1. Under current law, a private school may participate in the SNSP if the
private school is accredited or if the private school is approved as a private school by

the state superintendent of public instruction. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year,
a private school must be accredited to participate in the SNSP. The bill provides
exceptions for private schools that participated in the SNSP before the 2025-26
school year. Under the bill, DPI may bar a private school from participating in the
SNSP for failing to comply with the accreditation requirements created in the bill.
2. The bill makes various changes to the financial audit that private schools
participating in the SNSP must submit to DPI, including the fiscal and internal
control practices report. Under the bill, the financial audit requirements are the
same under the SNSP and the Private School Choice Program.
3. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, teachers and administrators at a
private school participating in the SNSP are subject to the same requirements that
apply to teachers and administrators at a private school participating in the Private
School Choice Program. In general, the private school must ensure that a teacher
has a teaching license issued by DPI or a bachelor's degree or higher, including a
master's or doctorate, from an accredited institution of higher education, and that
an administrator has a teaching or administrator license issued by DPI or at least
a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education. The bill
creates a waiver process for a teacher who has taught for at least the five consecutive
years immediately preceding July 1, 2025, but does not satisfy the teacher
requirements created in the bill. The bill also requires that, beginning in the
2025-26 school year, a teacher's aide at a private school participating in the SNSP
has at least a high school diploma, declaration of equivalency of high school
graduation, or general educational development certificate of high school
equivalency.
4. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, a private school participating in the
SNSP must allow a child attending the private school under the SNSP to opt out of
participating in any religious activity if the child's parent submits a written request
to the child's teacher or the private school's principal.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB1042,1 1Section 1 . 20.255 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,7,42 20.255 (1) (j) Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the parental Private
3school
choice program for eligible school districts and other school districts; financial
4audits.
All moneys received under ss. 118.60 (2) (a) 3. and (ag) 1. c. and 119.23 (2)
5(a) 3. and (ag) 1. c.
s. 118.73 (1) (b) to be used to evaluate the financial information

1submitted under s. 119.23 (7) (am) and (d) 3. and (7m) (a) 2. by private schools
2participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and
under s. 118.60 (7)
3(am) and (d) 3. and (7m) (a) 2.
118.83 by private schools participating in the private
4school
choice program under s. 118.60 subch. II of ch. 118.
AB1042,2 5Section 2 . 20.255 (2) (fr) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,7,86 20.255 (2) (fr) Parental Private school choice program for eligible school
7districts and other school districts
. A sum sufficient to make the payments to private
8schools under s. 118.60 (4) and (4m) 118.84 (1) and (2).
AB1042,3 9Section 3 . 20.255 (2) (fu) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,4 10Section 4. 20.255 (2) (fv) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,7,1411 20.255 (2) (fv) Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the parental choice
12Private school choice program for eligible school districts and other school districts;
13transfer pupils.
A sum sufficient to make the payments under ss. 118.60 (4r) and
14119.23 (4r)
s. 118.84 (5).
AB1042,5 15Section 5 . 39.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,7,2216 39.51 (2) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, from From the appropriation
17under s. 20.235 (1) (c), the board shall award grants to school districts, charter
18schools authorized under s. 118.40 (2r), and private schools participating in a the
19private school choice
program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 subch. II of ch.118 to support
20dual enrollment programs taught in high schools. These grants shall be awarded for
21the purpose of assisting high school teachers in covering tuition expenses for courses
22taken to meet the minimal qualifications necessary to teach dual enrollment courses.
AB1042,6 23Section 6 . 39.51 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,7,2524 39.51 (3) (e) A private school participating in the private school choice program
25under s. 118.60 or 119.23 subch. II of ch.118.
AB1042,7
1Section 7. 39.51 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,8,62 39.51 (4) (intro.) Following the school year in which a school district, charter
3school authorized under s. 118.40 (2r), or private school participating in a the private
4school choice
program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 subch. II of ch.118 receives a grant
5under sub. (2), the school district, charter school, or private school shall submit to the
6board a report that includes all of the following information:
AB1042,8 7Section 8. 48.78 (2) (L) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,9 8Section 9. 49.32 (6m) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,10 9Section 10. 49.83 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,8,23 1049.83 Limitation on giving information. Except as provided under ss.
