NCREL's Policy Briefs

Charter Schools Update

Wisconsin Update

The issue of Policy Briefs on Charter Schools featured new legislation in Wisconsin to create Charter Schools. In the months following enactment of Wisconsin's Charter School law, it became apparent that some provisions in the 1993 legislation would cause difficulties for ten participating districts in their efforts to create Charter Schools. In a cooperative effort to correct the situation, the school districts, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Governor's Office developed legislative proposals to increase the flexibility of school districts and clarify areas of uncertainty and confusion in the law. The proposals have been included in the governor's review bill, which will be addressed by the state legislature.

In brief, according to an analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the proposed bill includes the following changes in the provisions for governing Charter Schools:

1. The requirement that all Charter School employees remain school district employees is deleted; but private Charter School employees would not participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

2. The contract between the school board and the Charter School is allowed to specify which provisions in the laws that govern public schools will apply to the Charter School.

3. The proposed bill directs the state superintendent to establish requirements for licensure as a Charter School instructional staff member. To teach in a Charter School, an individual must hold a regular license or permit to teach, a Charter School instructional staff license, or a Charter School instructional staff permit from the state superintendent.

4. Eliminated is the provision that prohibits the school board from spending on average more per pupil enrolled in a Charter School than it spends on average per pupil enrolled in public schools. But it will require the petition or contract that establishes a Charter School to specify the anticipated average amount that the Charter School will spend per pupil enrolled in the Charter School in the first year of the contract. Other explanations, justifications for spending, and reporting procedures also are specified on finances.

5. The school board will be allowed to enter a contract on behalf of the Charter School with other governmental units for services or joint power or duty required or authorized by law.

6. The bill allows a pupil to attend a Charter School located outside of his or her school residence district, as allowed for any public school outside the residential district.

7. The requirement to give preference in awarding contracts for the operation of Charter Schools to those that serve at risk children is eliminated.

8. Exemption from civil liability is extended to include Charter School employees.

9. The names of Charter School employees charged with or convicted of certain crimes or dismissal because of immoral conduct are to be reported to the state superintendent.

Posted on March 3, 1995

URL: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/94-2wi.htm