Chapter 118

118.43(3)(c)2. 2. In consultation with the department and with the participation of the school’s teachers and administrators and school district residents, review the school’s current curriculum to determine how well it promotes pupil academic achievement.

118.43(3)(c)3. 3. If necessary, outline any changes to the curriculum to improve pupil academic achievement.

118.43(3)(d) (d) Staff development and accountability.

118.43(3)(d)1. 1. Develop a one-year program for all newly hired employees that helps them make the transition from their previous employment or school to their current employment.

118.43(3)(d)2. 2. Provide time for employees to collaborate and plan.

118.43(3)(d)3. 3. Require that each teacher and administrator submit to the school board a professional development plan that focuses on how the individual will help improve pupil academic achievement. The plan shall include a method by which the individual will receive evaluations on the success of his or her efforts from a variety of sources.

118.43(3)(d)4. 4. Regularly review staff development plans to determine if they are effective in helping to improve pupil academic achievement.

118.43(3)(d)5. 5. Establish an evaluation process for professional staff members that does all of the following:

118.43(3)(d)5.a. a. Identifies individual strengths and weaknesses.

118.43(3)(d)5.b. b. Clearly describes areas in need of improvement.

118.43(3)(d)5.c. c. Includes a support plan that provides opportunities to learn and improve.

118.43(3)(d)5.d. d. Systematically documents performance in accordance with the plan.

118.43(3)(d)5.e. e. Allows professional staff members to comment on and contribute to revisions in the evaluation process.

118.43(3)(d)5.f. f. Provides for the dismissal of professional staff members whose failure to learn and improve has been documented over a 2-year period.

118.43(3m) (3m) Adjustment to class size.

118.43(3m)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2010-11 school year, notwithstanding sub. (3) (a), (am), and (ar), a school board operating under an achievement guarantee contract on May 27, 2010, may do any of the following:

118.43(3m)(a)1. 1. Satisfy the class size limitation by reducing each class size in each school covered by the contract to no more than 18.

118.43(3m)(a)2. 2. Combine 2 classes subject to the class size limitation in any school covered by the contract having at least 2 regular classroom teachers when the classes are combined if the combined class size is not greater than 30.

118.43(3m)(b) (b) A school board operating under an achievement guarantee contract entered into under sub. (3) (at) or (av) may combine 2 classes subject to the class size limitation in any school covered by the contract having at least 2 regular classroom teachers when the classes are combined if the combined class size is not greater than 30.

118.43(3r) (3r) Adjustment to participating grades. A school district that has entered into or renewed an achievement guarantee contract under this section may, in one or more years covered by the contract, choose not to comply with the requirement to reduce class size in grades 2 or 3, or both, in one or more schools in the district.

118.43(4) (4) Other contract provisions. Each achievement guarantee contract shall include all of the following:

118.43(4)(a) (a) A description of how the school will implement each of the elements under sub. (3), including any alternative class configurations for specific educational activities that may be used to meet the class size requirement under sub. (3).

118.43(4)(b) (b) A description of the method that the school district will use to evaluate the academic achievement of the pupils enrolled in the school.

118.43(4)(c) (c) A description of the school’s performance objectives for the academic achievement of the pupils enrolled in the school and the means that will be used to evaluate success in attaining the objectives. Performance objectives shall include all of the following:

118.43(4)(c)1. 1. Where applicable, improvement in the scores on the examination administered to pupils under s. 121.02 (1) (r).

118.43(4)(c)2. 2. The attainment of any educational goals adopted by the school board.

118.43(4)(c)3. 3. Professional development with the objective of improving pupil academic achievement.

118.43(4)(c)4. 4. Methods by which the school involves pupils, parents or guardians of pupils and other school district residents in decisions affecting the school.

118.43(4)(d) (d)

118.43(4)(d)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a description of any statute or rule that is waived under s. 118.38 if the waiver is related to the contract.

118.43(4)(d)2. 2. No achievement guarantee contract entered into or renewed under sub. (2) may include a waiver of any requirement of or rule promulgated under the authority of this section.

118.43(4)(e) (e) A description of the means by which the department will monitor compliance with the terms of the contract.

118.43(5) (5) Annual review; noncompliance.

118.43(5)(a) (a) At the end of the 1996-97 school year, the department may terminate a contract if the department determines that the school board has failed to fully implement the provisions under sub. (3).

