Chapter 115

115.38(4) (4) Beginning in the 1993-94 school year and annually thereafter, the state superintendent shall identify those school districts that are low in performance and those schools in which there are pupils enrolled who do not meet the state minimum performance standards on the examinations administered under s. 118.30. The state superintendent shall make recommendations regarding how the programs and operations of the identified school districts and schools may be improved and periodically assess school district implementation of the recommendations.

115.38 History History: 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 244; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 62; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59; 2023 a. 20.

115.383 115.383 Student information system.

115.383(1) (1) 

115.383(1)(a) (a) Develop a proposal for a multiple-vendor student information system for the standardized collection of pupil data. The proposal shall allow schools and school districts to use their vendor of choice and include reporting requirements that can reasonably be met by multiple vendors. The state superintendent may not establish a student information system unless the proposal is approved by the joint committee on finance under par. (b).

115.383(1)(b) (b) Submit the proposal to the joint committee on finance for its approval, disapproval, or modification. If the joint committee on finance approves the proposal, or modifies and approves the proposal, the state superintendent shall implement the proposal and the joint committee on finance may release to the state superintendent funds from the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a) for the purpose of paying the costs incurred by schools and school districts to meet the proposal’s reporting requirements.

115.383(1)(c) (c) If the proposal is approved under par. (b), the state superintendent shall ensure that information about pupils enrolled in charter schools and about pupils enrolled in private schools participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, including their academic performance and demographic information, aggregated by school district, school, and teacher, is collected and maintained in the student information system.

115.383(2) (2) If the student information system is established under sub. (1), each school district, charter school, and private school using the system under sub. (1) shall include in the system the following information for each teacher teaching in the school district or school who completed a teacher education program described in s. 115.28 (7) (a) or (e) 2. and located in this state on or after January 1, 2012, or, for each teacher teaching in a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, who obtained a bachelor’s degree from an institution located in this state on or after July 1, 2010:

115.383(2)(a) (a) The name of the teacher education program the teacher attended and completed or the name of the institution from which the teacher obtained a bachelor’s degree.

115.383(2)(b) (b) The term or semester and year in which the teacher completed the teacher education program or obtained a bachelor’s degree.

115.383(3) (3) 

115.383(3)(a) (a) If the student information system is established under sub. (1), the state superintendent shall ensure that within 5 years of the establishment of the system, every school district and every charter school, other than a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), is using the system.

115.383(3)(b) (b) Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the state superintendent shall ensure that every charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) and every private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 is either using the system under sub. (1) or is using a system that is commercially available and able to obtain pupil identification numbers under sub. (5).

115.383(3)(c) (c) If the student information system is established under sub. (1), the state superintendent may promulgate rules authorizing the department to charge a fee to any person that uses the system. All fees shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (1) (he).

115.383(4) (4) A private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 is not required to include information about pupils who are not attending the private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 in the system it is using under sub. (3).

115.383(5) (5) The state superintendent shall assign to each pupil attending a public school or charter school, and to each pupil attending a private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23, a unique identification number for use in the student information system. The state superintendent shall not assign to any pupil an identification number that is identical to or incorporates the pupil’s social security number or that uses any other personally identifying information.

115.383 History History: 2013 a. 256 ss. 3 to 9; 2015 a. 55.

115.385 115.385 School and school district accountability report.

115.385(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (6), annually by November 30, the department shall publish a school and school district accountability report that includes all of the following components:

115.385(1)(a) (a) Multiple measures to determine a school’s performance or a school district’s improvement, including all of the following categorized by English language proficiency, disability, income level, and race or ethnicity:

115.385(1)(a)1. 1. Pupil achievement in reading and mathematics.

115.385(1)(a)1m. 1m. Growth in pupil achievement in reading and mathematics, calculated using a value-added methodology.

115.385(1)(a)3. 3. Gap closure in pupil achievement in reading and mathematics and, when available, rates of graduation.

115.385(1)(a)4. 4. Rates of attendance or of high school graduation.

115.385(1)(b) (b) An index system to identify a school’s level of performance and a school district’s level of improvement and to annually assign to each school and school district one of the following performance categories:

115.385(1)(b)1. 1. “Five stars out of 5 — Significantly Exceeds Expectations.”

115.385(1)(b)2. 2. “Four stars out of 5 — Exceeds Expectations.”

115.385(1)(b)3. 3. “Three stars out of 5 — Meets Expectations.”

115.385(1)(b)4. 4. “Two stars out of 5 — Meets Few Expectations.”

115.385(1)(b)5. 5. “One star out of 5 — Fails to Meet Expectations.”

115.385(1)(c) (c) A qualitative definition for each of the 5 performance categories in par. (b).

115.385(1)(d) (d) For a school district and for each high school in that school district, all of the following information:

115.385(1)(d)1. 1. The number and percentage of pupils participating in the program under s. 118.55.

115.385(1)(d)2. 2. The number and percentage of pupils participating in a youth apprenticeship under s. 106.13.

115.385(1)(d)3. 3. The number of community service hours provided by pupils.

115.385(1)(d)4. 4. The number of advanced placement courses offered to and the number of advanced placement credits earned by pupils.

115.385(1)(d)5. 5. The number of pupils earning industry-recognized credentials through a technical education program established by a school board as described in s. 118.33 (1) (g) 1. c.

115.385(1)(d)6. 6. Beginning with the accountability report published for the 2020-21 school year, the percentage of pupils participating in each of the following subjects in the state and in the school district or high school:

115.385(1)(d)6.a. a. Music.

115.385(1)(d)6.b. b. Dance.

115.385(1)(d)6.c. c. Drama.

115.385(1)(d)6.d. d. Visual arts.

115.385(1)(e) (e) All of the following information derived from statistics reported under s. 118.124:

115.385(1)(e)1. 1. The total number of incidents per 100 pupils reported by the school or school district.

115.385(1)(e)2. 2. The average total number of incidents per 100 pupils reported statewide.

115.385(1)(e)3. 3. The total number of incidents listed under s. 118.124 (2) (a) 1., 2., 4., and 8. per 100 pupils reported by the school or school district.

115.385(1)(e)4. 4. The average total number of incidents listed under s. 118.124 (2) (a) 1., 2., 4., and 8. per 100 pupils reported statewide.

115.385(1)(f) (f) Beginning with the accountability report published for the 2024-25 school year, for a school district other than a union high school district and for each school that offers grade 3 in that school district, the percentage of pupils reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

115.385 Note NOTE: Par. (f) was created as par. (e) by 2023 Wis. Act 20 and renumbered to par. (f) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

115.385(1g) (1g) For purposes of determining a school’s performance or a school district’s improvement under sub. (1) all of the following apply:

115.385(1g)(c) (c) The department shall consider the impact of poverty on pupil achievement and growth by adjusting the importance given to the measures under sub. (1) (a) 1. and 1m. based on the percentage of pupils in the school or school district who are economically disadvantaged. In this paragraph, an economically disadvantaged pupil is a pupil that satisfies either the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) or other measures of poverty, as determined by the department. Of the total weight the department allocates to the measures under sub. (1) (a) 1. and 1m. for the purpose of determining a school’s performance or a school district’s improvement, the department shall do as follows:

115.385(1g)(c)1. 1. If 5 percent or less of the school or school district membership is comprised of economically disadvantaged pupils, weight the measure under sub. (1) (a) 1. at 90 percent and the measure under sub. (1) (a) 1m. at 10 percent.

115.385(1g)(c)2. 2. If 65 percent or more of the school or school district membership is comprised of economically disadvantaged pupils, weight the measure under sub. (1) (a) 1. at 10 percent and the measure under sub. (1) (a) 1m. at 90 percent.

115.385(1g)(c)3. 3. If the percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils in the school or school district membership is more than 5 percent but less than 65 percent, the department shall determine the weight of the measures under sub. (1) (a) 1m. as follows:

115.385(1g)(c)3.a. a. Divide 80 by 60.

115.385(1g)(c)3.b. b. Multiply the quotient determined under subd. 3. a. by the percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils in the school or school district membership.

115.385(1g)(c)3.c. c. Add 3.33 to the result under subd. 3. b.

115.385(1g)(c)4. 4. If the percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils in the school or school district membership is more than 5 percent but less than 65 percent, the department shall determine the weight of the measures under sub. (1) (a) 1. by subtracting the weight given to the measures under sub. (1) (a) 1m. as determined under subd. 3. from 100.

115.385(1g)(d) (d) For purposes of measuring a school district’s improvement, the department may not include data derived from a virtual charter school that is considered to be located in the school district under s. 118.51 (18) if at least 50 percent of the pupils attending the virtual charter school are attending under s. 118.51.

115.385(1g)(e) (e) The department may not use information provided under sub. (1) (d) 6.

