Chapter 115

Subch. VII of ch. 115 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 13, Wis. adm. code.

115.95 115.95 Legislative findings and declaration of policy.

115.95(1) (1) The legislature finds that:

115.95(1)(a) (a) There are pupils in this state who enter elementary and secondary school with limited or nonexistent English speaking ability due to the use of another language in their family or in their daily, nonschool environment.

115.95(1)(b) (b) Classes conducted in English do not always provide adequate instruction for children whose English language abilities are limited or nonexistent.

115.95(1)(c) (c) It is beneficial to pupils from bicultural and monocultural backgrounds to participate in bilingual-bicultural programs where such programs are available in order to instill respect for non-English languages and cultures in all pupils.

115.95(2) (2) It is the policy of this state to provide equal educational opportunities by ensuring that necessary programs are available for limited-English proficient pupils while allowing each school district maximum flexibility in establishing programs suited to its particular needs. To this end, this subchapter establishes bilingual-bicultural education programs for pupils in school districts with specified concentrations of limited-English proficient pupils in the attendance areas of particular schools.

115.95(3) (3) It is the policy of this state to reimburse school districts, in substantial part, for the added costs of providing the programs established under this subchapter.

115.95(4) (4) It is the policy of this state that a limited-English proficient pupil participate in a bilingual-bicultural education program only until such time as the pupil is able to perform ordinary classwork in English.

115.95(5) (5) It is the policy of this state that fundamental courses may be taught in the pupil’s non-English language to support the understanding of concepts, while the ultimate objective shall be to provide a proficiency in those courses in the English language in order that the pupil will be able to participate fully in a society whose language is English.

115.95(6) (6) Furthermore, it is the policy of this state to encourage reform, innovation and improvement in graduate education, in the structure of the academic profession and in the recruitment and retention of higher education and graduate school faculties, as related to bilingual-bicultural education, and to give special recognition to persons who possess a reading ability and speaking fluency in a non-English language and an understanding of another culture.

115.95 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1987 a. 159; 1999 a. 19.

115.955 115.955 Definitions. In this subchapter:

115.955(2) (2) “Bilingual-bicultural education program” means a program designed to improve the comprehension and the speaking, reading and writing ability of a limited-English proficient pupil in the English language, so that the pupil will be able to perform ordinary classwork in English.

115.955(3) (3) “Bilingual counselor” means a certified school counselor approved by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

115.955(4) (4) “Bilingual counselor’s aide” means a person who is employed to assist a counselor and who is approved by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

115.955(5) (5) “Bilingual teacher” means a certified teacher approved by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

115.955(6) (6) “Bilingual teacher’s aide” means a person who is employed to assist a teacher and who is approved by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

115.955(7) (7) “Limited-English proficient pupil” means a pupil whose ability to use the English language is limited because of the use of a non-English language in his or her family or in his or her daily, nonschool surroundings, and who has difficulty, as defined by rule by the state superintendent, in performing ordinary classwork in English as a result of such limited English language proficiency.

115.955 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1977 c. 203 s. 106; 1983 a. 189; 1987 a. 159; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 19.

115.96 115.96 Establishment of programs.

115.96(1) (1) Count of limited-English proficient pupils. Annually, on or before March 1, each school board shall conduct a count of the limited-English proficient pupils in the public schools of the district, assess the language proficiency of such pupils and classify such pupils by language group, grade level, age and English language proficiency.

115.96(2) (2) Notification. Annually, on or before April 1, a school board which may be required to offer a bilingual-bicultural education program shall send to the parent, legal custodian or guardian of every limited-English proficient pupil identified under sub. (1) who is eligible for participation in such a program, a notice which states that a bilingual-bicultural education program may be instituted, contains information on the procedures for registering a pupil in such a program, and provides notice of the consent required under sub. (3). The notice shall be in English and in the non-English language of the limited-English proficient pupil.

115.96(3) (3) Parental consent. On or before May 1, any parent or legal custodian desiring that their child be placed in a bilingual-bicultural education program shall give written consent to such child’s placement.

115.96(4) (4) Program established. Annually, on or before July 1, the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program, if required under s. 115.97. A bilingual-bicultural education program established under this subchapter shall provide all of the following:

115.96(4)(a) (a) Instruction in reading, writing and speaking the English language.

115.96(4)(b) (b) Through the use of the native language of the limited-English proficient pupil, instruction in the subjects necessary to permit the pupil to progress effectively through the educational system.

115.96(5) (5) Placement; appeal.

115.96(5)(a) (a) By the commencement of the school term, the school board shall place, with the parent’s or legal custodian’s written consent, each limited-English proficient pupil in the appropriate bilingual-bicultural education program established under this subchapter. If a limited-English proficient pupil is identified after March 1 or the parent or legal custodian of such child gives consent after May 1, the school board shall place the pupil, with the written consent of the pupil’s parent or legal custodian, in an appropriate program where feasible.

