Section 15.377. Same; councils.

 

(1)   Blind and visual impairment education council.

(a) Definition. In this subsection, “visually impaired" has the meaning given in s. 115.51 (4) .

(b) Creation. There is created a blind and visual impairment education council in the department of public instruction.

(c) Members. The blind and visual impairment education council shall consist of the following members, at least one of whom has been certified by the library of congress as a braille transcriber, appointed by the state superintendent for 3-year terms:

1. Three parents of children who are visually impaired.

2. Three persons who are members of an organization affiliated with persons who are visually impaired.

3. Three licensed teachers, one of whom is a teacher of the visually impaired, one of whom is an orientation and mobility teacher and one of whom is a general education teacher.

4. One school board member.

5. One school district administrator.

6. One school district special education director.

7. One cooperative educational service agency representative.

8. One person who has experience in educating the visually impaired or in educating teachers of the visually impaired and is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

9. Three other members, at least one of whom is visually impaired.

(2)   Deaf and hard-of-hearing education council. There is created a deaf and hard-of-hearing education council in the department of public instruction. The council shall consist of the following members, at least 3 of whom must be hearing impaired, appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction for 3-year terms:

(a) Two parents of children who are hearing impaired.

(b) One licensed teacher of pupils who are hearing impaired.

(c) One person who is licensed as a speech-language pathologist under subch. II of ch. 459 .

(d) One school district special education director.

(e) One person who is licensed as an audiologist under subch. II of ch. 459 and whose expertise is in educational audiology.

(f) One person who is experienced in educating the hearing impaired, or in educating teachers of the hearing impaired, and is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

(g) One person who is an instructor in a technical college interpreter training program.

(h) One person employed as an educational interpreter.

(i) Three other members.

(4)   Council on special education. There is created in the department of public instruction a council on special education to advise the state superintendent of public instruction about the unmet educational needs of children with disabilities, in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the federal department of education, in developing plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports, in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities and on any other matters upon which the state superintendent wishes the council's opinion; and to comment publicly on any rules proposed by the department of public instruction regarding the education of children with disabilities. The state superintendent of public instruction shall appoint the members of the council for 3-year terms, and shall ensure that a majority of the members are individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities and that the council is representative of the state population, as determined by the state superintendent. The council shall be composed of individuals who are involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities, including all of the following:

(a) Teachers of regular education and teachers of special education.

(b) Representatives of institutions of higher education that train special education and related services personnel.

(c) State and local education officials.

(d) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities.

(e) Representatives of agencies other than the department of public instruction involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities.

(f) Representatives of private schools, charter schools, and tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m) .

(g) At least one representative of a vocational, community or business organization that provides transition services for children with disabilities.

(h) Representatives from the department of corrections.

(i) Parents of children with disabilities.

(j) Individuals with disabilities.

(6)   Council on library and network development. There is created in the department of public instruction a council on library and network development composed of 19 members. Nine of the members shall be library science, audiovisual and informational science professionals representative of various types of libraries and information services, including public libraries, public library systems, school libraries, public and private academic libraries, special libraries and library educators. Ten of the members shall be public members who have demonstrated an interest in libraries or other types of information services. The members of the council shall be appointed for 3-year terms. The council shall meet 6 times annually and shall meet also on the call of the state superintendent of public instruction, and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members.

(8)   Professional standards council for teachers.

(a) Definition. In this subsection, “labor organization" means an association of employee organizations that represents the public policy, labor and professional interests of teachers.

(b) Creation. There is created a professional standards council for teachers in the department of public instruction.

(c) Members. The professional standards council for teachers shall consist of the following members, nominated by the state superintendent of public instruction and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed:

1. Two persons licensed and actively employed as elementary school teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

2. Two persons licensed and actively employed as middle school, junior high school or senior high school teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

3. Two persons licensed and actively employed as pupil services professionals, as defined in s. 118.257 (1) (c) , in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

4. One person licensed and actively employed as a special education teacher in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

5. Two other persons licensed and actively employed as teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

5m. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a private school, recommended by the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools.

6. One person actively employed as a public school district administrator, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

7. One person actively employed as a public school principal, recommended by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

8. One faculty member of a department or School of Education in the University of Wisconsin System, recommended by the president of the University of Wisconsin System.

9. One faculty member of a department or School of Education in a private college in Wisconsin, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

10. One additional faculty member, appointed from the list of persons recommended under subd. 8. or 9.

11. Two members of public school boards, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

12. One person who is a parent of a child who is enrolled in a public school.

13. One person who is a student enrolled in a teacher preparatory program, located in this state, that leads to initial licensure as a teacher.

14. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m) , recommended by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state that has a tribal school.

(d) Recommendations. For each vacancy on the council under par. (c) 1. to 9. and 11. , the entity authorized to recommend a member shall provide the names of 3 qualified persons to the state superintendent of public instruction.

(e) Terms. Members of the council shall serve 3-year terms except that the student appointed under par. (c) 13. shall serve a 2-year term.

(f) Meetings. The council shall meet on a regular basis and at least twice each year.

1971 c. 152 , 211 , 292 ; 1973 c. 89 , 220 , 336 ; 1977 c. 29 ; 1979 c. 346 , 347 ; 1985 a. 29 , 177 ; 1987 a. 27 ; 1989 a. 31 ; 1993 a. 184 , 399 ; 1995 a. 27 ss. 183 to 187 , 9126 (19) , 9145 (1) ; 1997 a. 27 , 164 , 298 ; 1999 a. 9 , 100 , 186 ; 2001 a. 57 ; 2005 a. 121 ; 2009 a. 302 .