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Wisconsin
| State Profile Title | Wisconsin Charter School Information |
| List of State's Charter Schools | http://dpi.wi.gov/sms/csindex.html |
| Header | 09-05-00 |
| Brief Overview | Wisconsin's charter school law was enacted in 1993. Currently, there are 188 charter schools in operation. Outside of Milwaukee, school boards in the 426 school districts are the sole authorizers of charter schools. Under new 2001 legislation, authorization has expanded to include University of Wisconsin, Parkside on a pilot basis. Thus, the authorizing entities now include school boards outside of Milwaukee, the common council of the city of Milwaukee, the chancellor of UW Milwaukee, the chancellor of UW Parkside, and the technical college district board of Milwaukee. |
| Discussion Groups | Wisconsin Discussion Group |
| Schools | Wisconsin Charter Schools Association |
| Participants | Wisconsin Participants |
| Community | The Wisconsin Charter Schools Association |
| Key Contacts | |
| Legislative Summary | Passed in 1993, the Wisconsin charter law (118.40) sets no limit on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. Outside of Milwaukee, local school boards are the sole charter-granting entities. Charter schools throughout the state may be autonomous legal entities or instrumentalities of a school district. If an instrumentality, the school district employs all personnel of the charter school. A charter term may not exceed five years with opportunity for renewal. Charter schools have a broad exemption from most statutory regulations applicable to non-charter public schools. The state has established a special charter school instructional staff license. The contract between the school board and charter school specifies the amount of funding for the school, which may be more, less, or the same as spending for non-charter school pupils. Statewide educational goals and state pupil examination requirements apply to charter schools. Some special provisions of Wisconsin's law apply only to charter schools in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee City Council, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College Board, and the Milwaukee School Board can authorize charter schools in Milwaukee only. Funding for City-, UWM-, and MATC-authorized charter schools, in an amount prescribed by state statute, is paid by the state directly to the charter school. A person seeking to establish a charter school may appeal the Milwaukee School Board's denial to the state department of education. There is no appeals process outside of Milwaukee. Charter schools have a broad exemption from most statutory regulations applicable to non-charter public schools. The state has established a special charter school instructional staff license. The contract between the school board and charter school specifies the amount of funding for the school, which may be more, less, or the same as spending for non-charter school pupils. Statewide educational goals and state pupil examination requirements apply to charter schools. Some special provisions of Wisconsin's law apply only to charter schools in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee City Council, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College Board, and the Milwaukee School Board can authorize charter schools in Milwaukee only. Funding for City-, UWM-, and MATC-authorized charter schools, in an amount prescribed by state statute, is paid by the state directly to the charter school. A person seeking to establish a charter school may appeal the Milwaukee School Board's denial to the state department of education. There is no appeals process outside of Milwaukee. |
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