1149.25 and 49.32 (6m), (9), (10), and (10m), no person may use or disclose information
12concerning applicants and recipients of relief funded by a relief block grant, aid to
13families with dependent children, Wisconsin Works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, social
14services, child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical
15support liability services under s. 49.22, or supplemental payments under s. 49.77
16for any purpose not connected with the administration of the programs, except that
17the departments of children and families and health services may disclose, including
18by transmitting or granting access to electronic data, such information, including
19social security numbers, to the department of revenue for the sole purposes of
20administering state taxes, including verifying refundable individual income tax
21credits, and collecting debts owed to the department of revenue. Any person
22violating this section may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or
23imprisoned in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.
AB1042,11 24Section 11. 69.20 (3) (h) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,12 25Section 12. 103.005 (14m) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1042,13
1Section 13. 115.001 (3t) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1042,9,32 115.001 (3t) Private school choice program. “Private school choice program”
3has the meaning given for “choice program” in s. 118.70 (3).
AB1042,14 4Section 14. 115.28 (54m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,9,125 115.28 (54m) Notice of educational options. Include on the home page of the
6department's Internet site website a link to information about all of the educational
7options available to children in the state who are at least 3 years old but not yet 18
8years old, including public schools, private schools participating in a parental the
9private school
choice program, charter schools, virtual schools, full-time or
10part-time open enrollment in a nonresident school district, the early college credit
11program, and options for pupils enrolled in a home-based private educational
12program.
AB1042,15 13Section 15 . 115.364 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,9,1814 115.364 (1) (am) “Eligible private school” means a private school participating
15in a parental the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 that
16increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or
17retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately
18preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.
AB1042,16 19Section 16 . 115.383 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,9,2520 115.383 (1) (c) If the proposal is approved under par. (b), the state
21superintendent shall ensure that information about pupils enrolled in charter
22schools and about pupils enrolled in private schools participating in a parental the
23private school
choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, including their academic
24performance and demographic information, aggregated by school district, school,
25and teacher, is collected and maintained in the student information system.
AB1042,17
1Section 17. 115.383 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,10,92 115.383 (2) (intro.) If the student information system is established under sub.
3(1), each school district, charter school, and private school using the system under
4sub. (1) shall include in the system the following information for each teacher
5teaching in the school district or school who completed a teacher education program
6described in s. 115.28 (7) (a) or (e) 2. and located in this state on or after January 1,
72012, or, for each teacher teaching in a private school participating in a parental the
8private school
choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, who obtained a bachelor's
9degree from an institution located in this state on or after July 1, 2010:
AB1042,18 10Section 18 . 115.383 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,10,1611 115.383 (3) (b) Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the The state
12superintendent shall ensure that every charter school established under s. 118.40
13(2r) or (2x) and every private school participating in a parental the private school
14choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 is either using the system under sub. (1)
15or is using a system that is commercially available and able to obtain pupil
16identification numbers under sub. (5).
AB1042,19 17Section 19 . 115.383 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,10,2118 115.383 (4) A private school participating in a parental the private school
19choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 is not required to include information about
20pupils who are not attending the private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 the private
21school choice program
in the system it is using under sub. (3).
AB1042,20 22Section 20 . 115.383 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,11,323 115.383 (5) The state superintendent shall assign to each pupil attending a
24public school or charter school, and to each pupil attending a private school under
25s. 118.60 or 119.23 the private school choice program, a unique identification number

1for use in the student information system. The state superintendent shall not assign
2to any pupil an identification number that is identical to or incorporates the pupil's
3social security number or that uses any other personally identifying information.
