AB1042,26 Section 26. 115.39 (3) (a) 2. b. of the statutes, as created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

AB1042,,51 115.39 (3) (a) 2. b. From the eligible schools identified under subd. 1., the office shall select at least 2 eligible schools that are private schools participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23.

AB1042,27 Section 27. 115.7915 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB1042,,53 115.7915 (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB1042,,54 (a) “Accrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (1).

AB1042,,55 (b) “Administrator” means the superintendent, supervising principal, executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a private school participating in the program under this section.

AB1042,,56 (c) “Disqualified accrediting organization” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (4).

AB1042,,57 (d) “Eligible school” means a private school located in this state.

AB1042,,58 (e) “January count date” means the 2nd Friday in January or an alternative date designated by the department under sub. (4) (c).

AB1042,,59 (f) “Preaccreditation” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (13).

AB1042,,60 (g) “Preaccrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (14).

AB1042,,61 (h) “Resident school board” means the school board of a resident school district.

AB1042,,62 (i) “Resident school district” means the school district in which a pupil resides.

AB1042,,63 (j) “September count date” means the 3rd Friday in September or an alternative date designated by the department under sub. (4) (c).

AB1042,,64 (k) “Services plan” has the meaning given in 34 CFR 300.37.

AB1042,,65 (L) “Teacher” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (19).

AB1042,28 Section 28. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB1042,,67 115.7915 (2) (c) The eligible school satisfies the requirements under sub. (2m).

AB1042,29 Section 29. 115.7915 (2) (i) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1042,,69 115.7915 (2) (i) The eligible school maintains at least one physical location in this state from which the eligible school is operated.

AB1042,30 Section 30. 115.7915 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1042,,71 115.7915 (2m) Accreditation. (a) Each private school that begins participation in the program under this section in a school year beginning on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity, shall obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by the first weekday in August before the first school term in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section, or by the first weekday in May if the private school begins participation in the program during summer school. A private school to which this paragraph applies may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from one preaccrediting entity each school year. A private school to which this paragraph applies that fails to obtain preaccreditation as required under this paragraph may not begin participation in the program under this section until preaccreditation has been obtained, but the private school may apply for and seek to obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity for a subsequent school year. The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accrediting entity to accredit the private school.

AB1042,,72 (b) Each private school that begins participation in the program under this section in a school year beginning on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity by the first weekday in August before the first school term in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section shall do all of the following:

AB1042,,73 1. Apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by the last weekday in December of the first school year in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section.

AB1042,,74 2. Achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity by the first weekday in December of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school begins participation in the program under this section.

AB1042,,75 (c) 1. If a private school that is participating in the program under this section and that is accredited to offer instruction in any elementary grade, but not any high school grade, seeks to offer instruction in any high school grade, the private school shall do all of the following:

AB1042,,76 a. Apply for accreditation of the high school grades by an accrediting entity by the last weekday in December of the first school year in which the private school offers instruction in a high school grade.

AB1042,,77 b. Achieve accreditation for the high school grades by the first weekday in December of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private school provides instruction in a high school grade.

AB1042,,78 2. If a private school that is participating in the program under this section and that is accredited to offer instruction in any high school grade, but not any elementary grade, seeks to offer instruction in any elementary grade, the private school shall do all of the following: