115.815 (4) (c) Whenever a school board receives a referral under par. (a) 4., the school board shall assign staff to determine whether the child can appropriately be placed in a special education program operated by the school district. If the assigned staff determines that the child can appropriately be placed in a special education program operated by the school district, the school board shall provide an education program for the child and is eligible for state tuition payments under s. 121.79 (1) (a). If the assigned staff determines that the child cannot appropriately be placed in a special education program operated by the school district, the school board shall keep a written record of the reasons for that determination. If there is a dispute regarding the placement of a child under this paragraph between the school board of the originating school district and the school board receiving the referral, the department state superintendent shall resolve the dispute under s. 115.85 (2m).

115.815 (5) Rules. The department state superintendent shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

115.83 (2) A special education program may consist of such special education programs for children as to allow them to attend regular education programs, one or more special schools or preschools, special sections within a school or preschool, special instruction centers, special instruction at the home or residence of the child or at any other location or any other special education program approved by the department state superintendent.

115.83 (5) The courses, qualifications of teachers, coordinators, social workers and school psychologists and plan of organizing and maintaining special education programs and other services shall comply with requirements established by the department state superintendent.

115.85 (1) (b) A school district may provide special education for preschool children under the age of 3 years and instruction for their parents. Such special education shall be subject to the approval of and shall comply with requirements established by the department state superintendent.

115.85 (1) (e) Notwithstanding par. (a) and except as provided in s. 118.51 (12) (a) and (b) 2., if a child with exceptional educational needs is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.51, the school board of the school district that the child is attending shall ensure that appropriate special education programs and related services are available to the child.

115.85 (2) (a) If the school district that the child attends, the county program in which the child resides school district participates or the cooperative educational service agency for the school district in which the child resides operates an appropriate special education program, the child shall be placed in such program.

115.85 (2) (c) 1. Upon the approval of the department state superintendent, the child may be placed in a public special education program located in another state.

115.85 (2) (c) 2. (intro.) The department state superintendent shall approve a placement in a public special education program located in another state if the department he or she determines that the program is appropriate to meet the child's exceptional educational needs and that:

115.85 (2) (d) To provide a special education program which is appropriate to the child's needs, the school board may, upon approval of the department state superintendent and if no equivalent public program is available, contract with a private special education service if the placement is warranted on the basis of a less restrictive environment alternative. Private special education services provided under this subchapter may not include religious or sectarian teachings or instruction. If the local school board utilizes the placement option under this paragraph, the school district of residence and not the county of residence shall pay tuition charges for exceptional children.

115.85 (2) (f) If a child with exceptional educational needs is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.51, the school board of the school district that the child is attending shall provide an appropriate educational placement for the child under this subsection and shall pay tuition charges instead of the school district in which the child resides if any of the placement options under pars. (am) to (d) are utilized.

115.85 (2m) Placement disputes. If a dispute arises between the school board and the department of health and family services, the department of corrections or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23, or between school boards under s. 115.815 (4) (c), over the placement of a child in an appropriate program under sub. (2), the department state superintendent shall resolve the dispute. This subsection applies only to placements in nonresidential educational programs made under s. 48.48 (4) (17) (a) 3., 48.57 (1) (c), 938.48 (4) or 938.57 (1) (c) and to placements in child caring institutions made under s. 115.815.

115.85 (3) (a) The total number of children who reside in the school district and the total number of children who attend the school district under s. 118.51 who have been placed in special education programs under s. 115.85 (2), the exceptional educational needs of each such child and the school attended or special education received by each such child. The report shall also specify the number of children with exceptional educational needs who are known to the school district and who are under the age of 3 years and the exceptional educational needs of each such child.

(c) A description of the special education programs in which children who reside in the school district or who attend the school district under s. 118.51 have been placed under sub. (2), the number of persons attending each pursuant to sub. (2) and the qualifications of the staff of each such special education program.

