Chapter 118

118.51(14)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the parent of a pupil attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section is responsible for transporting the pupil to and from school in the nonresident school district attended by the pupil.

118.51(14)(a)2. 2. If the pupil is a child with a disability and transportation of the pupil is required in the individualized education program developed for the child under s. 115.787 (2) or is required under s. 121.54 (3), the nonresident school district shall provide such transportation for the child.

118.51(14)(b) (b) Low-income assistance. The parent of a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) and who will be attending public school in a nonresident school district in the following school year under this section may apply to the department, on the form prepared under sub. (15) (a), for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the parent for the transportation of the pupil to and from the pupil’s residence and the school that the pupil will be attending. The department shall determine the reimbursement amount and shall pay the amount from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cy). The reimbursement amount may not exceed the actual transportation costs incurred by the parent or 3 times the statewide average per pupil transportation costs, whichever is less. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cy) in any one year is insufficient to pay the full amount of approved claims under this paragraph, payments shall be prorated among the parents entitled thereto. By the 2nd Friday following the first Monday in May following receipt of the parent’s application under sub. (3) (a), the department shall provide to each parent requesting reimbursement under this paragraph an estimate of the amount of reimbursement that the parent will receive if the pupil attends public school in the nonresident school district in the following school year.

118.51(15) (15) Department duties. The department shall do all of the following:

118.51(15)(a) (a) Application form. Prepare, distribute to school districts, and make available to parents an application form to be used by parents under sub. (3) (a) and an application form to be used by parents under sub. (3m) (a). The form shall include provisions that permit a parent to apply for transportation reimbursement under sub. (14) (b). The form shall require an applicant who is applying to attend a virtual charter school to indicate that he or she is applying to attend a virtual charter school, the number of virtual charter schools to which he or she is applying, and whether he or she is a sibling of a pupil currently enrolled in a virtual charter school through the open enrollment program.

118.51(15)(b) (b) Information and assistance. Develop and implement an outreach program to educate parents about the open enrollment program under this section, including activities specifically designed to educate low-income parents, and services to answer parents’ questions about the program and assist them in exercising the open enrollment option provided under this section.

118.51(15)(c) (c) Annual report. Annually submit a report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). The report under this paragraph shall include all of the following information:

118.51(15)(c)1. 1. The number of pupils who applied to attend public school in a nonresident school district under this section.

118.51(15)(c)2. 2. The number of applications received under subs. (3) (a) and (3m) (a) and, for the applications received under sub. (3m) (a), the number of applications received under each of the criteria listed in sub. (3m) (b).

118.51(15)(c)3. 3. The number of applications denied and the bases for the denials.

118.51(15)(c)4. 4. The number of pupils attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section. The department shall specify, separately, the number of pupils attending public school in a nonresident school district whose applications were accepted under subs. (3) (a) 3. and (3m) (c), and, for the applications accepted under sub. (3m) (c), the number of pupils attending under each of the criteria listed in sub. (3m) (b).

118.51(16) (16) State aid adjustments.

118.51(16)(a) (a) Annually, the department shall determine all of the following:

118.51(16)(a)1. 1. For each school district, the number of nonresident pupils attending public school in the school district under this section, other than pupils for whom a payment is made under sub. (17) (a), (c), or (cm).

118.51(16)(a)2. 2. For each school district, the number of resident pupils attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section, other than pupils for whom a payment is made under sub. (17) (a), (c), or (cm).

118.51(16)(a)3. 3.

118.51(16)(a)3.a. a. For the amount in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, the amount determined under this subdivision for the previous school year plus $150.

118.51(16)(a)3.b. b. Beginning with the amount in the 2015-16 school year and, except as provided in subd. 3. c., in each school year thereafter, the sum of the amount determined under this subdivision for the previous school year; the amount of the per pupil revenue limit adjustment under s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.

118.51(16)(a)3.c. c. For the amount in the 2017-18 to 2020-21 school years, the amount determined under subd. 3. b. plus $100.

118.51(16)(b) (b)

118.51(16)(b)1. 1. If the number determined in par. (a) 1. is greater than the number determined in par. (a) 2. for a school district, the department shall increase that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference multiplied by the amount determined under par. (a) 3.

118.51(16)(b)2. 2. If the number determined in par. (a) 1. is less than the number determined in par. (a) 2. for a school district, the department shall decrease that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference multiplied by the amount determined under par. (a) 3. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall decrease other state aid payments made by the department to the school district by the remaining amount. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 and other state aid payments made by the department to the school district are insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall use the moneys appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cg) to pay the balance to school districts under subd. 1.

118.51(16)(c) (c) If a pupil attends public school in a nonresident school district under this section for less than a full school term, the department shall prorate the state aid adjustments under this subsection and sub. (17) (c) and (cm) based on the number of days that school is in session and the pupil attends public school in the nonresident school district.

