Chapter PI 8

PI 8.001(1) (1) “Access” means an opportunity to study through school district course offerings, independent study, cooperative educational service agencies, or cooperative arrangements between school district boards under s. 66.0301, Stats., and postsecondary education institutions.

PI 8.001(2) (2) “Career exploration and planning” means the process by which elementary and secondary pupils identify and evaluate life and work choices, explore and plan career goals, and acquire realistic life and work decision-making skills.

PI 8.001(2m) (2m) “Charter school” means a school established under s. 118.40, Stats.

PI 8.001(3) (3) “Children at risk” has the meaning set forth in s. 118.153 (1) (a), Stats.

PI 8.001(4) (4) “Days” means calendar days unless otherwise specified.

PI 8.001(5) (5) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

PI 8.001(5m) (5m) “Direction” includes planning, consultation, inservice training and periodic review.

PI 8.001(6) (6) “Hours” means clock hours.

PI 8.001(6g) (6g) “Innovative Instructional Design” means an instructional program aligned to school district standards and used to improve student academic achievement through instruction offered outside of the normal school day, virtually, or in an alternative setting.

PI 8.001(6m) (6m) “Instructional staff” for the purposes of charter schools, means all professional employees who have as part of their responsibility direct contact with students or with the instructional program of the school. Instructional staff includes, but is not limited to, teachers, librarians, pupil services staff, and administrative staff who supervise licensed staff.

PI 8.001(7) (7) “Kindergarten” means 5-year old kindergarten unless otherwise specified.

PI 8.001(8) (8) “Licensed” means holding a valid license issued by the department as required under ss. 118.19 and 121.02 (1) (a), Stats.

PI 8.001(8m) (8m) “Middle level format” means an organizational pattern which includes part or all of grades 5 to 9.

PI 8.001(9) (9) “Postsecondary education institutions” means public and private colleges and universities, and vocational and technical institutions and schools.

PI 8.001(10) (10) “School district board” means the school board in charge of the schools of a public school district.

PI 8.001(11) (11) “School term” has the meaning set forth in s. 115.001 (12), Stats.

PI 8.001(12) (12) “State superintendent” means the state superintendent of public instruction.

PI 8.001(13) (13) “Vocational education” means instructional programs designed to assist pupils in achieving mastery of the skills set forth in s. 118.01 (2) (b), Stats.

PI 8.001 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1986, No. 371, eff. 12-1-86; cr. (5m) and (8m), Register, December, 1987, No. 384, eff. 1-1-88; cr. (2m), (6m), Register, October, 1994, No. 466, eff. 11-1-94; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2001 No. 550; CR 16-016: cr. (6g) Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16.

PI 8.01 PI 8.01 School district standards.

PI 8.01(1) (1) Purpose. To assure that the children of Wisconsin will have available an educational program meeting statutory standards and pursuant to s. 121.02, Stats., each school district board shall meet all of the school district standards set forth in sub. (2). A school district board may request approval from the state superintendent to comply in an alternative manner with any of the school district standards as specified in sub. (3).

PI 8.01(2) (2) School district standards.

PI 8.01(2)(a) (a) Licensure.

PI 8.01(2)(a)1. 1. Each school district board shall certify annually that every teacher, supervisor, administrator, and other professional staff member has been issued a valid certificate, license or permit by the department for the position for which he/she is employed before entering on duties for such position and that a copy of the valid certificate, license, or permit is on file in the district.

PI 8.01(2)(a)2. 2.

PI 8.01(2)(a)2.a. a. Each school district board shall ensure that all instructional staff of charter schools located in the school district hold a department issued license or permit to teach at the level and in the subject of their assignments or a tier I charter school license or permit issued under s. PI 34.031.

PI 8.01(2)(a)2.b. b. For purposes of this subdivision, a virtual charter school is located in the school district specified under s. 118.40 (8) (a), Stats. Virtual charter school instructional staff shall meet the requirements under s. 118.40 (8) (b), Stats.

PI 8.01(2)(a)2.c. c. The liability immunity provisions of ss. 115.31 (5) (b), 118.126 (2), 118.257 and 118.295, Stats., shall apply to charter school instructional staff.

PI 8.01(2)(b) (b) Staff development. Each school district board shall annually establish a professional staff development plan designed to meet the needs of individuals or curriculum areas in each school. The plan shall be developed with the cooperative efforts of licensed support staff, instructional staff, and administrative staff.

PI 8.01(2)(c) (c) Remedial reading.

PI 8.01(2)(c)1. 1. In this paragraph “state minimum performance standard” means the state minimum performance standard on the test administered under s. 121.02 (1) (r), Stats.