(d) An evaluation, in terms of the goals identified under s. 115.78 (5), of the progress made by each special education program in which children who reside in the school district or who attend the school district under s. 118.51 are placed under sub. (2).

115.86 (5) (d) Annually by October 1, the board and the school boards of the school districts participating in the county program shall submit a report to the department state superintendent that specifies the portion of each school day that each pupil enrolled in the county program who is also enrolled in the school district of the pupil's residence spent in county program classes in the previous school year and the portion of the school day that the pupil spent in school district classes in the previous school year. The department state superintendent shall develop guidelines for a full-time equivalency methodology. The department state superintendent is not required to promulgate the guidelines as rules.

115.86 (7) (a) The school board of any district which is included under the administration of a board may withdraw from participation in any part of the program only with the approval of the department state superintendent after conference with the board and a determination by the department state superintendent that such withdrawal is in the interest of the program in the county and the school district affected. Such withdrawal shall be effective only if the school board has the approval of the division to establish an equivalent part of a program. Such withdrawal shall be effective either December 31 or June 30 provided that 12 months' notice has been given to the board. The withdrawing school district shall be liable for its proportionate share of all operating costs until its withdrawal becomes effective, shall continue to be liable for its share of debt incurred while it was a participant and shall receive no share in the assets.

115.86 (8) Transportation. The board may promulgate a plan for the transportation at county expense of children who are participating in special education programs under this section, special education programs operated at day care centers or special education programs operated by a private organization within whose attendance area the child resides and which is situated not more than 5 miles beyond the boundaries of the area the board serves, as measured along the usually traveled route. The plan, upon approval of the department state superintendent, shall govern the transportation of such children. Any such plan for transportation during the school term supersedes ss. 115.88 and 121.54 (3).

115.86 (11) Violations. The department state superintendent shall withhold aid from any board that is in violation of this section.

115.87 (1) In this section, if a child with exceptional educational needs is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.51, “school district in which the child resides" and “school district of residence" mean the school district that the child attends under s. 118.51.

115.87 (8) Upon the advance approval of the department state superintendent, the school board of any district may place a child in a special education program outside this state in accordance with s. 115.85 (2) (c) or a special education program operated by a private, nonsectarian special education service either within or outside the state in accordance with s. 115.85 (2) (d). The school district of residence shall pay the tuition and transportation in accordance with the procedure established for the payment of tuition by the school district under s. 121.78.

115.88 (1) Program aid. (am) If, upon receipt of the report under s. 115.84, the department state superintendent is satisfied that the special education program has been maintained during the preceding school year in accordance with law, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of each county, cooperative educational service agency and school district maintaining such special education program a sum equal to 63% of the amount expended by the county, agency and school district during the preceding year for salaries of personnel enumerated in s. 115.83 (1), including the salary portion of any authorized contract for physical or occupational therapy services, except as provided in par. (b), and other expenses approved by the department state superintendent. The department of administration shall pay such amounts to the county, agency and school district from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b).

(b) Salaries of licensed school psychologists and licensed school social workers shall be reimbursed at 51% without regard to whether they are employed in a program for handicapped children. The school district, county handicapped children's education board or cooperative educational service agency shall include in the report under s. 115.84 any information required by the department state superintendent relating to use of a school psychologist or school social worker.

115.88 (2) Transportation aid. If upon receipt of the report under s. 115.84 the department state superintendent is satisfied that the transportation of children with exceptional educational needs has been maintained during the preceding year in accordance with the law, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of each county, cooperative educational service agency or school district transporting such pupils 63% of the amount expended for such transportation. Pupils for whom aid is paid under this subsection shall not be eligible for aid under s. 121.58 (2) or (4). The department of administration shall pay such amounts to the county, agency or school district from the appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (b) and (u) (br). This subsection applies to any child with exceptional educational needs who requires special assistance in transportation, including any such child attending regular classes who requires special or additional transportation. This subsection does not apply to any child with exceptional educational needs attending regular or special classes who does not require any special or additional transportation.

