Chapter 115

115.71 History History: 1979 c. 346; 1981 c. 314 s. 146; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

115.72 115.72 Establishment of programs.

115.72(1) (1) Any school district enrolling American Indian pupils, or alternative school, may establish, on a voluntary basis, an American Indian language and culture education program. The program shall be designed to:

115.72(1)(a) (a) Make the school curriculum more relevant to the needs, interests and cultural heritage of American Indian pupils.

115.72(1)(b) (b) Provide reinforcement of the positive self-image of American Indian pupils.

115.72(1)(c) (c) Develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents and staff.

115.72(2) (2) The American Indian language and culture education program may include:

115.72(2)(a) (a) Instruction in American Indian language, literature, history and culture.

115.72(2)(b) (b) In-service training and technical assistance for staff in regard to methods of teaching American Indian pupils.

115.72(2)(c) (c) Vocational education and counseling for American Indian pupils.

115.72(2)(d) (d) Modification of curriculum, instructional methods and administrative procedures to meet the needs of American Indian pupils.

115.72(2)(e) (e) Tests of the academic achievement of the American Indian pupils enrolled.

115.72(2)(f) (f) Identification of the educational needs of the American Indian pupils enrolled.

115.72(2)(g) (g) Classification of American Indian pupils enrolled by grade, level of education, age and achievement.

115.72(3) (3) The school board of a district establishing an American Indian language and culture education program may designate the school or schools in which the program shall be offered. The parent or guardian of an American Indian pupil may transfer the pupil to the school in which the program is offered, if it is in the same district, in order for the pupil to participate in the program.

115.72(4) (4) American Indian language and culture education programs established under this subchapter shall be located in school facilities in which regular classes in a variety of subjects are offered on a daily basis.

115.72 History History: 1979 c. 346.

115.73 115.73 Program requirements.

115.73(1) (1) Each school district and alternative school, before establishing a program under this subchapter, shall develop a plan which:

115.73(1)(a) (a) Identifies the activities, methods and programs to be used to meet the identified educational needs of the pupils to be enrolled in the program.

115.73(1)(b) (b) Describes how the program will be organized, staffed, coordinated and evaluated.

115.73(1)(c) (c) Estimates the costs of the program.

115.73(2) (2) Each school district and alternative school operating a program under this subchapter shall maintain records concerning the number of American Indian pupils enrolled in the program and of all sums expended in connection with the program. The school district or alternative school shall make affirmative efforts to encourage participation of American Indian pupils in the program by providing for meetings with parents and guardians of American Indian pupils to explain the nature of the program.

115.73 History History: 1979 c. 346.

115.735 115.735 Parent advisory committee.

115.735(1) (1) Each school district and alternative school which establishes a program under this subchapter shall establish an American Indian parent advisory committee, appointed by the school board, to afford parents and educators of American Indian pupils the opportunity to advise the school board of their views and to ensure that a program is planned, operated and evaluated with their involvement and consultation. If there is a local tribal education authority, the school board shall appoint committee members from recommendations submitted by the authority.

115.735(2) (2) The committee shall be composed of parents or guardians of American Indian pupils enrolled in the program, teachers, aides and counselors involved in the program and representatives of local tribal education authorities, but a majority of the members of each committee shall be parents or guardians of American Indian pupils enrolled in the program.

115.735(3) (3) If an advisory committee exists which meets the requirements of sub. (2), it may serve as the parent advisory committee. If the school board consists solely of parents or guardians of American Indian pupils, it may serve as the parent advisory committee.

115.735 History History: 1979 c. 346.

115.74 115.74 Assessment of needs and evaluation of resources.

115.74(1) (1) On or before July 1 in every even-numbered year, the state superintendent shall:

115.74(1)(a) (a) Conduct a statewide assessment of the need for American Indian language and culture education programs. The assessment shall include information on:

115.74(1)(a)1. 1. Numbers, ages, location and tribal affiliation of American Indian pupils.

115.74(1)(a)2. 2. Concentration of American Indian pupils in attendance areas, as defined in s. 121.845 (1), within each school district by tribal affiliation.

115.74(1)(a)3. 3. Rates of American Indian children receiving special education and related services under subch. V of ch. 115 in comparison with statewide and district-wide rates.

115.74(1)(a)4. 4. Advancement, achievement levels and dropout rates of American Indian pupils in comparison with average advancement and dropout rates.

115.74(1)(a)5. 5. Participant response to the program.

115.74(1)(b) (b) Evaluate the American Indian language and culture education programs established under this subchapter. Alternative school programs shall be evaluated under this paragraph only with the permission of the school.

115.74(2) (2) Annually, on or before July 1, the state superintendent shall evaluate all available resources and programs which are or could be directed toward meeting the educational needs of American Indian pupils. The evaluation shall include information on:

115.74(2)(a) (a) Numbers, locations and qualifications of teachers, administrators, counselors and others from American Indian backgrounds who are interested in working in American Indian language and culture education programs.

