Chapter 115

115.997(12)(c) (c) Not later than 30 days after a rule is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the rule. The filing of such a petition does not stay or otherwise prevent the rule from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the actions of the interstate commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the rule to be unlawful if the rule represents a reasonable exercise of the interstate commission’s authority.

115.997(12)(d) (d) If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.

115.997(13) (13) Article XIII — Oversight, enforcement, and dispute resolution.

115.997(13)(a) (a) Oversight.

115.997(13)(a)1. 1. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact’s purposes and intent.

115.997(13)(a)2. 2. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact that may affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of the interstate commission.

115.997(13)(a)3. 3. The interstate commission is entitled to receive all service of process in any proceeding under subd. 2., and has standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process to the interstate commission renders a judgment or order void as to the interstate commission, this compact, or promulgated rules.

115.997(13)(b) (b) Default, technical assistance, suspension, and termination. If the interstate commission determines that a local education agency in a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, or the bylaws or promulgated rules, the interstate commission shall do all of the following:

115.997(13)(b)1. 1. Provide written notice to the member state and other member states of the nature of the default, the means of curing the default, and any action taken by the interstate commission. The interstate commission shall specify the conditions by which the member state must cure the default of the local education agency.

115.997(13)(b)2. 2. Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.

115.997(13)(b)3. 3. If the member state fails to cure the default of the local education agency, the member state shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the member states, and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of the default.

115.997(13)(b)4. 4. Suspension or termination of membership in the compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the interstate commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the state’s legislature, and each of the member states.

115.997(13)(b)5. 5. A state that has been suspended or terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of suspension or termination, including obligations the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of suspension or termination.

115.997(13)(b)6. 6. The interstate commission shall not bear any costs relating to any member state in which a local education agency has been found to be in default or that has been suspended or terminated from the compact, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing between the interstate commission and the member state.

115.997(13)(b)7. 7. The state may appeal the action of the interstate commission by petitioning the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the interstate commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney’s fees.

115.997(13)(c) (c) Dispute Resolution.

115.997(13)(c)1. 1. The interstate commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member state, to resolve disputes that are subject to the compact and that may arise among member states and between member and nonmember states.

115.997(13)(c)2. 2. The interstate commission shall promulgate a rule providing for mediation for disputes as appropriate.

115.997(14) (14) Article XIV — Financing of the interstate commission.

115.997(14)(a) (a) The interstate commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.

115.997(14)(b) (b) The interstate commission may levy on and collect from each member state an annual assessment to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the interstate commission and its staff. The aggregate annual assessment must be sufficient to cover the interstate commission’s annual budget as approved each year. Subject to s. 115.28 (58), the aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated among member states based upon a formula to be determined by the interstate commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all member states.

115.997(14)(c) (c) The interstate commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same, nor pledge the credit of any of the member states except by and with the authority of the member state.

115.997(14)(d) (d) The interstate commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the interstate commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the interstate commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the interstate commission.

115.997(15) (15) Article XV — Member states, effective date and amendment.

115.997(15)(a) (a) Any state is eligible to become a member state.

115.997(15)(b) (b) The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than 10 states. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state. The governor of a nonmember state or his or her designee shall be invited to participate in the activities of the interstate commission on a nonvoting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states.

115.997(15)(c) (c) The interstate commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the interstate commission and the member states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the member states.

115.997(16) (16) Article XVI — Withdrawal and dissolution.

115.997(16)(a) (a) Withdrawal.

115.997(16)(a)1. 1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every member state, provided that a member state may withdraw from the compact by enacting a law repealing the compact or by enacting a law withdrawing from the compact.

115.997(16)(a)2. 2. A withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the interstate commission in writing upon the enactment of legislation in the withdrawing state that repeals this compact or withdraws from this compact. The interstate commission shall notify the other member states within 60 days of its receipt thereof.

115.997(16)(a)3. 3. A withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including obligations the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of withdrawal.

115.997(16)(a)4. 4. Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the interstate commission.

115.997(16)(b) (b) Dissolution of Compact.

115.997(16)(b)1. 1. This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state that reduces the membership in the compact to one member state.

115.997(16)(b)2. 2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact is null and void and of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the interstate commission shall be concluded and surplus funds distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

115.997(17) (17) Article XVII — Severability and construction.

115.997(17)(a) (a) The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

115.997(17)(b) (b) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

115.997(17)(c) (c) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the applicability of other interstate compacts to which the states are members.

115.997(18) (18) Article XVIII — binding effect of compact and other laws.

115.997(18)(a) (a) Other Laws.

115.997(18)(a)1. 1. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with this compact.

115.997(18)(a)2. 2. All laws of member states that conflict with this compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.

115.997(18)(b) (b) Binding effect of the compact.

115.997(18)(b)1. 1. Subject to sub. (12) (b), all lawful actions of the interstate commission, including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the interstate commission, are binding upon the member states.

115.997(18)(b)2. 2. All agreements between the interstate commission and the member states are binding in accordance with their terms.

115.997(18)(b)3. 3. If any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that member state.

115.997 History History: 2009 a. 329; 2011 a. 260; 2015 a. 55.

subch. IX of ch. 115 SUBCHAPTER IX

OPPORTUNITY SCHOOLS AND
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

115.999 115.999 Opportunity schools and partnership program.