115.88 (6) Aid for instruction outside of district. From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) there shall be paid the full cost of salary and travel expenses, in amounts determined in advance by the department state superintendent, to school districts for providing special education outside the school district of employment.

115.88 (8) Enrollment out of state. If a child with exceptional educational needs is enrolled in a public special education program under s. 115.85 (2) (c) 2. and the department state superintendent is satisfied that the program in which the child is enrolled complies with this subchapter, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of the school district of residence in which the child resides or the school district attended by the child under s. 118.51 a sum equal to the percentage of the approved costs under subs. (1) and (2) of the amount expended by the school district during the preceding year for the additional costs associated with the child's special education program. The department of administration shall pay the amount to the school district from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b).

115.882 Proration of state aid. If the sum of the appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (b) and (u) (br) in any one year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under ss. 115.88 and 118.255, state aid payments funds in the appropriations shall be used first for the purpose of s. 115.88 (4) and any remaining funds shall be prorated among the counties, school districts and cooperative educational service agencies entitled thereto.

115.89 Noncomplying school district; remedies. (1) If, after a public hearing in the school district or as the result of a monitoring procedure or a complaint investigation, the department state superintendent finds that a school board has violated this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter, the department state superintendent may make recommendations to the school board to remedy the violation and may require the school board to submit a remedial plan incorporating such recommendations.

(3) If, after consultation with the school board, the department state superintendent finds that the remedial plan has not incorporated the department's his or her recommendations, or that its implementation has been inadequate to ensure compliance with this subchapter and the rules promulgated under this subchapter, the department state superintendent shall request the attorney general to proceed against the school district for injunctive or other appropriate relief.

115.92 (1) Any school board may establish a program for school age parents who are residents of the school district. The program shall be designed to provide services and instruction to meet the needs of school age parents, including education on the skills required of a parent; family planning, as defined in s. 253.07 (1) (a), including natural family planning; and information on adoption services. The program shall be coordinated with existing vocational and job training programs in the school district.

115.92 (3) The department state superintendent shall by rule establish criteria for the approval of programs established under this subchapter for the purpose of determining those programs eligible for aid under s. 115.93.

115.93 (1) Except as provided under sub. (2), if upon receipt of the reports under s. 115.92 (2) the department state superintendent is satisfied that the school age parents program has been maintained during the preceding school year in accordance with the rules under s. 115.92 (3), the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of each school district maintaining the program a sum equal to 63% of the amount expended by the school district during the preceding school year for salaries of teachers and instructional aides, special transportation and other expenses approved by the department state superintendent. The department of administration shall pay such amounts to the school district from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b).

115.93 (2) If Subject to s. 115.882, if the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (b) in any year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under sub. (1), state aid payments shall be prorated among the entitled school districts.

115.955 (3) “Bilingual counselor" means a certified school counselor approved by the department state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

(4) “Bilingual counselor's aide" means a person who is employed to assist a counselor and who is approved by the department state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

(5) “Bilingual teacher" means a certified teacher approved by the department state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

(6) “Bilingual teacher's aide" means a person who is employed to assist a teacher and who is approved by the department state superintendent under s. 115.28 (15) (a).

(7) “Limited-English speaking pupil" means a pupil whose ability to use the English language is limited because of the use of a non-English language in his or her family or in his or her daily, nonschool surroundings, and who has difficulty, as defined by rule by the department state superintendent, in performing ordinary classwork in English as a result of such limited English language ability.

