118.55(3)(a)(a) A pupil who intends to enroll in an institution of higher education under this section shall notify the school board of the school district in which he or she is enrolled of that intention no later than March 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the fall semester, and no later than October 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the spring semester. The notice shall include the titles of the courses in which the pupil intends to enroll and the number of credits of each course, and shall specify whether the pupil will be taking the courses for high school or postsecondary credit.
118.55(3)(b)
(b) If the pupil specifies in the notice under
par. (a) that he or she intends to take a course at an institution of higher education for high school credit, the school board shall determine whether the course is comparable to a course offered in the school district, and whether the course satisfies any of the high school graduation requirements under
s. 118.33 and the number of high school credits to award the pupil for the course, if any. In cooperation with institutions of higher education, the state superintendent shall develop guidelines to assist school districts in making the determinations. The school board shall notify the pupil of its determinations, in writing, before the beginning of the semester in which the pupil will be enrolled. If the pupil disagrees with the school board's decision regarding comparability of courses, satisfaction of high school graduation requirements or the number of high school credits to be awarded, the pupil may appeal the school board's decision to the state superintendent within 30 days after the decision. The state superintendent's decision shall be final and is not subject to review under
subch. III of ch. 227.
118.55(4)
(4) Admission to institution of higher education; notification. 118.55(4)(a)(a) An institution of higher education may admit a pupil under this section only if it has space available.
118.55(4)(am)
(am) A pupil may attend an institution of higher education under this section only if the institution of higher education complies with
s. 118.13 (1).
118.55(4)(b)
(b) If an institution of higher education admits a pupil, it shall notify the school board of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled, in writing, within 30 days after the beginning of classes at the institution of higher education. The notification shall include the course or courses in which the pupil is enrolled.
118.55(4)(c)
(c) If a pupil is not admitted to attend the course that he or she specified in the notice under
sub. (3) (a) but is admitted to attend a different course, the pupil shall immediately notify the school board of the school district in which he or she is enrolled and the school board shall inform the pupil of its determinations under
sub. (3) (b) regarding the course to which the pupil was admitted as soon as practicable.
118.55(5)
(5) Payment. Subject to
sub. (7t), within 30 days after the end of the semester, the school board of the school district in which a pupil attending an institution of higher education under this section is enrolled shall pay the institution of higher education, on behalf of the pupil, the following amount for any course that is taken for high school credit and that is not comparable to a course offered in the school district:
118.55(5)(a)
(a) If the pupil is attending an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, the actual cost of tuition, fees, books and other necessary materials directly related to the course.
118.55(5)(c)
(c) If the pupil is attending a private institution of higher education, the lesser of the following:
118.55(5)(c)1.
1. The actual cost of tuition, fees, books and other necessary materials directly related to the course.
118.55(5)(c)2.
2. An amount determined by dividing the state total net cost of the general fund in the previous school year by the state total membership in the previous school year, dividing that quotient by the statewide average number of high school credits taken by full-time pupils in the previous school year, as determined by the state superintendent, and multiplying that quotient by the number of high school credits taken by the pupil at the private institution of higher education, as determined under
sub. (3) (b). In this subdivision, "net cost" has the meaning given in
s. 121.004 (6), and "membership" has the meaning given in
s. 121.004 (5).
118.55(6)
(6) Responsibility of pupil for tuition and fees; institution of higher education. 118.55(6)(a)(a) Subject to
sub. (7t), a pupil taking a course at an institution of higher education for high school credit under this section is not responsible for any portion of the tuition and fees for the course if the school board, or the state superintendent on appeal under
sub. (3) (b), has determined that the course is not comparable to a course offered in the school district.
118.55(6)(b)
(b) A pupil taking a course at an institution of higher education for high school credit under this section is responsible for the tuition and fees for the course if the school board has determined that the course is comparable to a course offered in the school district, unless the state superintendent reverses the school board's decision on appeal under
sub. (3) (b).
118.55(6)(c)
(c) A pupil taking a course at an institution of higher education for postsecondary credit under this section is responsible for the tuition and fees for the course.
118.55(7g)
(7g) Transportation. The parent or guardian of a pupil who is attending an institution of higher education or technical college under this section and is taking a course for high school credit may apply to the state superintendent for reimbursement of the cost of transporting the pupil between the high school in which the pupil is enrolled and the institution of higher education or technical college that the pupil is attending if the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian are unable to pay the cost of such transportation. The state superintendent shall determine the reimbursement amount and shall pay the amount from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (cw). The state superintendent shall give preference under this subsection to those pupils who are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under
42 USC 1758 (b).
118.55(7r)(a)(a) Upon the pupil's request and with the written approval of the pupil's parent or guardian, any public school pupil who satisfies the following criteria may apply to attend a technical college for the purpose of taking one or more courses:
118.55(7r)(a)3.
3. The pupil notifies the school board of his or her intent to attend a technical college under this subsection by March 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the fall semester and by October 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the spring semester.
118.55(7r)(a)5.
5. The pupil is not ineligible under
sub. (7t) (c) to participate in the program under this section.