PI 8.01(2)(c)2. 2. Each school district shall identify, diagnose, serve and monitor each pupil in reading in grades kindergarten through fourth if either of the following apply:

PI 8.01(2)(c)2.a. a. The pupil fails to meet district grade level objectives in reading as identified in curriculum plans developed under s. 121.02 (1) (k), Stats.

PI 8.01(2)(c)2.b. b. The pupil fails to score above the state minimum performance standard and a teacher in the school district and the pupil’s parent or guardian agree that the pupil’s test performance accurately reflects the pupil’s reading ability; or a teacher in the school district determines, based on other objective evidence of the pupil’s reading comprehension, that the pupil’s test performance accurately reflects the pupil’s reading ability.

PI 8.01(2)(c)3. 3. Identification and diagnosis of reading deficiencies shall be directed or performed by the district reading specialist required under s. 118.015, Stats., or by licensed personnel who have earned at least 6 semester credits in courses dealing with the measurement of reading skills and achievement or the diagnosis of reading difficulties. Children with identified and diagnosed reading deficiencies shall receive instruction and services directed toward the removal of the deficiencies. The instruction and services shall be coordinated with all other reading instruction. Monitoring of pupil progress shall occur on a regular basis and include parental involvement.

PI 8.01(2)(c)4. 4. If fewer than 80% of the pupils score above the state minimum performance standards, either in the district or in any individual school in the district, the district shall develop a written plan which includes the following:

PI 8.01(2)(c)4.a. a. A description of how the district will provide remedial reading services.

PI 8.01(2)(c)4.b. b. A description of how the district intends to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to remove reading deficiencies.

PI 8.01(2)(c)4.c. c. An assessment of the school district or individual school’s reading program.

PI 8.01(2)(c)5. 5. The department shall provide upon request technical assistance to districts required to develop a plan to provide remedial reading services.

PI 8.01(2)(d) (d) Kindergarten. Each school district shall operate a kindergarten program in which all 5 year old children of the district may be enrolled. The teachers shall be licensed by the department to teach kindergarten. Physical facilities, equipment and materials shall be provided for a program which includes opportunities for learning basic concepts and skills in language arts, fine arts, social studies, science, mathematics, health and physical education.

PI 8.01(2)(e) (e) Guidance and counseling services. Each school district board shall provide a program of guidance and counseling services for all pupils, which meets all of the following requirements:

PI 8.01(2)(e)1. 1. The school district shall maintain a school board approved plan for the provision of a program of guidance and counseling services.

PI 8.01(2)(e)2. 2. The program shall be developmentally based and available to every pupil in every grade of the school district.

PI 8.01(2)(e)3. 3. The program shall be:

PI 8.01(2)(e)3.a. a. Systematically planned by licensed school counselors in collaboration with other licensed pupil services staff, teachers, parents and community health and human service professionals.

PI 8.01(2)(e)3.b. b. Provided by licensed school counselors in collaboration with other licensed pupil services staff, teachers, parents and community health and human service professionals.

PI 8.01(2)(e)4. 4. The program shall provide developmentally appropriate educational, vocational, career, personal and social information to assist pupils in problem solving and in making decisions.

PI 8.01(2)(e)5. 5. The program shall include pupil appraisal, post-secondary planning, referral, research and pupil follow-up activities.

PI 8.01(2)(f) (f) Hours of instruction. Each school district board shall annually schedule and hold at least 437 hours of direct pupil instruction in kindergarten, at least 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1 through 6, and at least 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7 through 12. The school hours are computed as the period from the start to the close of the school’s daily instructional schedule. Scheduled hours under this subdivision include recess and time for pupils to transfer between classes but do not include the lunch period. No more than 30 minutes per day may be counted for recess. Scheduled hours may also include the hours of instructional programming offered through innovative instructional designs that apply to the entire school or grade level. In computing the minimum number of instructional hours under this subdivision, schools may not count days and parts of days on which parent and teacher conferences are held, staff development or inservice programs are held, schools are closed for inclement weather and no compensatory instruction is offered virtually, and when no direct instruction is provided.

PI 8.01(2)(g) (g) Emergency nursing services. Each school district board shall provide emergency nursing services under a written policy adopted and implemented by the school district board which meets all of the following requirements.

PI 8.01(2)(g)1. 1. The emergency nursing policies shall be developed by a professional nurse or nurses registered in Wisconsin in cooperation with other school district personnel and representatives from community health agencies and services as may be designated by the board.