118.51(16)(d) (d) The department shall ensure that the aid adjustments under par. (b) and sub. (17) (c) and (cm) do not affect the amount determined to be received by a school district as state aid under s. 121.08 for any other purpose.

118.51(17) (17) Pupil transfer amount and payments to a nonresident school board; children with disabilities.

118.51(17)(a) (a) In the 2015-16 school year, the resident school board shall pay to the nonresident school board, for each child who is attending public school in the nonresident school district under this section and is receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115, tuition calculated using the daily tuition rate under s. 121.83 for such children enrolled in the nonresident school district, or an amount agreed to by the school boards of the 2 school districts.

118.51(17)(b) (b)

118.51(17)(b)1. 1. Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the department shall determine all of the following:

118.51(17)(b)1.a. a. For each school district, the number of nonresident pupils attending public school in the school district under this section who are receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115.

118.51(17)(b)1.b. b. For each school district, the number of resident pupils attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section who are receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115 in the nonresident school district.

118.51(17)(b)2. 2.

118.51(17)(b)2.a. a. In the 2016-17 school year, the per pupil transfer amount is $12,000.

118.51(17)(b)2.b. b. In the 2017-18 school year, the per pupil transfer amount is the sum of the per pupil transfer amount for the previous school year; the amount of the per pupil revenue limit adjustment under s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.

118.51(17)(b)2.c. c. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, and subject to subd. 3., the per pupil transfer amount is the sum of the per pupil transfer amount for the previous school year; the amount of the per pupil revenue limit adjustment under s. 121.91 (2m) for the current school year, if positive; and the change in the amount of statewide categorical aid per pupil between the previous school year and the current school year, as determined under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) 2p., if positive.

118.51(17)(b)3. 3. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, if a nonresident school board submitted a financial statement for a child with a disability under sub. (12) (a) in the previous school year, the per pupil transfer amount for that child is the amount shown on the financial statement for that child for the previous school year, up to $30,000.

118.51(17)(bm) (bm)

118.51(17)(bm)1. 1. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, the department shall determine all of the following for each school district:

118.51(17)(bm)1.a. a. The number of nonresident pupils attending public school in the school district under this section who are receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115 and for whom no financial statement was submitted under sub. (12) (a) in that school year.

118.51(17)(bm)1.b. b. The amount shown on each financial statement submitted in that school year under sub. (12) (a) by the school board of that school district for a nonresident pupil who is attending public school in the school district under this section and receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115. If the amount shown on any financial statement described in this subd. 1. b. exceeds $30,000, for the purpose of subd. 2. b., the department shall identify the amount shown as $30,000.

118.51(17)(bm)1.c. c. The number of resident pupils attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section who are receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115 and for whom the nonresident school board did not submit a financial statement under sub. (12) (a) in that school year.

118.51(17)(bm)1.d. d. The amount shown on each financial statement submitted in that school year under sub. (12) (a) for a pupil who is a resident of the school district and who is attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section and receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115. If the amount shown on any financial statement described in this subd. 1. d. exceeds $30,000, for the purpose of subd. 2. e., the department shall identify the amount shown as $30,000.

118.51(17)(bm)2. 2. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, for each school district, the department shall do all of the following:

118.51(17)(bm)2.a. a. Multiply the number under subd. 1. a. by the per pupil transfer amount under par. (b) 2. c.

118.51(17)(bm)2.b. b. Determine the sum of the amounts shown on the financial statements submitted as described under subd. 1. b.

118.51(17)(bm)2.c. c. Determine the sum of the product under subd. 2. a. and the sum under subd. 2. b.

118.51(17)(bm)2.d. d. Multiply the number under subd. 1. c. by the per pupil transfer amount under par. (b) 2. c.

118.51(17)(bm)2.e. e. Determine the sum of the amounts shown on the financial statements submitted as described under subd. 1. d.

118.51(17)(bm)2.f. f. Determine the sum of the product under subd. 2. d. and the sum under subd. 2. e.

118.51(17)(c) (c)

118.51(17)(c)1. 1. If the number determined in par. (b) 1. a. is greater than the number determined in par. (b) 1. b. for a school district, in the 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 school years, the department shall increase that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference multiplied by an amount under par. (b) 2. a., b., or c.

118.51(17)(c)2. 2. If the number determined in par. (b) 1. a. is less than the number determined in par. (b) 1. b. for a school district, in the 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 school years, the department shall decrease that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference multiplied by an amount under par. (b) 2. a., b., or c. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall decrease other state aid payments made by the department to the school district by the remaining amount. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 and other state aid payments made by the department to the school district are insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall use the moneys appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cg) to pay the balance to school districts under subd. 1.

