39.75 Compact for education.
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/wi/chapter-39/39-75-3A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
39.75 Compact for education. The compact for education is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:
(1)Article I — Purpose and Policy.
(a)It is the purpose of this compact to:
1. Establish and maintain close cooperation and understanding among executive, legislative, professional educational and lay leadership on a nationwide basis at the state and local levels.
2. Provide a forum for the discussion, development, crystallization and recommendation of public policy alternatives in the field of education.
3. Provide a clearinghouse of information on matters relating to educational problems and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative branches of state government and of local communities may have ready access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so that both lay and professional groups in the field of education may have additional avenues for the sharing of experience and the interchange of ideas in the formation of public policy in education.
4. Facilitate the improvement of state and local educational systems so that all of them will be able to meet adequate and desirable goals in a society which requires continuous qualitative and quantitative advance in educational opportunities, methods and facilities.
(b)It is the policy of this compact to encourage and promote local and state initiative in the development, maintenance, improvement and administration of educational systems and institutions in a manner which will accord with the needs and advantages of diversity among localities and states.
(c)The party states recognize that each of them has an interest in the quality and quantity of education furnished in each of the other states, as well as in the excellence of its own educational systems and institutions, because of the highly mobile character of individuals within the nation, and because the products and services contributing to the health, welfare and economic advancement of each state are supplied in significant part by persons educated in other states.
(2)Article II — State Defined. As used in this compact, “state” means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(3)Article III — The Commission.
(a)The education commission of the states, hereinafter called “the commission”, is hereby established. The commission shall consist of 7 members representing each party state. One of such members shall be governor; 2 shall be members of the state legislature selected by its respective houses and serving in such manner as the legislature may determine; and 4 shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, unless the laws of the state otherwise provide. If the laws of a state prevent legislators from serving on the commission, 6 members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, unless the laws of the state otherwise provide. In addition to any other principles or requirements which a state may establish for the appointment and service of its members of the commission, the guiding principle for the composition of the membership on the commission from each party state shall be that the members representing such state shall, by virtue of their training, experience, knowledge or affiliations be in a position collectively to reflect broadly the interests of the state government, higher education, the state education system, local education, lay and professional, public and nonpublic educational leadership. Of those appointees, one shall be the head of a state agency or institution, designated by the governor, having responsibility for one or more programs of public education. In addition to the members of the commission representing the party states, there may be not to exceed 10 nonvoting commissioners selected by the steering committee for terms of one year. Such commissioners shall represent leading national organizations of professional educators or persons concerned with educational administration.
(b)The members of the commission shall be entitled to one vote each on the commission. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof. Action of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the commissioners are present. The commission shall meet at least once a year. In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained therein, the commission may delegate the exercise of any of its powers to the steering committee or the executive director, except for the power to approve budgets or requests for appropriations, the power to make policy recommendations pursuant to sub.
(4)and adoption of the annual report pursuant to par.
(j).
(c)The commission shall have a seal.
(d)The commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chairperson, who shall be a governor, a vice chairperson and a treasurer. The commission shall provide for the appointment of an executive director. Such executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and together with the treasurer and such other personnel as the commission may deem appropriate shall be bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine. The executive director shall be secretary.
(e)Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director subject to the approval of the steering committee shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the commission, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The commission in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the commission.
(f)The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States, or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of 2 or more of the party jurisdictions or their subdivisions.
(g)The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, foundation or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. Any donation or grant accepted by the commission pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to par.
(f)shall be reported in the annual report of the commission. Such report shall include the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, grant or services borrowed, and the identity of the donor or lender.
(h)The commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The commission may acquire, hold and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.
(i)The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws. The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.
(j)The commission annually shall submit to the governor, to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172
(2)and to the legislature of any other party state a report covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year. The commission may submit such additional reports as it deems desirable.
(4)Article IV — Powers. In addition to authority conferred on the commission by other provisions of the compact, the commission shall have authority to:
(a)Collect, correlate, analyze and interpret information and data concerning educational needs and resources.
(b)Encourage and foster research in all aspects of education, but with special reference to the desirable scope of instruction, organization, administration and instructional methods and standards employed or suitable for employment in public educational systems.
(c)Develop proposals for adequate financing of education as a whole and at each of its many levels.
(d)Conduct or participate in research of the types referred to in this subsection in any instance where the commission finds that such research is necessary for the advancement of the purposes and policies of this compact, utilizing fully the resources of national associations, regional compact organizations for higher education and other agencies and institutions, both public and private.
(e)Formulate suggested policies and plans for the improvement of public education as a whole, or for any segment thereof, and make recommendations with respect thereto available to the appropriate governmental units, agencies and public officials.
(f)Do such other things as may be necessary or incidental to the administration of any of its authority or functions pursuant to this compact.