PI 8.01(2)(g)2. 2. Policies for emergency nursing services shall include protocols for dealing with pupil accidental injury, illness and administration of medication at all school sponsored activities including but not limited to curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and a method to record each incident of service provided.

PI 8.01(2)(g)3. 3. Arrangements shall be made with a licensed physician to serve as medical advisor for the emergency nursing service.

PI 8.01(2)(g)4. 4. The emergency nursing services shall be available during the regular school day and during all school sponsored activities of pupils.

PI 8.01(2)(g)5. 5. Pupil emergency information cards, equipment, supplies and space for the emergency nursing services shall be appropriate and readily accessible.

PI 8.01(2)(g)6. 6. A review and evaluation by the school board shall be made of the emergency nursing services program at least annually.

PI 8.01(2)(h) (h) Library media services. Each school district board shall:

PI 8.01(2)(h)1. 1. Have on file a written, long-range plan for library services development which has been formulated by teachers, library and audiovisual personnel and administrators, and approved by the school district board.

PI 8.01(2)(h)2. 2. Designate a licensed library media person to direct and coordinate the district’s library media program.

PI 8.01(2)(h)3. 3. Provide library facilities within the school building and make available to all pupils a current, balanced collection of books, basic reference materials, texts, periodicals, and audiovisual materials which depicts in an accurate and unbiased way the cultural diversity and pluralistic nature of American society.

PI 8.01(2)(h)4. 4. Provide library media services to all pupils as follows: to pupils in grades kindergarten through 6, library media services which are performed by or under the direction of licensed library and audiovisual personnel; and to pupils in grades 7 through 12, library media services which are performed by licensed library and audiovisual personnel.

PI 8.01(2)(i) (i) Safe and healthful facilities. A long-range plan shall be developed, adopted, and recorded by the school board which defines the patterns and schedule for maintaining the district operated facilities at the level of the standards established for safe and healthful facilities. The school board shall comply with all regulations, state codes, and orders of the department of safety and professional services and the department of health services and all applicable local safety and health codes and regulations. The facilities shall be inspected at least annually for potential or demonstrated hazards to safety and health, and hazardous conditions shall be corrected, compensating devices installed or special arrangements made to provide for safe and healthful facilities. Maintenance procedures and custodial services shall be conducted in such a manner that the safety and health of persons using the facilities are protected. Responsibility for coordinating all activities related to the safety and health considerations of the facilities for the entire district shall be assigned to one individual.

PI 8.01(2)(j) (j) Health, physical education, art and music. The school district board shall provide instruction in health, physical education, art and music as follows:

PI 8.01(2)(j)1. 1. Health instruction shall be provided in accordance with a written comprehensive health education curriculum which includes the curricular areas defined in ss. 115.35 and 118.01 (2), Stats. A professional staff member shall be designated as coordinator of health education. Health education in grades kindergarten through 6 shall be under the direction of a licensed health teacher. In grades 7 through 12 health education shall be conducted by or under the direction of a licensed health teacher and shall include one structured course in health taught by a licensed health teacher.

PI 8.01(2)(j)2. 2. Physical education instruction shall be provided in accordance with a developmental, sequential, comprehensive physical education curriculum and program of instruction for all pupils. Instruction in grades kindergarten through 6 shall be provided at least 3 times weekly, except that days on which special activities are conducted may be exempt; and shall be conducted by or under the direction of a licensed physical education teacher. Pupils in grade 6 may be scheduled in accordance with the criteria for scheduling grades 7 through 12 if the pupils are attending a school that includes any of those grades. All pupils in grades 7 through 12 shall participate in the instructional program of physical education taught by a licensed physical education teacher, except that in senior high schools one year or the equivalent may be optional to pupils.

PI 8.01(2)(j)3. 3. Art instruction shall be provided in accordance with a written comprehensive art curriculum which is based upon concepts developed through sensory awareness, aesthetic discrimination and skill development in the creation of art and the knowledge of human art heritage. Art instruction shall be provided for all pupils in grades kindergarten through 6 and shall be performed by or under the direction of a licensed art teacher. Art instruction shall be available to all pupils in grades 7 through 12 and shall be taught by a licensed art teacher.

PI 8.01(2)(j)4. 4. Music instruction shall be provided in accordance with a written comprehensive music curriculum including developmental experiences involving singing, playing instruments, listening, movement, creative expression and music reading. Music instruction shall be provided for all pupils in grades kindergarten through 6 and shall be performed by or under the direction of a licensed music teacher. Music instruction including general music, vocal music and instrumental music shall be available to all pupils in grades 7 through 12 and shall be taught by a licensed music teacher.