115.96(5)(b) (b) A parent or legal custodian may appeal the school board’s failure to place the pupil in the bilingual-bicultural education program established for the pupil in the pupil’s language group by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the school district within 10 days after the commencement of the school term. The school board shall provide for a hearing on the question of placement within 20 days after receipt of the notice of appeal and shall take a written record of the proceedings. The cost of taking the record shall be the responsibility of the school board. The parent or legal custodian may request a public or private hearing. Within 10 days after the hearing, the school board shall make a decision on the question of placement. If the parent or legal custodian is not satisfied with the decision of the school board, the parent or legal custodian may, within 10 days after the school board’s decision, file a notice of appeal with the state superintendent. If the parent or legal custodian appeals, the parent or legal custodian shall assume the cost of transcribing the record. Within 10 days after receipt of the notice of appeal from the determination of the school board, the state superintendent shall issue a decision based on the hearing record. If the parent or legal custodian prevails, the school board shall reimburse the parent or legal custodian for the cost of transcribing the record.

115.96 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1979 c. 301; 1987 a. 159; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 19.

115.96 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 13.03, Wis. adm. code.

115.97 115.97 Bilingual-bicultural education programs required.

115.97(1) (1) A school board may combine pupils in attendance at separate schools in its bilingual-bicultural education program. The school board shall be eligible for state aids under s. 115.995 if the number of limited-English proficient pupils served from the combined schools meets the requirements under sub. (2), (3) or (4). A pupil shall be eligible for a bilingual-bicultural education program only until he or she is able to perform ordinary classwork in English. The bilingual-bicultural education program shall be designed to provide intensive instruction to meet this objective. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize isolation of children of limited-English proficient ability or ethnic background for a substantial portion of the school day. Pupils who are not limited-English proficient pupils may participate in a bilingual-bicultural education program, except that a school board shall give preference to limited-English proficient pupils in admitting pupils to such a program.

115.97(2) (2) If, in a language group under s. 115.96 (1), there are 10 or more limited-English proficient pupils in kindergarten to grade 3 in attendance at a particular elementary school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to such pupils’ placement under s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program for such pupils during the school term. Such program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher.

115.97(3) (3) If, in a language group under s. 115.96 (1), there are 20 or more limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8 in attendance at a particular elementary, middle or junior high school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to such pupils’ placement under s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program for such pupils during the school term. Such program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher.

115.97(4) (4) If, in a language group under s. 115.96 (1), there are 20 or more limited-English proficient pupils in grades 9 to 12 in attendance at a particular high school and whose parents or legal custodians give written consent to the pupils’ placement under s. 115.96 (3), the school board shall establish a bilingual-bicultural education program. The program shall be taught by a bilingual teacher. Bilingual counselors shall be made available.

115.97(5) (5) 

115.97(5)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), if a school board is required to establish a bilingual-bicultural education program under sub. (2), (3) or (4), but bilingual teachers for the language groups are unavailable, the program may be taught by certified teachers of English as a 2nd language upon receipt of approval of the state superintendent. The state superintendent may approve a program under this paragraph only if the school board demonstrates all of the following:

115.97(5)(a)1. 1. Compliance with all other requirements of this subchapter.

115.97(5)(a)2. 2. A good faith, continuing effort to recruit bilingual teachers for the language group.

115.97(5)(a)3. 3. Employment of at least one bilingual teacher’s aide in the program.

115.97(5)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a program for Spanish-speaking pupils.

115.97 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1987 a. 159; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 19.

115.977 115.977 Contracting; continued eligibility.

115.977(2) (2) A school district may establish bilingual-bicultural education programs by contracting with other school districts or with a cooperative educational service agency. If 10 or more pupils in kindergarten to grade 3, 20 or more in grades 4 to 8 or 20 or more in a high school program are enrolled in a program under a contract pursuant to this subsection, the school district offering the program is eligible for reimbursement under s. 115.995.

115.977(3) (3) The school board shall give any limited-English proficient pupil who has begun a bilingual-bicultural education program in the 3rd grade the opportunity to continue his or her bilingual-bicultural education program in the 4th grade regardless of the number of limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8. However, if there are not a sufficient number of limited-English proficient pupils in grades 4 to 8 to require a bilingual-bicultural education program under sub. (2), the school board may offer such pupil the opportunity to continue a bilingual-bicultural education program with a program established for limited-English proficient pupils in kindergarten to grade 3. A 4th grade pupil so enrolled may be counted for purposes of determining if there are a sufficient number of pupils for a kindergarten to grade 3 bilingual-bicultural education program.

115.977 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1999 a. 19.

115.98 115.98 Bilingual-bicultural advisory committee. In each school district which establishes a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter, the school board may appoint a bilingual-bicultural advisory committee to afford parents and educators of limited-English proficient pupils the opportunity to advise the school board of their views and to ensure that a program is planned, operated and evaluated with their involvement and consultation. The committee shall assist the school board in informing educators, parents and legal custodians of limited-English proficient pupils that a program exists. The committee shall be composed of parents of limited-English proficient pupils enrolled in the bilingual-bicultural education program, bilingual and other teachers, bilingual teacher’s aides, bilingual and other counselors and bilingual counselor’s aides in the district, at least one representative from the community and a representative of the school district administration.