118.43(5)(b) (b) Annually by June 30 through the 2003-04 school year, a committee consisting of the state superintendent, the chairpersons of the education committees in the senate and assembly and the individual chiefly responsible for the evaluation under sub. (7) shall review the progress made by each school for which an achievement guarantee contract has been entered into. The committee may recommend to the department that the department terminate a contract if the committee determines that the school board has violated the contract or if the school has made insufficient progress toward achieving its performance objectives under sub. (4) (c). The department may terminate the contract if it agrees with the committee’s recommendation.

118.43(6) (6) State aid.

118.43(6)(a) (a) In this subsection, “amount appropriated” means the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cu) in any fiscal year less $250,000.

118.43(6)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cu), the department shall pay to each school district that has entered into a contract with the department under this section an amount determined as follows:

118.43(6)(b)1. 1. In the 1996-97 school year, divide the amount appropriated by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten and one in each school in this state covered by contracts under this section and multiply the quotient by the number of pupils enrolled in those grades in each school in the school district covered by contracts under this section.

118.43(6)(b)2. 2. In the 1997-98 school year, divide the amount appropriated by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 2 in each school in this state covered by contracts under this section and multiply the quotient by the number of pupils enrolled in those grades in each school in the school district covered by contracts under this section.

118.43(6)(b)3. 3. In the 1998-99 school year, divide the amount appropriated by the sum of the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3 in each school in this state covered by contracts under sub. (3) (a) and the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten and one in each school in this state covered by contracts under sub. (3) (am) and multiply the quotient by the number of pupils enrolled in those grades in each school in the school district covered by contracts under this section.

118.43(6)(b)4. 4. In the 1999-2000 school year, divide the amount appropriated by the sum of the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3 in each school in this state covered by contracts under sub. (3) (a) and the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 2 in each school in this state covered by contracts under sub. (3) (am) and multiply the quotient by the number of pupils enrolled in those grades in each school in the school district covered by contracts under this section.

118.43(6)(b)6. 6. In the 2000-01 school year, $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (a) and (am). After making these payments, the department shall pay school districts on behalf of schools that are covered by contracts under sub. (3) (ar) an amount equal to $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (ar). In making these payments, the department shall give priority to schools that have the highest percentage of low-income pupil enrollment and shall also ensure that it fully distributes the amount appropriated.

118.43(6)(b)7. 7. In the 2001-02 and 2002-03 school years, $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (am) and by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g). After making these payments, the department shall pay school districts on behalf of schools that are covered by contracts under sub. (3) (ar), an amount equal to $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (ar).

118.43(6)(b)8. 8. In the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years, $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (ar) and by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g).

118.43(6)(b)9. 9. In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years, $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g); and in the 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10 school years, $2,250 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district covered by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g).

118.43(6)(b)10. 10. Beginning in the 2010-11 school year and ending in the 2015-16 school year, $2,250 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in a grade eligible for funding, and in a class in which the class size has been reduced in the manner required under sub. (3) (a), (am), (ar), or (at) or permitted under sub. (3m), in each school in the school district covered by contracts under sub. (3) (at) and (av) and by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g).

118.43(6)(b)11. 11. For the 2016-17 school year and any subsequent school year, the amount determined under s. 118.44 (6) multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in a grade eligible for funding, and in a class in which the class size has been reduced in the manner required under sub. (3) (a), (am), (ar), or (at) or permitted under sub. (3m), in each school in the school district covered by renewals of contracts under sub. (2) (g).

118.43(6)(d) (d) The school board shall use the aid under this section to satisfy the terms of the contract.

118.43(6)(e) (e) The department shall cease payments under this section to any school district if the school board withdraws from the contract before the expiration of the contract.

118.43(6m) (6m) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer the payment of state aid under sub. (6).

118.43(7) (7) Evaluation. Beginning in the 1996-97 school year and ending in the 2014-15 school year, the department shall arrange for an evaluation of the program under this section and shall allocate from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cu) $250,000 for that purpose.

118.43(8) (8) State aid for debt service.

118.43(8)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, a school district is eligible for aid under this subsection if it applies to the department for approval of the amount of bonds specified in the copy of the resolution under 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9139 (2d). If the department approves the amount before June 30, 2001, the department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cs), pay each school district that issues bonds pursuant to a referendum under 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9139 (2d), an amount equal to 20 percent of the annual debt service cost on the bonds. This subsection does not apply to the school district operating under ch. 119.

118.43(8)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection.

118.43(9) (9) Sunset. No contract may be entered into or renewed under this section after July 3, 2015.

118.43 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 252; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25, 125; 2009 a. 301; 2011 a. 32, 105; 2013 a. 165; 2015 a. 53, 55.

