AB970: Bill Text

LRB-5987/1

KRP:skw

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 970

February 8, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Wittke, Thiesfeldt, Dittrich, Murphy, Penterman, Moses, Rozar, Brandtjen, Macco, Knodl and Magnafici, cosponsored by Senators Roth, Darling, Nass, Wanggaard, Stroebel and Jagler. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB970,1,9 An Act to repeal 118.60 (2) (a) 1., 118.60 (2) (be), 118.60 (2) (bm), 118.60 (3) (ar), 118.60 (4v), 119.23 (2) (a) 1. and 119.23 (4v); and to amend 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.), 118.60 (2) (a) 2. g., 118.60 (3) (a) (intro.), 118.60 (3) (b), 118.60 (3) (c), 118.60 (3m) (a) 2., 118.60 (3m) (b) 2., 119.23 (3) (b), 119.23 (3m) (a) 2. and 119.23 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes; relating to: eliminating income limits for parental choice programs; eliminating pupil participation limits for the statewide parental choice program; private school tuition charged to a pupil participating in a parental choice program; and creating an education expense reimbursement program for the 2022-23 school year and the summer of 2023.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill 1) eliminates the income limits in the statewide parental choice program (also known as the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program), Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, and the Racine Parental Choice Program (parental choice program); 2) eliminates the pupil participation limits in the WPCP; 3) increases the family income threshold amount that determines whether a private school may charge additional tuition to a pupil attending the private school under a parental choice program; and 4) creates a temporary education expense reimbursement program for public school pupils.

Income limits for parental choice programs

Under current law, a pupil is not eligible to participate in the MPCP or the RPCP if the pupil's family income is greater than 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Similarly, under current law, a pupil is not eligible to participate in the WPCP if the pupil's family income is greater than 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the bill eliminates the family income requirements in each of the parental choice programs. In other words, under the bill, a pupil may participate in a parental choice program regardless of the pupil's family income.

Pupil participation limits in the WPCP

Current law limits the number of pupils who reside in a school district that may attend a private school under the WPCP. For the 2021-22 school year, the limit is set at no more than 6 percent of a school district's membership in the previous school year. The limit increases by one percent each year until the limit reaches 10 percent, and then, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, there is no participation limit in the WPCP. The bill eliminates the pupil participation limits in the WPCP on the date the bill becomes law.

Current law provides specific WPCP application procedures that apply while the pupil participation limits are in place. For example, while the limits are in place, pupil applications may be submitted to private schools participating in the WPCP only during the period beginning on the first weekday in February and ending on the third Thursday in April. The bill eliminates the application procedures that apply while the pupil participation limits are in place.

Additional tuition charged to pupils participating in parental choice programs

Under current law, a private school participating in a parental choice program may not charge a pupil participating in a parental choice program tuition, in addition to the payments the private school receives under the parental choice program, unless the pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the pupil's family income exceeds 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the bill increases that threshold to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Education expense reimbursement program

Under the bill, in the 2022-23 school year and in the summer semester or session in 2023, a pupil enrolled in a public school, including a charter school, may attend a course or purchase educational materials, and DPI must reimburse up to $1,000 of the cost of attendance or purchase price for up to two courses or purchases of educational materials.

A pupil that wants to attend a course for reimbursement under the bill must apply to the educational institution or provider that offers the course. Public schools, other than charter schools, institutions within the University of Wisconsin System, technical colleges, tribally controlled colleges, and private, nonprofit institutions of higher education located in this state are required to participate in the education expense reimbursement program created in the bill. Charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, and other educational providers DPI approves may choose whether to participate. If an educational institution or provider participates in the program (approved educational provider), the approved educational provider must accept a pupil's application to attend a course if space is available in the course unless certain conditions apply, and, if the approved educational provider receives more applications than available spaces, the approved educational provider must accept pupils on a random basis.

The parent of a pupil who wants to purchase educational materials for reimbursement under the bill must, prior to purchasing the materials, submit a notice to DPI describing the materials, listing what is included in the materials, and specifying the materials' cost. DPI generally must approve such a request.