115.385(1g)(f) (f) For purposes of measuring a school district’s improvement, the department may not include data derived from any of the following facilities located in the school district if 50 percent or more of the total number of pupils residing at the facility during the relevant school year do not reside at the facility for the entire school term:

115.385(1g)(f)1. 1. A juvenile detention facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10r).

115.385(1g)(f)2. 2. A secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g).

115.385(1g)(f)3. 3. A house of correction.

115.385(1g)(f)4. 4. A county jail.

115.385(1g)(g) (g) The department may not consider the statistics reported by a school or school district under s. 118.124.

115.385(2) (2) Beginning with the accountability report published for the 2015-16 school year, the department shall include in its annual school accountability report under sub. (1) charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) and private schools participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23. The department shall use the same criteria to measure the performance of all schools included in the annual school accountability report.

115.385(3) (3) On an accountability report published for a private school participating in a program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, the department shall specify the percentage of pupils attending the private school under the program and comply with one of the following:

115.385(3)(a) (a) For a private school that submits achievement data only for those pupils attending the private school under the program, assign to the private school a performance category derived from data about those pupils attending the private school under the program.

115.385(3)(b) (b) For a private school that submits achievement data for those pupils attending the private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 and achievement data for all other pupils attending the private school, assign to the private school a performance category derived from data about pupils attending the school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 and identify the performance category as the choice pupil performance category. The department shall also assign a 2nd performance category, derived from data about all pupils attending the private school including pupils attending the private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23, as the private school performance category.

115.385(4) (4) Annually, each public school, including a charter school, and each private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 shall provide a copy of the school’s accountability report to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in or attending the school. Each school shall simultaneously provide to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in the school a list of the educational options available to children who reside in the pupil’s resident school district, including public schools, private schools participating in a parental choice program, charter schools, virtual schools, full-time or part-time open enrollment in a nonresident school district, the youth apprenticeship program under s. 106.13, the early college credit program, and options for pupils enrolled in a home-based private educational program. A school that does not operate high school grades is not required to include an educational option that is offered only to high school pupils in a list of educational options provided under this subsection.

115.385(5) (5) Beginning in the 2017-18 school year and biennially thereafter, the appropriate standing committee of each house of the legislature shall conduct a review of school and school district accountability reports published under this section.

115.385(6) (6) The department shall not publish a school and school district accountability report under this section in the 2020-21 school year.

115.385 History History: 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 20, 55, 195, 212; 2017 a. 59, 209, 365; 2017 a. 366 s. 99; 2019 a. 85, 185; 2021 a. 83, 212; 2023 a. 12, 20; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

115.39 115.39 Literacy coaching program.

115.39(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

115.39(1)(a) (a) “CESA region” means the geographic territory within the boundaries of a cooperative educational service agency.

115.39(1)(b) (b) “Eligible school” means any of the following that does not provide instruction that incorporates 3-cueing, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (c), in the core reading curriculum for grades kindergarten to 3:

115.39(1)(b)1. 1. A public school, including a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

115.39(1)(b)2. 2. A private school participating in a program under s. 118.60 or 119.23.

115.39(1)(c) (c) “Office” means the office of literacy in the department.

115.39(2) (2) Literacy coaching program. The office shall establish and supervise an early literacy coaching program to improve literacy outcomes in this state. As part of the early literacy coaching program established under this subsection, the office shall, in consultation with cooperative educational service agencies, do all of the following:

115.39(2)(a) (a) Contract with individuals who demonstrate knowledge and expertise in science-based early literacy instruction and instructional practices and have instructional experience in grades kindergarten to 12 to serve as literacy coaches. The office may not contract for more than 64 full-time equivalent positions under this paragraph.

115.39(2)(b) (b) Provide ongoing training on science-based early literacy instruction and instructional practices and supervision to individuals with whom the office contracts under par. (a).

115.39(2)(c) (c) Prohibit literacy coaches from using or promoting instruction that includes 3-cueing, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (c).

115.39(3) (3) Participation; schools and school districts.

115.39(3)(a) (a) The office shall assign one-half of the number of literacy coaches under sub. (2) (a) as follows:

115.39(3)(a)1. 1. Based on scores of the standardized reading test administered to pupils during the prior school year under s. 121.02 (1) (r), the office shall identify the 50 eligible schools that had the lowest percentage of pupils score as proficient in reading at grade level and the 50 eligible schools that had the largest gap in pupils who scored as proficient in reading at grade level.

115.39(3)(a)2. 2.