118.43 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 24, Wis. adm. code.

118.44 118.44 Achievement gap reduction; state aid.

118.44(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

118.44(1)(a) (a) “Achievement gap” means the difference between the academic performance of low-income pupils in a particular school in a particular grade in a particular subject area and the academic performance of all pupils enrolled in public schools statewide in that same grade level and in that same subject area.

118.44(1)(b) (b) “Class size” means the number of pupils assigned to a regular classroom teacher on the 3rd Friday of September.

118.44(1)(c) (c) “Low-income pupil” means a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

118.44(1)(d) (d) “Participating grade” means grade 5-year-old kindergarten and grades 1 to 3 in a school subject to a contract under this section.

118.44(1)(e) (e) “Participating school” means a school that has entered into a contract under this section.

118.44(2) (2) Eligibility.

118.44(2)(a) (a) School districts. The school board of any school district that has a contract under s. 118.43 on July 3, 2015, is eligible to enter into a contract with the department under sub. (3).

118.44(2)(b) (b) Individual schools. A school is eligible to participate in the program under this section if the school is subject to a contract under s. 118.43 on July 3, 2015.

118.44(3) (3) Contract. The school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year contract with the department on behalf of one or more schools in the school district that are eligible under sub. (2) (b). No achievement gap reduction contract entered into under this section may include a waiver of any requirement of or rule promulgated under the authority of this section.

118.44(4) (4) Contract requirements. The terms of a contract under sub. (3) shall require all of the following:

118.44(4)(a) (a) Strategies: class size; instructional coaching; tutoring. The school board to implement one or more of the following strategies in each class in each participating grade at each participating school:

118.44(4)(a)1. 1. Provide professional development related to small group instruction and reduce the class size to one of the following:

118.44(4)(a)1.a. a. No more than 18.

118.44(4)(a)1.b. b. No more than 30 in a combined classroom having at least 2 regular classroom teachers.

118.44(4)(a)2. 2. Provide data-driven instructional coaching for the class teachers. The instruction shall be provided by licensed teachers who possess appropriate content knowledge to assist classroom teachers in improving instruction in math or reading and possess expertise in reducing the achievement gap.

118.44(4)(a)3. 3. Provide data-informed, one-to-one tutoring to pupils in the class who are struggling with reading or mathematics or both subjects. Tutoring shall be provided during regular school hours by a licensed teacher using an instructional program found to be effective by the What Works Clearinghouse of the Institute of Education Sciences.

118.44(4)(b) (b) Annual reporting. The school board to annually report all of the following to the department:

118.44(4)(b)1. 1. Before November 1 of each school year, a brief description of the strategies identified under par. (a) that the school board intends to implement in each participating grade in each participating school.

118.44(4)(b)2. 2. Before the last day of each school year, a brief description of the strategies identified under par. (a) that the school board did implement in each participating grade in each participating school.

118.44(4)(c) (c) Goals. The school board to provide a description of the performance objectives for the academic achievement of the pupils enrolled in participating grades in each participating school and the formative and summative assessments that will be used to evaluate success in attaining those objectives. The school board and participating schools shall identify specific, measurable, and achievable performance objectives, including reducing the achievement gap in math and reading in each participating grade.

118.44(4)(d) (d) School board review. Each participating school to present information regarding the school’s implementation of the contract requirements under par. (a), its performance objectives under par. (c), and its success in attaining the objectives to the school board at the end of every semester of the contract.

118.44(5) (5) Contract renewals.

118.44(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a contract under this section may be renewed for one or more terms of 5 school years. No achievement gap reduction contract renewed under this section may include a waiver of any requirement of or rule promulgated under the authority of this section.

118.44(5)(b) (b) The department may not renew a contract with a school district on behalf of a participating school if the department determines that the school board has failed to comply with the terms of the contract under sub. (4).

118.44(6) (6) State aid.

118.44(6)(a) (a) In this subsection, “amount appropriated” means the amount under s. 20.255 (2) (cu) in any fiscal year less $125,000.

118.44(6)(bm) (bm) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cu), for each low-income pupil enrolled in a participating grade, the department shall pay to a school district that has entered into a contract with the department under this section an amount determined annually by the department as follows:

118.44(6)(bm)1. 1. Determine the total number of low-income pupils enrolled in participating grades in all school districts that have entered into a contract with the department under this section and for which the department is required to make a payment under this subsection.

118.44(6)(bm)2. 2. Add to the number of low-income pupils under subd. 1. the number of low-income pupils for whom the department is required to make a payment under s. 118.43.