115.999(1) (1) Definitions. In this subchapter:

115.999(1)(a) (a) “Commissioner” means the individual in charge of the opportunity schools and partnership program under this subchapter.

115.999(1)(b) (b) “County executive” means the chief elected official of the county within which all or the majority of the territory of an eligible school district lies.

115.999(1)(c) (c) “Eligible school” means a public school in an eligible school district identified on the annual report submitted by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (10m) (b).

115.999(1)(d) (d) “Eligible school district” means a school district that satisfies all of the following:

115.999(1)(d)1. 1. The school district was assigned to the lowest performance category on the 2 most recent accountability reports published under s. 115.385 (1).

115.999(1)(d)2. 2. The membership of the school district is greater than 15,000. In this subdivision, “membership” has the meaning given in s. 121.004 (5).

115.999(1)(d)3. 3. The school district received intradistrict transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) (a) in the 2 school years described under subd. 1.

115.999(1)(e) (e) “Mayor” means the mayor of the city within which all or the majority of the territory of an eligible school district lies.

115.999(2) (2) General provisions; commissioner; opportunity schools and partnership program.

115.999(2)(a) (a) Within 120 days after receiving notice under s. 115.28 (10o) (b), the governor, the mayor, and the county executive shall compile a list of candidates for commissioner. Subject to sub. (2m), the county executive shall select a commissioner using the procedure under s. 119.9001 (2) (a).

115.999(2)(b) (b) The opportunity schools and partnership program in any eligible school district comprises individual eligible schools transferred by the commissioner of that opportunity schools and partnership program in the manner provided under s. 119.9002 (2).

115.999(2m) (2m) Special provisions; certain unified school districts.

115.999(2m)(a) (a) In this subsection, an “eligible unified school district” means a unified school district that satisfies the following criteria:

115.999(2m)(a)1. 1. The unified school district is an eligible school district.

115.999(2m)(a)2. 2. The unified school district contains a city that has a population of more than 75,000.

115.999(2m)(a)3. 3. The unified school district contains at least 2 villages.

115.999(2m)(b) (b)

115.999(2m)(b)1. 1. Within 120 days after receiving notice under s. 115.28 (10o) (d), an eligible unified school district may demonstrate to the department of administration that the school board of the eligible unified school district is not, directly or indirectly, delegating its authority to make decisions about providing benefits to its employees. If the department of administration certifies that the school board of the eligible unified school district is not, directly or indirectly, delegating its authority to make decisions about providing benefits to its employees, the county executive may not select a commissioner under sub. (2) (a) unless the eligible unified school district satisfies all of the following criteria:

115.999(2m)(b)1.a. a. The unified school district was assigned to the lowest performance category on the 3 most recent accountability reports published under s. 115.385 (1).

115.999(2m)(b)1.b. b. The school district received intradistrict transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) (a) in the 3 school years described under subd. 1. a.

115.999(2m)(b)2. 2. If the department of administration does not certify that the school board of an eligible unified school district is not, directly or indirectly, delegating its authority to make decisions about providing benefits to its employees, the county executive shall select a commissioner under sub. (2) (a).

115.999(2m)(c) (c) Within 60 days after receiving notice under s. 115.28 (10o) (d), the village board of each village located within an eligible unified school district may consider a resolution to affirm or deny the village board’s intent to create a new school district under s. 117.105 (4m). If a village board adopts a resolution affirming the village’s intent to create a new school district, the village board shall include all of the following information in the resolution:

115.999(2m)(c)1. 1. The territory of the new school district. The territory of the new school district shall correspond with village boundaries but may incorporate more than one village.

115.999(2m)(c)2. 2. The name of the new school district.

115.999(2m)(c)3. 3. The type of the new school district and the grades to be taught by the new school district as described under s. 115.01 (2) and (3).

115.999(2m)(c)4. 4. Whether the proposed effective date of the school district creation is July 1 of the following school year or July 1 of the second following year.

115.999(2m)(d) (d) If a county executive may select a commissioner under par. (b) 1. and in the previous school year a village board did not adopt a resolution to affirm its intent to create a new school district, within 60 days of receiving notice under s. 115.28 (10o) (d) for the 3rd consecutive school year, the village board shall by resolution provide for a referendum on the question of whether to create a new school district. The village board shall include in the resolution all of the information described in par. (c) 1. to 4.

115.999(3) (3) Commissioner; powers and duties. Upon selection by the county executive under sub. (2), the commissioner shall establish an opportunity schools and partnership program that is substantially similar to the opportunity schools and partnership program established under subch. II of ch. 119. The commissioner shall have all of the powers and duties granted to the commissioner of the opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. II of ch. 119.

115.999(4) (4) Payments on behalf of pupils attending schools transferred to the opportunity schools and partnership program; state aid adjustments. The state superintendent shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (fs), make payments on behalf of pupils attending schools transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under this subchapter in the same manner as payments are made under s. 119.9005 (1) to (3), and shall make adjustments to the amount of state aid received by the eligible school district in the manner provided in s. 119.9005 (4) and (5).

115.999 History History: 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 185; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.