115.74(2)(b) (b) Programs in this state designed for the preparation of American Indian language and culture education teachers.

115.74(2)(c) (c) The effectiveness of programs for American Indian pupils in this state other than programs established under this subchapter.

115.74(2)(d) (d) The effectiveness of preservice and in-service programs for staffs of American Indian language and culture education programs.

115.74(2)(e) (e) The tests, criteria, procedures and methods used to identify, test, assess and classify American Indian pupils.

115.74(3) (3) The assessment of needs under sub. (1) (a) and the evaluation of resources under sub. (2) shall be performed on Indian reservations and in other Indian communities recognized by the federal government only in conjunction with, or with the permission of, the respective tribal governments.

115.74(4) (4) The state superintendent shall prepare a biennial report which shall be included as an addendum to the department’s biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d). The report shall include the results of the most recent assessment of needs and evaluation of programs under sub. (1), the evaluation of resources under sub. (2) and recommendations for legislation in the area of American Indian language and culture education.

115.74 History History: 1979 c. 346; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (17m); 1983 a. 524; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (43); 1989 a. 56; 1997 a. 27, 164.

115.745 115.745 Tribal language revitalization grants.

115.745(1) (1) A school board, a cooperative educational service agency, or an agency determined by the state superintendent to be eligible for designation under 42 USC 9836 as a head start agency, in conjunction with a tribal education authority, may apply to the department for a grant for the purpose of supporting innovative, effective instruction in one or more American Indian languages.

115.745(2) (2) The department shall award grants under sub. (1) from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (km).

115.745(3) (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

115.745 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 59.

115.745 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 38, Wis. adm. code.

subch. V of ch. 115 SUBCHAPTER V

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Subch. V of ch. 115 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 11, Wis. adm. code.

115.758 115.758 Construction. To the extent possible, this subchapter shall be construed in a manner that is consistent with 20 USC 1400 to 1482 and is consistent with the purposes specified in 20 USC 1400 (d).

115.758 History History: 1997 a. 164; 2005 a. 258.

115.76 115.76 Definitions. In this subchapter:

115.76(1) (1) “Assistive technology device” means any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability other than a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such a device.

115.76(2) (2) “Assistive technology service” means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device, including all of the following:

115.76(2)(a) (a) The evaluation of the needs of the child, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment.

115.76(2)(b) (b) Purchasing, leasing or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by the child.

115.76(2)(c) (c) Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing or replacing of assistive technology devices.

115.76(2)(d) (d) Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitative plans and programs.

115.76(2)(e) (e) Training or technical assistance for the child or, where appropriate, the child’s family.

115.76(2)(f) (f) Training or technical assistance for professionals, including individuals providing education and rehabilitative services, employers or other individuals who provide services to, employ or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of the child.

115.76(3) (3) “Child” means any person who is at least 3 years old but not yet 21 years old and who has not graduated from high school and, for the duration of a school term, any person who becomes 21 years old during that school term and who has not graduated from high school, and includes a child who is homeless, a child who is a ward of the state, county, or child welfare agency, and a child who is attending a private school.

115.76(5) (5) 

115.76(5)(a) (a) “Child with a disability” means a child who, by reason of any of the following, needs special education and related services:

115.76(5)(a)1. 1. Cognitive disabilities.

115.76(5)(a)2. 2. Hearing impairments.

115.76(5)(a)3. 3. Speech or language impairments.

115.76(5)(a)4. 4. Visual impairments.

115.76(5)(a)5. 5. Emotional behavioral disability.

115.76(5)(a)6. 6. Orthopedic impairments.

115.76(5)(a)7. 7. Autism.

115.76(5)(a)8. 8. Traumatic brain injury.

115.76(5)(a)9. 9. Other health impairments.

115.76(5)(a)10. 10. Learning disabilities.

115.76(5)(b) (b) “Child with a disability” may, at the discretion of the local educational agency and consistent with department rules, include a child who, by reason of his or her significant developmental delay, needs special education and related services.

115.76 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 11.36, Wis. adm. code.

115.76(6) (6) “Division” means the division for learning support in the department.

115.76(7) (7) “Free appropriate public education” means special education and related services that are provided at public expense and under public supervision and direction, meet the standards of the department, include an appropriate preschool, elementary or secondary school education and are provided in conformity with an individualized education program.

115.76(8) (8) “Hearing officer” means an independent examiner appointed to conduct hearings under s. 115.80.

115.76(9) (9) “Individualized education program” means a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised in accordance with s. 115.787.

115.76(10) (10) “Local educational agency”, except as otherwise provided, means the school district in which the child with a disability resides, the department of health services if the child with a disability resides in an institution or facility operated by the department of health services, or the department of corrections if the child with a disability resides in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (19), or a Type 1 prison, as defined in s. 301.01 (5).

115.76(11) (11) “Native language”, when used with reference to an individual of limited English proficiency, means the language normally used by the individual.

115.76(12) (12)