118.51(17)(cm) (cm)

118.51(17)(cm)1. 1. If the amount determined under par. (bm) 2. c. is greater than the amount determined under par. (bm) 2. f. for a school district, beginning in the 2019-20 school year, the department shall increase that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference.

118.51(17)(cm)2. 2. If the amount determined under par. (bm) 2. c. is less than the amount determined under par. (bm) 2. f. for a school district, beginning in the 2019-20 school year, the department shall decrease that school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08 by an amount equal to the difference. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall decrease other state aid payments made by the department to the school district by the remaining amount. If the state aid payment under s. 121.08 and other state aid payments made by the department to the school district are insufficient to cover the reduction, the department shall use the moneys appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cg) to pay the balance to school districts under subd. 1.

118.51(18) (18) Location of virtual charter schools. For purposes of this section, a virtual charter school is located in the school district specified in s. 118.40 (8) (a).

118.51 History History: 1997 a. 27, 41, 164; 1999 a. 117, 118; 2001 a. 16, 104; 2003 a. 55; 2005 a. 258; 2007 a. 222; 2009 a. 185, 250, 303, 304; 2011 a. 32, 114, 258; 2013 a. 20, 165; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59, 143, 366; 2021 a. 19.

118.51 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PI 36, Wis. adm. code.

118.51 Annotation Sub. (6) provides no authority to limit resident student transfers, or open enrollment, provided for in sub. (2) after the 2005-06 school year. Because there are no express provisions for any school year beyond 2005-06 and no indication that the application of the 2005-06 percentage limits would be ongoing, the application of the percentage limits must end in 2005-06. School District v. Evers, 2010 WI App 144, 330 Wis. 2d 80, 792 N.W.2d 615, 10-0829.

118.51 Annotation While this section imposes application requirements and some limitations, for example relating to racial balance and special education students under subs. (7) and (12) (b) 1., there are no restrictions on resident transfers based on the overall financial health of the resident district. School District v. Evers, 2010 WI App 144, 330 Wis. 2d 80, 792 N.W.2d 615, 10-0829.

118.51 Annotation The portion of sub. (7) (a) that requires a school district eligible for aid under subch. VI of ch. 121 to reject an open enrollment application if the requested transfer into or out of the district would increase the district’s racial imbalance is inconsistent with the equal protection guarantees of the U.S. Constitution, as those guarantees were applied in Seattle School District No. 1, 551 U.S. 701 (2007). OAG 4-07. See also N.N. v. Madison Metropolitan School District, 670 F. Supp. 2d 927 (2009).

118.51 Annotation Differential treatment of special needs students doesn’t make the open enrollment program unlawful. Federal law forbids discrimination based on stereotypes about a handicap, but it does not forbid decisions based on the actual attributes of the handicap. The program makes decisions based on the actual needs of students with disabilities, so it complies with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC 12132, and the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 USC 794 (a). P.F. v. Taylor, 914 F.3d 467 (2019).

118.51 Annotation Open Enrollment: What’s in the Best Interest of Wisconsin Students, Families, and Public Schools? Malugade. 97 MLR 813 (2014).

118.52 118.52 Part-time open enrollment.

118.52(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

118.52(1)(ar) (ar) “Nonresident school board” means the school board of a nonresident school district.

118.52(1)(b) (b) “Nonresident school district” means a school district, other than a pupil’s resident school district, in which the pupil is attending a course or has applied to attend a course under this section.

118.52(1)(c) (c) “Parent” includes a guardian.

118.52(1)(d) (d) “Resident school board” means the school board of a resident school district.

118.52(1)(e) (e) “Resident school district” means the school district in which a pupil resides.

118.52(2) (2) Applicability. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, a pupil enrolled in a public school in the high school grades may attend public school in a nonresident school district under this section for the purpose of taking a course offered by the nonresident school district. A pupil may attend no more than 2 courses at any time in nonresident school districts under this section.

118.52(3) (3) Application procedures.

118.52(3)(a) (a) The parent of a pupil who wishes to attend public school in a nonresident school district for the purpose of taking a course under this section shall submit an application, on a form provided by the department, to the school board of the nonresident school district in which the pupil wishes to attend a course not later than 6 weeks prior to the date on which the course is scheduled to commence. The application shall specify the course that the pupil wishes to attend and may specify the school or schools at which the pupil wishes to attend the course. The nonresident school board shall send a copy of the application to the pupil’s resident school board, except that if the pupil is attending a school in a school district other than the pupil’s resident school district pursuant to a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50, the nonresident school district to which the pupil applies under this section shall send a copy of the application to the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school pursuant to the whole grade sharing agreement.

118.52(3)(b) (b) If a nonresident school board receives more applications for a particular course than there are spaces available in the course, the nonresident school board shall determine which pupils to accept on a random basis.