PI 8.01(2)(k) (k) Curriculum plan.

PI 8.01(2)(k)1. 1. In this paragraph:

PI 8.01(2)(k)1.a. a. “Computer literacy” means the ability to use computer programs to assist learning, handling information and problem solving, and the ability to make informed judgments concerning social and ethical issues involving computers and information systems.

PI 8.01(2)(k)1.b. b. “School district curriculum plan” means the composite of the sequential curriculum plans.

PI 8.01(2)(k)1.c. c. “Sequential curriculum plan” means an organized set of learning experiences that build upon previously acquired knowledge and skills.

PI 8.01(2)(k)2. 2. Each school district board shall develop, adopt and implement a written school district curriculum plan which includes the following:

PI 8.01(2)(k)2.a. a. A kindergarten through grade 12 sequential curriculum plan in each of the following subject areas: reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health, computer literacy, environmental education, physical education, art and music.

PI 8.01(2)(k)2.b. b. A grade 7 through 12 sequential curriculum plan in vocational education.

PI 8.01(2)(k)3. 3. Each sequential curriculum plan shall specify objectives, course sequence, course content, resources, an objective process of determining whether pupils attain the specified objectives, and an allocation of instructional time by week, semester and school term. The school district board shall establish in the school district curriculum plan the allocation of instructional time, by week, semester and school term, among all subject areas.

PI 8.01(2)(k)4. 4. Each sequential curriculum plan shall include a program evaluation method which provides that components of the sequential curriculum plan shall be monitored continuously. The overall program evaluation method shall be reviewed at least once every 5 years and revised as appropriate to ensure that pupils meet the curriculum objectives.

PI 8.01(2)(k)5. 5. The school district curriculum plan shall be consistent with the approved education for employment program under ch. PI 26.

PI 8.01(2)(k)6. 6. The school district board shall develop sequential curriculum plans in at least 3 of the subject areas specified in subd. 2. by September 1, 1988; in at least 3 more of the subject areas specified in subd. 2. by September 1, 1989; and in all of the remaining subject areas specified in subd. 2. by September 1, 1990. The computer literacy and environmental education curriculum plans shall be developed as follows:

PI 8.01(2)(k)6.a. a. Computer literacy objectives and activities shall be integrated into the kindergarten through grade 12 sequential curriculum plans.

PI 8.01(2)(k)6.b. b. Environmental education objectives and activities shall be integrated into the kindergarten through grade 12 sequential curriculum plans, with the greatest emphasis in art, health, science and social studies education.

PI 8.01(2)(L) (L) Instruction. Each school district board shall provide instruction as follows:

PI 8.01(2)(L)1. 1. In grades kindergarten through 4, regular instruction shall be provided in reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, physical education, art and music. In this subdivision, “regular instruction”means instruction each week for the entire school term in sufficient frequency and length to achieve the objectives and allocation of instructional time identified in the curriculum plans developed and adopted under par. (k).

PI 8.01(2)(L)2. 2. In grades kindergarten through 8, include instruction in the social studies curriculum in the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of the federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands located in the state in at least 2 grade levels and in at least one grade level in grades 9 through 12 beginning September 1, 1991.

PI 8.01(2)(L)3. 3. In grades 5 through 8, regular instruction shall be provided in reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, physical education, health, art and music. In this subdivision, “regular instruction” means instruction each week for the entire school term in sufficient frequency and length to achieve the objectives and allocation of instructional time identified in the curriculum plans developed and adopted under par. (k), except that in middle level formats which offer or require a variety of exploratory experiences for pupils, such as foreign language, business education, vocational agriculture, technology education, home economics education and marketing education, regular instruction in health, art and general music may be provided as follows:

PI 8.01(2)(L)3.a. a. In grades 5 and 6, each week for the entire school term, or the equivalent in instructional time and course content, and in sufficient frequency and length to achieve the objectives and allocation of instructional time identified in the curriculum plan developed and adopted under par. (k).

PI 8.01(2)(L)3.b. b. In grades 7 and 8, in sufficient frequency and length to achieve the objectives and allocation of instructional time identified in the curriculum plans developed and adopted under par. (k).

PI 8.01(2)(L)4. 4. In grades 7 and 8, provide regular instruction in foreign language beginning in the 1994-95 school year. In this subdivision regular instruction in foreign language means access to instruction in sufficient frequency and length to achieve the objectives and time allocations of a written, sequential curriculum plan in foreign language. The foreign language curriculum shall follow the requirements of other curriculum documents required under par. (k).