115.96 (5) (b) A parent or legal custodian may appeal the school board's failure to place the pupil in the bilingual-bicultural education program established for the pupil in the pupil's language group by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the school district within 10 days after the commencement of the school term. The school board shall provide for a hearing on the question of placement within 20 days after receipt of the notice of appeal and shall take a written record of the proceedings. The cost of taking the record shall be the responsibility of the school board. The parent or legal custodian may request a public or private hearing. Within 10 days after the hearing, the school board shall make a decision on the question of placement. If the parent or legal custodian is not satisfied with the decision of the school board, the parent or legal custodian may, within 10 days after the school board's decision, file a notice of appeal with the department state superintendent. If the parent or legal custodian appeals, the parent or legal custodian shall assume the cost of transcribing the record. Within 10 days after receipt of the notice of appeal from the determination of the school board, the department state superintendent shall issue a decision based on the hearing record. If the parent or legal custodian prevails, the school board shall reimburse the parent or legal custodian for the cost of transcribing the record.

115.97 (5) (a) (intro.) Except as provided under par. (b), if a school board is required to establish a bilingual-bicultural education program under sub. (2), (3) or (4), but bilingual teachers for the language groups are unavailable, the program may be taught by certified teachers of English as a 2nd language upon receipt of approval of the department state superintendent. The department state superintendent may approve a program under this paragraph only if the school board demonstrates all of the following:

115.99 Preschool and summer school programs. A school board may establish a full-time or part-time preschool or summer bilingual-bicultural education program according to rules established by the department state superintendent.

115.993 Report on bilingual-bicultural education. Annually, on or before August 15, the school board of a district operating a bilingual-bicultural education program under this subchapter shall report to the department state superintendent the number of pupils, including both limited-English speaking pupils and other pupils, instructed the previous school year in bilingual-bicultural education programs, an itemized statement on oath of all disbursements on account of the bilingual-bicultural education program operated during the previous school year and a copy of the estimated budget for that program for the current school year.

115.995 State aids. Upon receipt of the report under s. 115.993, if the department state superintendent is satisfied that the bilingual-bicultural education program for the previous school year was maintained in accordance with this subchapter, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration in favor of the school district a sum equal to a percentage of the amount expended on limited-English speaking pupils by the school district during the preceding year for salaries of personnel participating in and attributable to bilingual-bicultural education programs under this subchapter, special books and equipment used in the bilingual-bicultural programs and other expenses approved by the department state superintendent. The percentage shall be determined by dividing the amount in the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cc) in the current school year by the total amount of aidable costs in the previous school year.

115.996 Report to the legislature. Annually, on or before December 31, the department state superintendent shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), on the status of bilingual-bicultural education programs established under this subchapter. The report shall include the number of pupils served in bilingual-bicultural education programs for each language group in each school district in which such programs are offered and the cost of the program per pupil for each school district, language group and program type. The department shall also provide the number of pupils in each school district and language group who as a result of participation in a bilingual-bicultural education program improved their English language ability to such an extent that the program is no longer necessary for such pupils.

116.01 Purpose. The organization of school districts in Wisconsin is such that the legislature recognizes the need for a service unit between the school district and the department state superintendent. The cooperative educational service agencies are designed to serve educational needs in all areas of Wisconsin by serving as a link both between school districts and between school districts and the state. Cooperative educational service agencies may provide leadership, coordination and education services to school districts, University of Wisconsin System institutions and centers and technical colleges. Cooperative educational service agencies may facilitate communication and cooperation among all public and private schools, agencies and organizations that provide services to pupils.

116.02 (1) (c) The department state superintendent shall cause to convene annually on the day that the board of control holds its annual organizational meeting under par. (a) a convention composed of the representative from each school board in the agency. There shall be no more than one representative from each union high school district. The convention may direct the board of control to determine a different date for the annual organizational meeting.

116.03 (10) Authorize the expenditure of money for the purposes set forth in this chapter and for the actual and necessary expenses of the board of control and agency administrator and for the acquisition of equipment, space and personnel. All accounts of the agency shall be paid by check, share draft or other draft signed by the chairperson and secretary to the board of control.

116.03 (11) Establish the salaries of the agency administrator and other professional and nonprofessional employes. State reimbursement for the cost of the salary of the agency administrator shall be equal to the actual salary paid or the maximum of the salary range for public instruction supervisors in the department under the state superintendent, whichever is less.