115.98 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1999 a. 19.

115.99 115.99 Preschool and summer school programs. A school board may establish a full-time or part-time preschool or summer bilingual-bicultural education program according to rules established by the state superintendent.

115.99 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

115.991 115.991 Training programs. The school board may institute preservice or in-service programs designed to improve the skills of bilingual teachers, bilingual teacher’s aides, bilingual counselors, bilingual counselor’s aides or other personnel participating in, or preparing to participate in, a bilingual-bicultural education program.

115.991 History History: 1975 c. 395.

115.993 115.993 Report on bilingual-bicultural education. Annually, on or before August 15, the school board of a district operating a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter shall report to the state superintendent the number of pupils, including both limited-English proficient pupils and other pupils, instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, an itemized statement on oath of all disbursements on account of the bilingual-bicultural education program operated during the previous school year and a copy of the estimated budget for that program for the current school year.

115.993 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 19.

115.993 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 13.06, Wis. adm. code.

115.995 115.995 State aids. Upon receipt of the report under s. 115.993, if the state superintendent is satisfied that the bilingual-bicultural education program for the previous school year was maintained in accordance with this subchapter, the state superintendent shall do all of the following:

115.995(1) (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cc), divide proportionally, based upon costs reported under s. 115.993, an annual payment of $250,000 among school districts whose enrollments in the previous school year were at least 15 percent limited-English proficient pupils. Aid paid under this subsection does not reduce aid paid under sub. (2).

115.995(2) (2) Certify to the department of administration in favor of the school district a sum equal to a percentage of the amount expended on limited-English proficient pupils by the school district during the preceding year for salaries of personnel participating in and attributable to bilingual-bicultural education programs under this subchapter, special books and equipment used in the bilingual-bicultural programs and other expenses approved by the state superintendent. The percentage shall be determined by dividing the amount in the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cc) in the current school year less $250,000 by the total amount of aidable costs in the previous school year.

115.995 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9, 19, 185.

115.995 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 13.07, Wis. adm. code.

115.996 115.996 Report to the legislature. Annually, on or before December 31, the state superintendent shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), on the status of bilingual-bicultural education programs established under this subchapter. The report shall include the number of pupils served in bilingual-bicultural education programs for each language group in each school district in which such programs are offered and the cost of the program per pupil for each school district, language group and program type. The department shall also provide the number of pupils in each school district and language group who as a result of participation in a bilingual-bicultural education program improved their English language ability to such an extent that the program is no longer necessary for such pupils.

115.996 History History: 1975 c. 395; 1987 a. 159, 186, 403; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

subch. VIII of ch. 115 SUBCHAPTER VIII

INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN

115.997 115.997 Interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children. The interstate compact on educational opportunity for children of military families is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

115.997(1) (1) Article I — Purpose. It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:

115.997(1)(a) (a) Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from the previous local education agency or variations in entrance or age requirements.

115.997(1)(b) (b) Facilitating the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment.

115.997(1)(c) (c) Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities.

115.997(1)(d) (d) Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families.

115.997(1)(e) (e) Providing for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact.

115.997(1)(f) (f) Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, local education agencies, and military families under this compact.

115.997(1)(g) (g) Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military children.

115.997(1)(h) (h) Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and students in order to achieve educational success for the students.

115.997(2) (2) Article II — Definitions. As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

115.997(2)(a) (a) “Active duty” means full-time active duty status in a uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 USC 1209 and 1211 [10 USC chs. 1209 and 1211].

115.997 Note NOTE: The correct cross-reference is shown in brackets. Corrective legislation is pending.

115.997(2)(b) (b) “Child of a military family” means a school-aged child who is enrolled in any of the grades from kindergarten to 12 and who resides in the household of a person on active duty.

115.997(2)(c) (c) “Compact commissioner” means the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to sub. (8) of this compact.

115.997(2)(d) (d) “Deployment” means the period one month prior to a service members’ departure from his or her home station on military orders though 6 months after return to his or her home station.

115.997(2)(e) (e) “Education records” means those records, files, and data directly related to a student and maintained by the local education agency, including records encompassing all the material kept in the student’s cumulative folder such as general identifying data, records of attendance and of academic work completed, records of achievement and results of evaluative tests, health data, disciplinary status, test protocols, and individualized education programs.

115.997(2)(f) (f) “Extracurricular activity” means a voluntary activity sponsored by a local education agency or an organization sanctioned by the local education agency. Extracurricular activity includes preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities.

115.997(2)(g) (g) “Interstate commission” means the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children created under sub. (9) of this compact.

115.997(2)(h) (h) “Local education agency” means a school district or the operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

115.997(2)(i) (i) “Member state” means a state that has enacted this compact.

115.997(2)(j) (j) “Military installation” means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the U.S. department of defense, including any leased facility, which is located within any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other U.S. Territory. “Military installation” does not include any facility used primarily for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects.

115.997(2)(k) (k) “Nonmember state” means a state that has not enacted this compact.