SB989,,6262(i) “Resident school district” means the school district in which a pupil resides. SB989,,6363(j) “September count date” means the 3rd Friday in September or an alternative date designated by the department under sub. (4) (c). SB989,,6464(k) “Services plan” has the meaning given in 34 CFR 300.37. SB989,,6565(L) “Teacher” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (19). SB989,2866Section 28. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read: SB989,,6767115.7915 (2) (c) The eligible school satisfies the requirements under sub. (2m). SB989,2968Section 29. 115.7915 (2) (i) of the statutes is created to read: SB989,,6969115.7915 (2) (i) The eligible school maintains at least one physical location in this state from which the eligible school is operated. SB989,3070Section 30. 115.7915 (2m) of the statutes is created to read: SB989,,7171115.7915 (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. SB989,,7272(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: SB989,,73731. 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. SB989,,74742. 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. SB989,,7575(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: SB989,,7676a. 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. SB989,,7777b. 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. SB989,,78782. 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: SB989,,7979a. Apply for accreditation of the elementary grades by an accrediting entity by the last weekday in December of the first school year in which the private school offers instruction in an elementary grade. SB989,,8080b. Achieve accreditation for the elementary 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 an elementary grade. SB989,,8181(d) 1. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under this section, except for a private school obtaining accreditation as allowed under par. (c), shall ensure that the private school continuously maintains accreditation from an accrediting entity as long as the private school continues to participate in the program under this section. SB989,,82822. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under this section shall, subject to subd. 3., annually, by the first weekday in August, provide the department with evidence demonstrating that the private school remains accredited for the current school year as required under this subsection. The governing body of the private school shall include as evidence of accreditation a notice prepared by an accrediting entity that confirms that the private school is accredited by that entity as of the date of the notice. SB989,,83833. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under this section shall immediately notify the department if its accreditation status changes. SB989,,8484(e) If a private school participating in the program under this section learns that an accrediting entity with which the private school is maintaining accreditation, as required under this subsection, is a disqualified accrediting organization, the private school shall immediately notify the department in writing of this fact and shall obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity no later than 3 years from the date on which the private school learned that the accrediting entity is a disqualified accrediting organization. SB989,,8585(f) If any accrediting or preaccrediting entity determines during the accrediting or preaccrediting process that a private school does not meet all of the requirements under s. 118.165 (1), it shall report that failure to the department. SB989,,8686(g) Notwithstanding pars. (a), (b), and (d), a private school that was a first-time participant in the program under this section before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and that qualified to participate in the program under this section as a private school approved under s. 118.165 (2), 2023 stats., is not required to meet the requirements under this subsection unless the private school adds a grade or changes its curriculum. If the private school adds a grade or changes curriculum in the 2025-26 school year or any school year thereafter, the private school shall achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity by December 15 of the 3rd school year following the school year in which the private school adds a grade or changes its curriculum. SB989,,8787(h) Notwithstanding par. (c), a private school that participated in the program under this section in the 2024-25 school year, and for purposes of participating in that school year satisfied the requirement under s. 115.7915 (2) (c), 2023 stats., as an accredited private school, as required under s. 115.7915 (2) (c), 2023 stats., but was not accredited for each grade at which the private school offered instruction during the 2024-25 school year, shall do all of the following: SB989,,88881. Apply for accreditation of all grades offered by the private school by an accrediting entity by December 31, 2025. SB989,,89892. Achieve accreditation of all grades offered by the private school by December 1, 2028. SB989,3190Section 31. 115.7915 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read: