GMM:sac&eev:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
October 1, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Krug, Ballweg, Stone, Petryk,
Marklein, Wright, Kestell, Nygren, Kleefisch, T. Larson, Bies, Jagler,
Weatherston, Tranel, Pridemore, Bernier, Endsley and LeMahieu,
cosponsored by Senators Gudex, Darling, L. Taylor and Lehman. Referred to
Committee on Children and Families.
AB398,1,3 1An Act to create 20.235 (1) (fw) and 39.415 of the statutes; relating to: technical
2excellence higher education scholarships, granting rule-making authority, and
3making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) administers
the Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program under which
HEAB awards scholarships to certain scholars, designated on the basis of grade
point average, who enroll, on a full-time basis, in a public or private institution of
higher education in this state. Under the program, a higher education scholarship
recipient who enrolls in a technical college district school is exempt from all tuition
and fees, up to $2,250 per academic year, for each year, up to three years, that the
recipient is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average, and
makes satisfactory progress toward an associate or a bachelor's degree or a
vocational diploma. Under that program, HEAB pays the institution of higher
education attended by a scholar up to $1,125 per academic year and the institution
must match the amount paid to the institution by HEAB.
Currently, those scholarships may be awarded: 1) to the senior with the highest
grade point average from each high school in this state enrolling at least 80 but fewer
than 500 pupils; 2) to the two seniors with the two highest grade point averages from
each high school in this state enrolling at least 500 but fewer than 1,000 pupils; 3)
to the three seniors with the three highest grade point averages from each high
school in this state enrolling at least 1,000 but fewer than 1,500 pupils; 4) to the four

seniors with the four highest grade point averages from each high school in this state
enrolling at least 1,500 but fewer than 2,000 pupils; 5) to the five seniors with the
five highest grade point averages from each high school in this state enrolling at least
2,000 but fewer than 2,500 pupils; and 6) to the six seniors with the six highest grade
point averages from each high school in this state enrolling 2,500 or more pupils. In
addition, those scholarships may be awarded to the senior with the highest grade
point average from the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired and the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services
Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and not more than ten scholarships
statewide may be awarded to seniors with the highest grade point averages from
high schools enrolling fewer than 80 pupils.
This bill creates a Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program
under which HEAB awards scholarships to certain scholars, designated on the basis
of level of proficiency in technical education subjects, who enroll, on a full-time basis,
in a technical college district school. Under the Technical Excellence Higher
Education Scholarship Program, the number and amounts of scholarships awarded,
the duration for which a scholarship may be awarded, the conditions for continued
receipt of a scholarship, and the institutional match requirement are the same as
under the Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program.
For further information see the state 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:
AB398,1 1Section 1. 20.235 (1) (fw) of the statutes is created to read:
AB398,2,32 20.235 (1) (fw) Technical excellence higher education scholarships. A sum
3sufficient for payment to technical college district schools under s. 39.415.
AB398,2 4Section 2. 39.415 of the statutes is created to read:
AB398,2,6 539.415 Technical excellence higher education scholarships. (1)
6Definitions. In this section:
AB398,2,77 (a) "Executive secretary" means the executive secretary of the board.
AB398,2,98 (b) "Faculty of the high school" means the principal administrative unit of the
9faculty personnel of a high school.
AB398,3,3
1(c) "Level of proficiency in technical education subjects" means the level of
2proficiency of a senior in technical education subjects according to criteria developed
3and approved under sub. (2).
AB398,3,44 (d) "School board" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (7).
AB398,3,55 (e) "School district" has the meaning given in s. 115.01 (3).
AB398,3,96 (f) "Senior" means a pupil enrolled in the 12th grade in a public or private high
7school, a tribal school, the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services
8Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or the school operated by the Wisconsin
9Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
AB398,3,1010 (g) "Tribal school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (15m).
AB398,3,1411 (h) "Vocational diploma" means a diploma granted to a person who has
12completed a 2-year, full-time program in an area designated and approved by the
13technical college system board for which the course requirements are established by
14that board.
AB398,3,24 15(2) Level of proficiency criteria. (a) Each school board of a school district
16operating one or more high schools and each governing body of a private high school
17or tribal high school shall develop criteria to determine the level of proficiency in
18technical education subjects of seniors enrolled in a high school operated by the
19school district or governed by the governing body and submit those criteria to the
20board for approval. If the board approves those criteria, the school board or
21governing body may use those criteria to designate seniors as scholars under sub. (3)
22(a) or to nominate seniors for designation as scholars under sub. (3) (b) and the
23faculty of the high school may use those criteria to select seniors for designation as
24scholars or to certify alternates under sub. (3) (d) or (e).
AB398,4,8
1(b) The executive secretary shall develop criteria to determine the level of
2proficiency in technical education subjects of seniors enrolled in the school operated
3by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
4or the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
5and of seniors nominated under sub. (3) (b) and submit those criteria to the board for
6approval. If the board approves those criteria, the executive secretary may use those
7criteria to designate seniors as scholars under sub. (3) (c) 1., 2., or 3., or to select
8alternates under sub. (3) (f) or (g).
AB398,4,12 9(3) Designation of scholars. (a) Subject to par. (d), by February 25 of each
10school year, the school board of each school district operating one or more high
11schools and the governing body of each private high school and of each tribal high
12school shall:
AB398,4,1513 1. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 80 pupils but fewer than
14500 pupils, designate the senior with the highest level of proficiency in technical
15education subjects as a scholar.
AB398,4,1816 2. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 500 pupils but fewer than
171,000 pupils, designate the 2 seniors with the 2 highest levels of proficiency in
18technical education subjects as scholars.
AB398,4,2119 3. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,000 pupils but fewer
20than 1,500 pupils, designate the 3 seniors with the 3 highest levels of proficiency in
21technical education subjects as scholars.
AB398,4,2422 4. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,500 pupils but fewer
23than 2,000 pupils, designate the 4 seniors with the 4 highest levels of proficiency in
24technical education subjects as scholars.
AB398,5,3
15. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 2,000 pupils but fewer
2than 2,500 pupils, designate the 5 seniors with the 5 highest levels of proficiency in
3technical education subjects as scholars.
AB398,5,64 6. For each high school with an enrollment of 2,500 or more pupils, designate
5the 6 seniors with the 6 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects
6as scholars.
AB398,5,127 (b) Subject to par. (e), by February 25 of each school year, the school board of
8each school district operating one or more high schools and the governing body of
9each private high school and of each tribal high school may, for each high school with
10an enrollment of fewer than 80 pupils, nominate for designation as a scholar by the
11executive secretary under par. (c) 3. the senior with the highest level of proficiency
12in technical education subjects.
AB398,5,1313 (c) The executive secretary shall do all of the following:
AB398,5,1614 1. Subject to par. (f), for the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the
15Blind and Visually Impaired, designate the senior with the highest level of
16proficiency in technical education subjects as a scholar.
AB398,5,1917 2. Subject to par. (g), for the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational
18Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, designate the senior with the
19highest level of proficiency in technical education subjects as a scholar.
AB398,5,2020 3. Designate not more than 10 seniors nominated under par. (b) as scholars.
AB398,5,2421 4. For each public, private, or tribal high school with an enrollment of at least
2280 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high
23school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school of the number of
24scholars to be designated under par. (a).
AB398,6,5
15. For each public, private, or tribal high school with an enrollment of fewer
2than 80 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high
3school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school that the school board
4or governing body may nominate a senior under par. (b) who may be designated as
5a scholar by the executive secretary.
AB398,6,236 (d) By February 25 of each school year, if 2 or more seniors from the same high
7school of at least 80 pupils have the same level of proficiency in technical education
8subjects and, except for the limitation on the number of designated scholars, are
9otherwise eligible for designation under par. (a), the faculty of the high school shall
10select the applicable number of seniors for designation under par. (a) as scholars and
11shall select, in order of priority, any remaining seniors with the same level of
12proficiency as alternates for the scholars or, if there is no remaining senior with the
13same level of proficiency, any remaining seniors with the next highest level of
14proficiency as alternates for the scholars. If a senior from that high school who is
15designated as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education
16scholarship under sub. (4) (a), an alternate for the scholar with the same level of
17proficiency as any senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a)
18shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the
19scholarship may be awarded by the board. If an alternate with the same level of
20proficiency as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education
21scholarship under sub. (4) (a), an alternate with the next highest level of proficiency
22shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the
23scholarship may be awarded by the board.
AB398,7,1424 (e) If 2 or more seniors from the same high school of fewer than 80 pupils have
25the same level of proficiency in technical education subjects and, except for the

1limitation of one nominated senior, are otherwise eligible for nomination under par.
2(b), the faculty of the high school shall select the senior who may be nominated by
3the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the
4governing body of the private or tribal high school for designation under par. (b) as
5a scholar by the executive secretary. If that senior is designated as a scholar by the
6executive secretary, but does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under
7sub. (4) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select, in order of priority, one or more
8of the remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency for nomination as a
9scholar or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, one or
10more of the remaining seniors with the next highest level of proficiency for
11nomination as a scholar, and the school board of the school district operating the high
12school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school shall nominate under
13par. (b) one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship
14under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.
AB398,7,2515 (f) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the
16Blind and Visually Impaired have the same level of proficiency in technical education
17subjects and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible
18for designation under par. (c) 1., the executive secretary shall make the designation
19under par. (c) 1. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship
20under sub. (4) (a). If that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship
21under sub. (4) (a), the executive secretary shall designate, in order of priority, one or
22more of the remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency, or, if there is no
23remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, one or more of the remaining
24seniors with the next highest level of proficiency as eligible for a higher education
25scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.
AB398,8,12
1(g) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational
2Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have the same level of proficiency
3in technical education subjects and, except for the limitation of one designated
4senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 2., the executive secretary
5shall make the designation under par. (c) 2. of the senior who may be eligible for a
6higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a). If that senior does not qualify for a
7higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), the executive secretary shall
8designate, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same
9level of proficiency, or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of
10proficiency, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest level of
11proficiency as eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the
12scholarship may be awarded by the board.
AB398,8,2013 (h) Notwithstanding par. (a), if a high school of at least 80 pupils closes or
14merges, the school board of the school district operating the high school or the
15governing body of the private or tribal high school shall, subject to par. (d), for each
16of the 2 school years following the closure or merger, designate the same number of
17scholars from among the pupils enrolled in the high school at the time of closure or
18merger as the number of scholars designated for that high school in the school year
19the high school closed or merged. Any seniors designated under this paragraph shall
20be eligible for an original scholarship under this section.
AB398,9,2 21(4) Technical college scholarships. (a) If a designated scholar under sub.
22(3) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic
23year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a
24scholar, in a technical college district school that is participating in the program

1under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship in an
2amount not to exceed $2,250 per academic year.
AB398,9,113 (b) For each academic year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par.
4(a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average or the
5equivalent as determined by the district school, and makes satisfactory progress
6toward an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, or a vocational diploma, the student
7is eligible to receive a higher education scholarship as determined under par. (a) in
8the subsequent year or, if the scholar does not enroll in a participating district school
9in the subsequent year, in the 2nd year following the year in which the scholar
10received the scholarship. No scholar is eligible for a higher education scholarship for
11more than 3 years at a district school.
AB398,9,1412 (c) Subject to sub. (5), for each year the student receives a higher education
13scholarship under par. (a) or (b), the board shall pay the district school, on behalf of
14the student, an amount not to exceed $1,125 per academic year.
AB398,9,17 15(5) Payments; match required. (a) The board shall make the payments under
16sub. (4) (c) only if the district school matches the amount of the payment from
17institutional funds, gifts, or grants.
AB398,9,1918 (b) The board shall make the payments under sub. (4) (c) from the
19appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fw).
AB398,9,25 20(6) Notifications; approval; withdrawal. (a) 1. Each technical college district
21school that wishes to participate in the scholarship program under this section shall
22notify the board of its wish to participate in the program by October 1 prior to the
23academic year in which the school wishes to begin participation. The board shall
24approve for participation in the program a district school that provides notice under
25this subdivision of its wish to participate in the program. An approval under this

1subdivision remains valid until suspended or revoked by the board or until
2withdrawn by the school as provided under subd. 2.
AB398,10,63 2. If a district school that is approved under subd. 1. for participation in the
4scholarship program under this section subsequently wishes to no longer participate
5in the program, the school shall notify the board of this fact in writing by October 1
6prior to the academic year in which the institution will no longer participate.
AB398,10,157 (b) Each designated scholar who is eligible for an original higher education
8scholarship under sub. (4) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable of the
9district school he or she will be attending in the next academic year. Each designated
10scholar who is eligible for a subsequent higher education scholarship under sub. (4)
11(a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable whether he or she will be enrolling
12in a participating district school in the academic year immediately following the
13academic year in which he or she received an original or subsequent scholarship
14under sub. (4) (a), or in the 2nd academic year following that academic year, and of
15the district school in which he or she will be enrolling.
AB398,10,1816 (c) Annually, the board shall notify each scholar who will be attending a
17participating technical college district school in the next academic year of the
18amount of his or her higher education scholarship.
AB398,10,20 19(7) Scholarships not to supplant other grants. A scholarship under this
20section shall not be used to supplant any other grant for which a student is eligible.
AB398,10,25 21(8) Annual report. By August 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the board shall
22submit a report to the joint committee on finance evaluating the success of the
23program under this section. The report shall specify the number and amount of the
24scholarships awarded in the current fiscal year and the technical college district
25schools chosen by the scholarship recipients.
AB398,11,1
1(9) Rules. The board shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
AB398,3 2Section 3. Initial applicability.
AB398,11,53 (1) Technical excellence higher education scholarships. This act first
4applies to students who enroll in a technical college district school in the 2015-16
5academic year.
AB398,11,66 (End)
Loading...
Loading...