Under the bill, DPI must pay reimbursements in the 2023-24 school year. The bill does not appropriate moneys in the current biennium to pay reimbursements under the program. The bill provides that, if the amount available to DPI is insufficient to pay the full reimbursement amounts, DPI must prorate the payments among those eligible for reimbursement.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB970,1 Section 1. 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,3,7 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.) Subject to pars. (ag) and (ar), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within an eligible school district may attend any private school under this section and, subject to pars. (ag), (ar), (be), (bm), and (bs), any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, may attend any private school under this section if all of the following apply:

AB970,2 Section 2. 118.60 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,3 Section 3. 118.60 (2) (a) 2. g. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,3,12 118.60 (2) (a) 2. g. If the pupil resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, the pupil was on a waiting list under sub. s. 118.60 (3) (ar) 4. , 2019 stats., in any previous school year.

AB970,4 Section 4. 118.60 (2) (be) of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,5 Section 5. 118.60 (2) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,6 Section 6. 118.60 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,4,16 118.60 (3) (a) (intro.) The pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian shall submit an application, on a form provided by the state superintendent, to the participating private school that the pupil wishes to attend. If more than one pupil from the same family applies to attend the same private school, the pupils may use a single application. No later than 60 days after the end of the application period during which an application is received and subject to par. (ar), the private school shall notify each applicant, in writing, whether his or her application has been accepted. If the private school rejects an application, the notice shall include the reason. Subject to par. (ar), a A private school may reject an applicant only if it has reached its maximum general capacity or seating capacity. Except as provided in par. (ar), the The state superintendent shall ensure that the private school determines which pupils to accept on a random basis, except that the private school may give preference to the following in accepting applications, in the order of preference listed:

AB970,7 Section 7. 118.60 (3) (ar) of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,8 Section 8. 118.60 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,5,3 118.60 (3) (b) If a participating private school rejects an applicant who resides within an eligible school district because the private school has too few available spaces, the applicant may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available. An applicant rejected under this paragraph may be admitted to a private school participating in the program under this section for the following school year, provided that the applicant continues to reside within an eligible school district. The department may not require, in that following school year, the private school to submit financial information regarding the applicant or to verify the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income.

AB970,9 Section 9. 118.60 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,5,16 118.60 (3) (c) If a participating private school rejects an applicant who resides in a school district, other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district, because the private school has too few available spaces, the applicant may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available. An applicant who is rejected under this paragraph or an applicant who is on the waiting list under par. (ar) 4. may, subject to sub. (2) (be), be admitted to a private school participating in the program under this section for the following school year, provided that the applicant continues to reside in a school district other than an eligible school district or a 1st class city school district. The department may not require, in that following school year, the private school to submit financial information regarding the applicant or to verify the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income.

AB970,10 Section 10. 118.60 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,5,22 118.60 (3m) (a) 2. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the family income of the pupil, as determined under sub. s. 118.60 (2) (a) 1., 2019 stats., does not exceed an amount equal to 2.2 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.

AB970,11 Section 11. 118.60 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,6,2 118.60 (3m) (b) 2. The family income of the pupil, as determined under sub. s. 118.60 (2) (a) 1., 2019 stats., exceeds an amount equal to 2.2 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.

AB970,12 Section 12. 118.60 (4v) of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,13 Section 13. 119.23 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB970,14 Section 14. 119.23 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,6,14 119.23 (3) (b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the applicant may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available. An applicant rejected under this paragraph may be admitted to a private school participating in the program under this section for the following school year, provided that the applicant continues to reside within the city. The department may not require, in that following school year, the private school to submit financial information regarding the applicant or to verify the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income.

AB970,15 Section 15. 119.23 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,6,20 119.23 (3m) (a) 2. The pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the family income of the pupil, as determined under sub. s. 119.23 (2) (a) 1., 2019 stats., does not exceed an amount equal to 2.2 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.

AB970,16 Section 16. 119.23 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB970,6,25 119.23 (3m) (b) 2. The family income of the pupil, as determined under sub. s. 119.23 (2) (a) 1., 2019 stats., exceeds an amount equal to 2.2 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.