118.52(3)(c) (c) No later than one week prior to the date on which the course is scheduled to commence, the nonresident school board shall notify the applicant and the resident school board, in writing, whether the application has been accepted and, if the application is accepted, the school at which the pupil may attend the course. If the applicant pupil is attending a school in a school district other than the pupil’s resident school district pursuant to a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50, the school board of the district to which the pupil applies under this section shall provide the notice required under this paragraph to the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school pursuant to the whole grade sharing agreement. The acceptance applies only for the following semester, school year, or other session in which the course is offered. If the school board of the district to which the pupil applies under this section rejects an application, it shall include in the notice the reason for the rejection.

118.52(3)(d) (d) No later than one week prior to the date on which the course is scheduled to commence, the resident school board, or, in the case of a pupil attending a school in a school district other than the pupil’s resident school district pursuant to a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50, the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school, shall do all of the following:

118.52(3)(d)1. 1. If it denies an application to attend public school in a nonresident school district under sub. (6), notify the applicant and the nonresident school board, in writing, that the application has been denied and include in the notice the reason for the rejection.

118.52(3)(d)2. 2. If it determines that the course does not satisfy high school graduation requirements under s. 118.33 in the resident school district, notify the applicant in writing.

118.52(3)(e) (e) Following receipt of a notice of acceptance but prior to the date on which the course is scheduled to commence, the pupil’s parent shall notify the resident school board, or, if the pupil is attending school in a school district other than the pupil’s resident school district pursuant to a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50, the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school, and the school board of the district to which the pupil applies under this section of the pupil’s intent to attend the course in the school district to which the pupil applies under this section.

118.52(4) (4) Adoption of policies and criteria. By February 1, 1998, each school board shall adopt a resolution specifying the criteria and policies described in subs. (5) and (6). If the school board wishes to revise the criteria or policies, it shall do so by resolution.

118.52(5) (5) Nonresident school district acceptance and rejection criteria. School board policies and criteria for accepting and rejecting applications under sub. (3) from pupils who reside in another school district shall be the same as the policies and criteria for entry into the course that apply to pupils who reside in the school district, except that the school board may give preference in attendance in a course to residents of the school district.

118.52(6) (6) Resident school district rejection criteria.

118.52(6)(a) (a) Individualized education program requirements. The school board of a pupil’s resident school district, or, if the pupil is attending school in a school district other than the pupil’s resident school district pursuant to a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50, the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school, shall reject a pupil’s application to attend a course in a public school in a nonresident school district under this section if the resident school board or the school board of the district in which the pupil is attending school, respectively, determines that the course conflicts with the individualized education program for the pupil under s. 115.787 (2).

118.52(6)(b) (b) Undue financial burden. The school board of a pupil’s resident school district may reject an application to attend a course in a public school in a nonresident school district if the cost of the course would impose upon the resident school district an undue financial burden in light of the resident school district’s total economic circumstances, including its revenue limit under subch. VII of ch. 121, its ability to pay tuition costs for the pupil, and the per pupil cost for children continuing to be served by the resident school district.

118.52(8) (8) Appeal of rejection. If an application is rejected under sub. (3) (c) or a pupil is prohibited from attending a course in a public school in a nonresident school district under sub. (6), the pupil’s parent may appeal the decision to the department within 30 days after the decision. The department shall affirm the decision unless the department finds that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. The department’s decision is final and is not subject to judicial review under subch. III of ch. 227.

118.52(9) (9) Rights and privileges of nonresident pupils. A pupil attending a course in a public school in a nonresident school district under this section has all of the rights and privileges of pupils residing in that school district and is subject to the same rules and regulations as pupils residing in that school district.

118.52(10) (10) Disciplinary records. Notwithstanding s. 118.125, the resident school board shall provide to the nonresident school board to which a pupil has applied under this section, upon request by that school board, a copy of any expulsion findings and orders, a copy of records of any pending disciplinary proceeding involving the pupil, a written explanation of the reasons for the expulsion or pending disciplinary proceeding, and the length of the term of the expulsion or the possible outcomes of the pending disciplinary proceeding.

118.52(11) (11) Transportation.

118.52(11)(a) (a) Responsibility. The parent of a pupil attending a course in a public school in a nonresident school district under this section is responsible for transporting the pupil to and from the course that the pupil is attending.

118.52(11)(b) (b) Low-income assistance. The parent of a pupil who is attending a course in a public school in a nonresident school district under this section may apply to the department for reimbursement of the costs incurred by the parent for the transportation of the pupil to and from the pupil’s residence or school in which the pupil is enrolled and the school at which the pupil is attending the course if the pupil and parent are unable to pay the cost of such transportation. The department shall determine the reimbursement amount and shall pay the amount from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cy). The department shall give preference under this paragraph to those pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).