For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

SB501,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB501,1 Section 1. 20.255 (2) (cs) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,,6 20.255 (2) (cs) Aid for debt service. The amounts in the schedule for aid for debt service under s. 118.43 (8) 118.433.

SB501,2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (cu) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,,8 20.255 (2) (cu) Achievement gap reduction contracts Student achievement guarantee in education program; state aid. The amounts in the schedule A sum sufficient for aid to school districts under s. 118.435 (8) and for the program evaluation under ss. 118.43 and 118.44 s. 118.435 (9).

SB501,3 Section 3. 115.7915 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,,10 115.7915 (2) Scholarship requirements. (intro.) Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the department shall, subject to sub. (11), provide to a child with a disability a scholarship under sub. (4m) (a) to attend an eligible school if all of the following apply:

SB501,4 Section 4. 115.7915 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

SB501,,12 115.7915 (11) Sunset. (a) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the department may not provide a scholarship under this section to a child with a disability to attend a private school unless the child attended that private school under a scholarship under this section in the 2023-24 school year.

SB501,,13 (b) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, a private school may not participate in the program under this section unless the private school was participating in the program under this section in the 2023-24 school year.

SB501,5 Section 5. 118.38 (1) (a) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,,15 118.38 (1) (a) 9. The requirements established for the student achievement guarantee contracts in education program under s. 118.43 and for achievement gap reduction contracts under s. 118.44 118.435.

SB501,6 Section 6. 118.43 (title), (1) to (7) and (9) of the statutes are repealed.

SB501,7 Section 7. 118.43 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 118.433 and amended to read:

SB501,,18 118.433 State aid for debt service related to former achievement guarantee contracts. (1) Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, a school district is eligible for aid under this subsection section 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 section does not apply to the school district operating under ch. 119.

SB501,,19 (2) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection section.

SB501,8 Section 8. 118.435 of the statutes is created to read:

SB501,,21 118.435 Student achievement guarantee in education program. (1) Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the voucher programs established under s. 118.60, 2021 stats., and s. 119.23, 2021 stats., are a failed experiment. The legislature further finds that the student achievement guarantee in education program established under s. 118.43, 2021 stats., has had measurable impacts on pupils enrolled in schools that have entered into contracts with the department under that section as compared to pupils who were enrolled in schools not participating in the program established under s. 118.43, 2021 stats. These impacts include improved reading academic growth in kindergarten, improved mathematics and reading academic growth from kindergarten through 3rd grade, and a positive effect of pupils from economically disadvantaged backgrounds completing high school. The legislature finds that the student achievement guarantee in education program should be revived and expanded under this section and that state resources allocated to the voucher programs should be redirected to the program under this section.

SB501,,22 (2) Definitions. In this section:

SB501,,23 (a) “Class size” means the number of pupils assigned to a regular classroom teacher on the 3rd Friday of September.

SB501,,24 (b) “Low-income pupil” means a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

SB501,,25 (3) Eligibility. A school is eligible to participate in the program under this section if any of the following applies:

SB501,,26 (a) Schools participating under former programs. The school board of the school district in which the school is located is a party to a contract entered into on behalf of the school under s. 118.43, 2021 stats., or s. 118.44, 2021 stats., that, on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], has not expired or been terminated.

SB501,,27 (b) Low-income schools. At least 30 percent of the pupils enrolled in the school in the previous school year were low-income pupils.

SB501,,28 (4) Contracts. (a) Contracts to replace former program contracts. In the 2024-25 school year, the school board of a 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. (3) (a) to participate in the program under this section. A contract entered into under this paragraph replaces and terminates a contract entered into by the parties under s. 118.43, 2021 stats., or s. 118.44, 2021 stats., with respect to the same school or schools.

SB501,,29 (b) Contracts for low-income schools. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the school board of a 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. (3) (b) to participate in the program under this section.

SB501,,30 (5) Contract requirements. In a contract entered into with a school board of a school district under this section on behalf of one or more schools in the school district, the department shall require the school board to do all of the following with respect to each school: