Questions and DPI Responses
Where do I find Wisconsin law covering charter schools?
Section 118.40, Wis. Stats.*
(Click on the PDF icon next to 118.40 to see the full text)
Where do I find the teaching requirements for charter school teachers?
Section PI 3.03(10), Wis. Admin. Code*
What is a charter?
The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. They are accountable for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the sponsor that grants them, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them. (www.uscharterschools.org)
More specifically, a charter school:
- Is exempted from most local and state educational laws
- Provides a program of elementary or secondary education or both
- Is non-sectarian, not affiliated with a religious school in any form
- Does not charge tuition
- Complies with federal laws related to special education and
discrimination
- Admits students on the basis of a lottery if more apply than can be served
- Complies with state and federal audit requirements
- Meets all local, state and federal health and safety requirements
Are all charter schools in Wisconsin public?
Yes. Charter schools cannot charge tuition and must be equally accessible
to all students in the school district. Charter schools may not
discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry,
pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental,
emotional, or learning disability.
How many charter schools are in Wisconsin?
There are currently 183 charter schools operating in Wisconsin.
Can students be forced to attend a charter school?
No. Attendance at a charter school must be voluntary and the district must provide alternative public education for pupils who do not wish to attend the charter school or who are not admitted to the charter school.
What is a petition?
A petition is a document that describes a new school or school
within a school and is submitted for consideration of approval for charter
school status. A petition must be signed by at least 10% of the teachers
employed by the district or by at least 50% of the teachers employed at one
school within the school district. A petition must be filed with the
school district clerk.
What is an Authorizer?
An authorizer in Wisconsin is an entity that has legal authority to enter into a contract with parents, teachers, community members, or other developers to open a new school referred to as a charter school. "Authorizer" and "Sponsor" are synonymous in Wisconsin.
Who approves or denies charter status?
The state of Wisconsin does not approve or deny charter status. Outside
of Milwaukee, charter schools are approved or denied by school boards. In the City of Milwaukee, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the Common Council of the City of
Milwaukee are authorizers. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside was given
authority to charter one school which it did in 2002.
What should charter school planners consider?
- Planners should be collaborative and communicative about plans with their potential authorizer.
- Planners should be mindful of dynamics in the community and in the district.
- Planners should be data and student driven.
- Keep in mind that this is a process that demands rigor, time, effort, research, collaboration, commitment, communication, and design.
What is required of charter schools in Wisconsin?
Charter Schools must:
- Participate in the state assessment system
- Participate in the annual School Performance Report (SPR)
- Be open to all students in the district
- Apply the health and safety requirements of all public schools
- Provide for voluntary attendance
- Be different enough to require a charter
- Teachers must be licensed by the Department of Public Instruction
What is not allowable for a charter school in Wisconsin?
Charter Schools are not exempt from:
- Federal laws governing education, civil rights, or special education policies
- School board policies unless so specified in the charter contract
- Cannot be private schools
What is required to be included in the charter contract?
There are 16 items that are
required by Section 118.40, Wis. Stats.
- The name of the person who is seeking to establish the charter school.
- The name of the person who will be in charge of the charter school and the manner in which administrative services will be provided.
- A description of the educational program of the school.
- The methods the school will use to enable pupils to attain the educational goals under s. 118.01.
- The method by which pupil progress in attaining the educational goals under s. 118.01 will be measured.
- The governance structure of the school, including the method to be followed by the school to ensure parental involvement.
- Subject to sub. (7) (a) and (am) and ss. 118.19 (1) and 121.02 (1) (a) 2., the qualifications that must be met by the individuals to be employed in the school.
- The procedures that the school will follow to ensure the health and safety of the pupils.
- The means by which the school will achieve a racial and ethnic balance among its pupils that is reflective of the school district population.
- The requirements for admission to the school.
- The manner in which annual audits of the financial and programmatic operations of the school will be performed.
- The procedures for disciplining pupils.
- The public school alternatives for pupils who reside in the school district and do not wish to attend or are not admitted to the charter school.
- A description of the school facilities and the types and limits of the liability insurance that the school will carry.
- The effect of the establishment of the charter school on the liability of the school district.
- The contract shall specify the amount to be paid to the charter school during each school year of the contract.
What kind of grants are available?
The following grants are available:
Planning Grants:
A grant which supports the final year of planning the organizational, administrative, financial, and instructional features of a charter school prior to opening. Significant preplanning is recommended to assure opening of a school within the required two month period.
