302.

115.37 115.37 Blind and visual impairment education council.

115.37(1) (1) In this section:

115.37(1)(a) (a) “Council” means the blind and visual impairment education council.

115.37(1)(b) (b) “Visually impaired” has the meaning given in s. 115.51 (4).

115.37(2) (2) The state superintendent shall seek the advice of and consult with the council on issues related to persons who are visually impaired. The state superintendent and the director of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or their designees, shall attend meetings of the council.

115.37(3) (3) The council shall do all of the following:

115.37(3)(a) (a) Meet at least twice each year.

115.37(3)(b) (b) Advise the state superintendent on such statewide services, activities, programs, investigations and research as in its judgment will benefit pupils who are visually impaired.

115.37(3)(c) (c) Make recommendations for the improvement of services provided by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

115.37(3)(d) (d) Review the level and quality of services available to pupils in the state who are visually impaired and make recommendations about those services.

115.37(3)(e) (e) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve the preparation of teachers and other staff who provide services to pupils who are visually impaired.

115.37(3)(f) (f) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve coordination between the department and other agencies in providing services to persons who are visually impaired.

115.37(4) (4) The council may initiate consultations with the department.

115.37(5) (5) The council shall have access to public files, public records and statistics kept in the department that relate to matters concerning children who are visually impaired.

115.37 History History: 1971 c. 292; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164; 1999 a. 9.

115.372 115.372 Deaf and hard-of-hearing education council.

115.372(1) (1) In this section:

115.372(1)(a) (a) “Council” means the deaf and hard-of-hearing education council.

115.372(1)(b) (b) “Hearing impaired” has the meaning given in s. 115.51 (2).

115.372(2) (2) The state superintendent shall seek the advice of and consult with the council on issues related to persons who are hearing impaired. The state superintendent and the director of the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or their designees, shall attend meetings of the council.

115.372(3) (3) The council shall do all of the following:

115.372(3)(a) (a) Meet at least twice each year.

115.372(3)(b) (b) Advise the state superintendent on such statewide services, activities, programs, investigations, and research as in its judgment will benefit pupils who are hearing impaired.

115.372(3)(c) (c) Make recommendations for the improvement of services provided by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

115.372(3)(d) (d) Review the level and quality of services available to pupils in the state who are hearing impaired and make recommendations about those services.

115.372(3)(e) (e) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve the preparation of teachers and other staff who provide services to pupils who are hearing impaired.

115.372(3)(f) (f) Propose to the state superintendent ways to improve coordination between the department and other agencies in providing services to persons who are hearing impaired.

115.372(4) (4) The council may initiate consultations with the department.

115.372(5) (5) The council shall have access to public files, public records, and statistics kept in the department that relate to matters concerning children who are hearing impaired.

115.372 History History: 2001 a. 57.

115.38 115.38 School performance report; educational program review.