AB1042,21 4Section 21 . 115.385 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,11,105 115.385 (2) Beginning with the accountability report published for the 2015-16
6school year, the
The department shall include in its annual school accountability
7report under sub. (1) charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) and
8private schools participating in a parental the private school choice program under
9s. 118.60 or 119.23
. The department shall use the same criteria to measure the
10performance of all schools included in the annual school accountability report.
AB1042,22 11Section 22 . 115.385 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,11,1512 115.385 (3) (intro.) On an accountability report published for a private school
13participating in a the private school choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, the
14department shall specify the percentage of pupils attending the private school under
15the private school choice program and comply with one of the following:
AB1042,23 16Section 23 . 115.385 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,12,217 115.385 (3) (b) For a private school that submits achievement data for those
18pupils attending the private school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 the private school choice
19program
and achievement data for all other pupils attending the private school,
20assign to the private school a performance category derived from data about pupils
21attending the school under s. 118.60 or 119.23 the private school choice program and
22identify the performance category as the choice pupil performance category. The
23department shall also assign a 2nd performance category, derived from data about
24all pupils attending the private school including pupils attending the private school

1under s. 118.60 or 119.23 the private school choice program, as the private school
2performance category.
AB1042,24 3Section 24 . 115.385 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1042,12,174 115.385 (4) Annually, each public school, including a charter school, and each
5private school participating in a parental the private school choice program under
6s. 118.60 or 119.23
shall provide a copy of the school's accountability report to the
7parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in or attending the school. Each school
8shall simultaneously provide to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in the
9school a list of the educational options available to children who reside in the pupil's
10resident school district, including public schools, private schools participating in a
11parental
the private school choice program, charter schools, virtual schools,
12full-time or part-time open enrollment in a nonresident school district, the youth
13apprenticeship program under s. 106.13, the early college credit program, and
14options for pupils enrolled in a home-based private educational program. A school
15that does not operate high school grades is not required to include an educational
16option that is offered only to high school pupils in a list of educational options
17provided under this subsection.
AB1042,25 18Section 25. 115.39 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes, as created by 2023 Wisconsin Act
1920
, is amended to read:
AB1042,12,2120 115.39 (1) (b) 2. A private school participating in a the private school choice
21program under s. 118.60 or 119.23.
AB1042,26 22Section 26. 115.39 (3) (a) 2. b. of the statutes, as created by 2023 Wisconsin
23Act 20
, is amended to read:
AB1042,13,3
1115.39 (3) (a) 2. b. From the eligible schools identified under subd. 1., the office
2shall select at least 2 eligible schools that are private schools participating in a the
3private school choice
program under s. 118.60 or 119.23.
AB1042,27 4Section 27. 115.7915 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1042,13,55 115.7915 (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB1042,13,66 (a) “Accrediting entity" has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (1).
AB1042,13,97 (b) “Administrator” means the superintendent, supervising principal,
8executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a private
9school participating in the program under this section.
AB1042,13,1110 (c) “Disqualified accrediting organization" has the meaning given in s. 118.70
11(4).
AB1042,13,1212 (d) “Eligible school” means a private school located in this state.
AB1042,13,1413 (e) “January count date” means the 2nd Friday in January or an alternative
14date designated by the department under sub. (4) (c).
AB1042,13,1515 (f) “Preaccreditation" has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (13).
AB1042,13,1616 (g) “Preaccrediting entity" has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (14).
AB1042,13,1717 (h) “Resident school board” means the school board of a resident school district.
AB1042,13,1818 (i) “Resident school district” means the school district in which a pupil resides.
AB1042,13,2019 (j) “September count date” means the 3rd Friday in September or an
20alternative date designated by the department under sub. (4) (c).
AB1042,13,2121 (k) “Services plan” has the meaning given in 34 CFR 300.37.
AB1042,13,2222 (L) “Teacher” has the meaning given in s. 118.70 (19).
AB1042,28 23Section 28. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1042,13,2424 115.7915 (2) (c) The eligible school satisfies the requirements under sub. (2m).
AB1042,29 25Section 29. 115.7915 (2) (i) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1042,14,2
1115.7915 (2) (i) The eligible school maintains at least one physical location in
2this state from which the eligible school is operated.
AB1042,30 3Section 30. 115.7915 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1042,14,184 115.7915 (2m) Accreditation. (a) Each private school that begins
5participation in the program under this section in a school year beginning on or after
6the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited
7by an accrediting entity, shall obtain preaccreditation by a preaccrediting entity by
8the first weekday in August before the first school term in which the private school
9begins participation in the program under this section, or by the first weekday in
10May if the private school begins participation in the program during summer school.
11A private school to which this paragraph applies may apply for and seek to obtain
12preaccreditation from one preaccrediting entity each school year. A private school
13to which this paragraph applies that fails to obtain preaccreditation as required
14under this paragraph may not begin participation in the program under this section
15until preaccreditation has been obtained, but the private school may apply for and
16seek to obtain preaccreditation from a preaccrediting entity for a subsequent school
17year. The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require
18an accrediting entity to accredit the private school.
AB1042,14,2319 (b) Each private school that begins participation in the program under this
20section in a school year beginning on or after the effective date of this paragraph ....
21[LRB inserts date], and that is not accredited by an accrediting entity by the first
22weekday in August before the first school term in which the private school begins
23participation in the program under this section shall do all of the following:
AB1042,15,3
11. Apply for accreditation by an accrediting entity by the last weekday in
2December of the first school year in which the private school begins participation in
3the program under this section.
AB1042,15,64 2. Achieve accreditation by an accrediting entity by the first weekday in
5December of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private
6school begins participation in the program under this section.
AB1042,15,107 (c) 1. If a private school that is participating in the program under this section
8and that is accredited to offer instruction in any elementary grade, but not any high
9school grade, seeks to offer instruction in any high school grade, the private school
10shall do all of the following:
AB1042,15,1311 a. Apply for accreditation of the high school grades by an accrediting entity by
12the last weekday in December of the first school year in which the private school
13offers instruction in a high school grade.
AB1042,15,1614 b. Achieve accreditation for the high school grades by the first weekday in
15December of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private
16school provides instruction in a high school grade.
AB1042,15,2017 2. If a private school that is participating in the program under this section and
18that is accredited to offer instruction in any high school grade, but not any
19elementary grade, seeks to offer instruction in any elementary grade, the private
20school shall do all of the following:
AB1042,15,2321 a. Apply for accreditation of the elementary grades by an accrediting entity by
22the last weekday in December of the first school year in which the private school
23offers instruction in an elementary grade.
AB1042,16,3
1b. Achieve accreditation for the elementary grades by the first weekday in
2December of the 3rd school year following the first school year in which the private
3school provides instruction in an elementary grade.
AB1042,16,84 (d) 1. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under
5this section, except for a private school obtaining accreditation as allowed under par.
6(c), shall ensure that the private school continuously maintains accreditation from
7an accrediting entity as long as the private school continues to participate in the
8program under this section.
AB1042,16,159 2. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under
10this section shall, subject to subd. 3., annually, by the first weekday in August,
11provide the department with evidence demonstrating that the private school
12remains accredited for the current school year as required under this subsection.
13The governing body of the private school shall include as evidence of accreditation
14a notice prepared by an accrediting entity that confirms that the private school is
15accredited by that entity as of the date of the notice.
AB1042,16,1816 3. The governing body of a private school participating in the program under
17this section shall immediately notify the department if its accreditation status
18changes.
AB1042,16,2519 (e) If a private school participating in the program under this section learns
20that an accrediting entity with which the private school is maintaining accreditation,
21as required under this subsection, is a disqualified accrediting organization, the
22private school shall immediately notify the department in writing of this fact and
23shall obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity no later than 3 years from the
24date on which the private school learned that the accrediting entity is a disqualified
25accrediting organization.
AB1042,17,3
1(f) If any accrediting or preaccrediting entity determines during the accrediting
2or preaccrediting process that a private school does not meet all of the requirements
3under s. 118.165 (1), it shall report that failure to the department.
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