Funds may be used for such activities as visitations to other
schools, developing policy and procedures, curriculum, governance structure and
for staff development.
Implementation Grants/Implementation Renewal:
Grants which support the actual startup of a new charter school which is open
and serving students.
Applications for implementation funds can only be
made in the name of an operating charter school. In other words, to be eligible
the school must be serving children and hold a signed contract
prior to the release of implementation sub grant funds. Funds may be used
for such activities as equipment, purchased service of consultants, staff
development, supplies and materials, and extended contracts for the purposes of
planning and startup of the new charter school.
Dissemination Grants/Dissemination Renewal:
Grants which support the dissemination of best practices of charter schools for
the purpose of increasing student achievement in public schools.
Eligibility Requirements:
- The charter school is, at minimum, starting its fourth year of operation.
- The school provides evidence of student achievement.
- The school provides documentation of high levels of parental satisfaction.
- The school describes management and leadership necessary to
overcome initial start-up problems.
- The school is a thriving, financially viable charter school.
For more specific information see Charter School Grants.
When are grant proposals due?
- Planning Grants: June 1 or October 2
- Implementation/Renewal Grants: June 1 or October 2
- Dissemination/Renewal Grants: June 1 or October 2
The original and seven (7) copies of the application must arrive or be delivered to the DPI by 4:30 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
What if the project cannot be accomplished and chartered within the length of the planning phase of the grant?
If you cannot open a school within the required period of time, do not begin the financial relationship with DPI at this point. If you plan to open later than semester II of the 2006-07 school year, do not request planning funds now as you will not have a "continuous contract."
What is a continuous contract?
A continuous contract is a single contract or single grant provision. It means that if you receive a grant under this planning phase competition, you are eligible for up to an additional 24 months of continuation funding during the 36 months of total allowable funding. However, it also means that you must receive your charter and be open to students before implementation funds can be released so that the single grant may continue in effect. In other words, the 36 months of allowable funding means 36 consecutive months with no breaks or interruptions. If you accept a subgrant and then fail to receive a charter during that grant period, you will not be eligible for start-up or implementation funding at any time in the future.
What are appropriate uses of charter school grant funds?
Examples of allowable uses:
Assessment/evaluation costs
Computers/equipment
Conferences, travel, food, etc.
Curriculum materials, books
Desks, chairs, tables, lockers
Extended contracts for planning or start up activities
Refrigerator/stove to serve children
Renovations to bring facility up to health and safety codes
Staff development
Supplies
Examples of not-allowable uses (any operational costs) such as:
Accounting, administrative fees, grant writing
Construction
Leases
Purchase of vehicles
Rent
Roof repairs
Salaries
Student transportation
Who should I contact to start a charter school?
School districts have local control over their own charter schools. To seek to establish a charter school in your area, please contact the district
in which the proposed school would reside for local timetables and policies for
submission of a new charter school petition or proposal.
Milwaukee Authorizer Contacts:
Howard Fuller
Charter School Review Committee
City of Milwaukee
200 East Wells Street
Room 606, City Hall
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3567
(414) 286-3850
Howard Fuller
Robert J. Kattman
Director, Center for Charter Schools
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413
(414) 229-4682
Robert J. Kattman
Juanita Lee
Charter School Program Manager
Milwaukee Public Schools
P.O. Box 2181
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2181
(414) 475-8443
Juanita Lee
UW-Parkside Authorizer Contacts:
Paul Haubrich
Consultant/Charter Schools
UW Parkside
9000 Wood Road
186 Talent Hall
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 595-2941
Paul Haubrich
Where can I learn more
about charter schools?
To obtain materials to guide you through the process of starting up a new charter school, please visit the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) website: www.nwrel.org
- Click on "Products and Publications" on the left of the screen.
- Click on "NWREL Free and Online Products".
- In the column on the left, click on "Charter Schools".
- Click on the individual workbooks.
- Click "Online at..." to access or download materials.
Contact: For technical assistance contact:
Margaret McMurray, Charter Schools Consultant (CESAs 1,7,8, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and the City of Milwaukee), 1-888-245-2732, ext.5 (toll-free) or 608-266-5728, or Barry Golden, Charter Schools Consultant (CESAs 2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,and 12), 608-267-9111
For a hard copy of Wisconsin Charter Schools 2005-2006, click on Yearbook or call 608-266-5880.
For questions about this information, contact Julie A. Blaney (608) 266-5880
Last updated on 11/7/2006 2:17:16 PM
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