AB1042,,416416118.83 (4) Reserve balance. (a) A participating private school participating in the program under this section shall maintain a cash and investment balance that is at least equal to its reserve balance. If a participating private school does not maintain a cash and investment balance that is at least equal to its reserve balance, the participating private school shall refund the reserve balance to the department. This subdivision does not apply to a school year that occurs during the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.

AB1042,,417417(b) If a participating private school participating in the program under this section has a reserve balance that is greater than 50 percent of the total amount the participating private school received under this section the choice program in the previous school year, the governing body of the participating private school shall approve a plan for how it will use the amount of the reserve balance that exceeds 50 percent of the total amount the participating private school received under this section the choice program in the previous school year.

AB1042,,418418(c) If a private school ceases to participate in or is barred from the choice program under this section and s. 119.23 and the private school’s reserve balance is positive, the private school shall refund the reserve balance to the department.

AB1042,,421421118.80 (6) Third grade reading test. Administer Each participating private school shall administer to any pupils attending the 3rd grade in the private school under this section the choice program a standardized reading test developed by the department.

AB1042,,423423118.79 (3) Academic standards. Adopt Each participating private school shall adopt the pupil academic standards required under s. 118.30 (1g) (a) 4.

AB1042,,425425118.81 (3) Teacher’s aide educational requirements. (intro.) Ensure A participating private school shall ensure that any teacher’s aide employed by all of the participating private school has school’s teacher’s aides satisfy at least one of the following:

AB1042,,426426(a) The individual graduated from high school, been granted.

AB1042,,427427(b) The individual obtained a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, been granted.

AB1042,,428428(c) The individual obtained a high school diploma by the administrator of a home-based private educational program, or been issued.

AB1042,,429429(d) The individual obtained a general educational development certificate of high school equivalency, or has.

AB1042,,430430(e) The individual obtained a degree or educational credential higher than a high school diploma, declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, or general educational development certificate of high school equivalency.

AB1042,,432432118.80 (3) Governing body meetings. Annually, The governing body of a participating private school shall annually schedule at least 2 meetings at which members of the governing body of the participating private school will be present and at which pupils, and the parents or guardians of pupils, applying to attend the participating private school or attending the participating private school may meet and communicate with the members of the governing body. The private school shall, within Within 30 days after the start of the school term, the governing body of a participating private school shall notify the department in writing of the scheduled meeting dates and shall, at. At least 30 days before the each scheduled meeting date, the governing body of a participating private school shall notify in writing each pupil, or the parent or guardian of each minor pupil, applying to attend the participating private school or attending the participating private school of the meeting date, time, and place.

AB1042,,434434118.80 (9) (a) Maintain A private school shall maintain progress records for each pupil attending the private school under this section the choice program while the pupil attends the private school and, except as provided under subd. 7. par. (d), for at least 5 years after the pupil ceases to attend the private school.

AB1042,,435435(b) Upon A private school shall, upon request, provide a pupil or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil who is attending the private school under this section the choice program with a copy of the pupil’s progress records.

AB1042,,436436(c) Issue A participating private school shall issue a high school diploma or certificate to each pupil who attends the participating private school under this section the choice program and satisfactorily completes the course of instruction and any other requirements necessary for high school graduation.

AB1042,,438438118.80 (9) (d) 1. Except as provided in subd. 7. b., if the 2., if a private school ceases operating as a private school, the private school shall immediately transfer all of the progress records of each pupil who attended the private school under this section to the choice program to the school board of the school district within which the pupil resides. The private school shall send written notice to each pupil, or to the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, of the transfer of progress records under this subd. 7. a. b. If the private school is affiliated with an organization that will maintain the progress records of each pupil who attended the private school under this section the choice program for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as a private school, the private school may transfer a pupil’s records to the organization if the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, consents in writing to the release of the progress records to the affiliated organization. The private school shall send to the department a copy of the consent form for each pupil who consents to the transfer of progress records under this subd. 7. b. subdivision. The written notice shall be signed by the pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, and shall include the name, phone number, mailing address, and other relevant contact information of the organization that will maintain the progress records, and a declaration by the affiliated organization that the organization agrees to maintain the progress records for at least 5 years after the private school ceases operation as a private school.

AB1042,,440440118.79 (4) Religious activity; pupil exemption. A participating private school may not require a pupil attending the participating private school under this section the choice program to participate in any religious activity if the pupil’s parent or guardian submits to the pupil’s teacher or the participating private school’s principal a written request that the pupil be exempt from such activities.