118.55(7r)(am)
(am) A school board may refuse to permit a pupil to attend a technical college under this subsection if the pupil is a child with a disability, as defined in
s. 115.76 (5), and the school board determines that the cost to the school district under
par. (dm) would impose an undue financial burden on the school district.
118.55(7r)(b)
(b) The technical college district board shall admit the pupil to the technical college if he or she meets the requirements and prerequisites of the course or courses for which he or she applied, except as follows:
118.55(7r)(b)1.
1. The district board may admit a pupil to a course under this subsection only if there is space available in the course after admitting to the course all individuals applying for admission to the course who are not attending the technical college under this subsection.
118.55(7r)(b)2.
2. The district board may reject an application from a pupil who has a record of disciplinary problems, as determined by the district board.
118.55(7r)(c)
(c) If a child attends a technical college under this subsection, the technical college shall ensure that the child's educational program meets the high school graduation requirements under
s. 118.33. At least 30 days before the beginning of the technical college semester in which the pupil will be enrolled, the school board of the school district in which the pupil resides shall notify the pupil, in writing, if a course in which the pupil will be enrolled does not meet the high school graduation requirements and whether the course is comparable to a course offered in the school district. If the pupil disagrees with the school board's decision regarding comparability of courses or satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, the pupil may appeal the school board's decision to the state superintendent within 30 days after the decision. The state superintendent's decision is final and is not subject to review under
subch. III of ch. 227. The pupil is eligible to receive both high school and technical college credit for courses successfully completed at the technical college.
118.55(7r)(d)
(d) Subject to
sub. (7t), for each pupil attending a technical college under this subsection, the school board shall pay to the technical college district board, in 2 installments payable upon initial enrollment and at the end of the semester, for those courses taken for high school credit, an amount equal to the cost of tuition, course fees, and books for the pupil at the technical college, except that the school board is not responsible for payment for any courses that are comparable to courses offered in the school district.
118.55(7r)(dm)
(dm) If a pupil who is attending a technical college under this subsection is a child with a disability, as defined in
s. 115.76 (5), the payment under
par. (d) shall be adjusted to reflect the cost of any special services required for the pupil.
118.55(7r)(e)
(e) The school board is not responsible for transporting a pupil attending a technical college under this subsection to or from the technical college that the pupil is attending.
118.55(7r)(f)
(f) A pupil taking a course at a technical college for high school credit under this subsection is not responsible for any portion of the tuition and fees for the course if the school board is required to pay the technical college for the course under
par. (d).
118.55 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
TCS 9, Wis. adm. code.
118.55(7t)
(7t) Limitations on participation and payment. 118.55(7t)(a)(a) A school board may establish a written policy limiting the number of credits for which the school board will pay under
subs. (5) and
(7r) (d) to the equivalent of 18 postsecondary semester credits per pupil.
118.55(7t)(b)
(b) If a school board is required to pay tuition and fees on behalf of a pupil under
sub. (5) (a) or
(c) 1. or
(7r) (d), the tuition and fees charged may not exceed the amount that would be charged a pupil who is a resident of this state.
118.55(7t)(c)
(c) If a pupil receives a failing grade in a course, or fails to complete a course, at an institution of higher education or technical college for which the school board has made payment, the pupil's parent or guardian, or the pupil if he or she is an adult, shall reimburse the school board the amount paid on the pupil's behalf upon the school board's request. If a school board that requests reimbursement of a payment made under this section is not reimbursed as requested, the pupil on whose behalf the payment was made is ineligible for any further participation in the program under this section. For the purposes of this paragraph, a grade that constitutes a failing grade for a course offered in the school district constitutes a failing grade for a course taken at an institution of higher education or technical college under this section.
118.55(8)
(8) Program information. Annually by October 1, each school board shall provide information about the program under this section to all pupils enrolled in the school district in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades.
118.55(9)
(9) Rules. The state superintendent shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including rules establishing criteria for determining reimbursement amounts under
sub. (7g).
118.55 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
PI 38 and
40, Wis. adm. code.
118.56
118.56
Work based learning programs. A school board, a governing body of a charter school established under
s. 118.40 (2r), or a governing body of a private school may create a work based learning program for pupils in grades 9 to 12. A school board or governing body that creates a work based learning program under this section shall create the program to do all of the following:
118.56(1)
(1) Require a pupil in the program to work at least 280 hours per school year for an employer that complies with
sub. (3). Hours of instruction may not be used to satisfy the work requirements under this subsection.
118.56(2)
(2) Require a pupil to complete the required work hours by working no fewer than 40 and no more than 50 days per school year, by working no fewer than 6 and no more than 8 hours per day, and by working no more than 2 days per week.
118.56(3)
(3) Require that an employer who participates in the program do all of the following:
118.56(3)(a)
(a) Comply with state child labor laws and any applicable federal labor law requirements for age and immigration status.
118.56(3)(b)
(b) Provide each pupil with occupational training and work based learning experiences.
118.56(3)(c)
(c) Provide each pupil with at least 30 hours of training while employing the pupil.
118.56(3)(d)
(d) Provide each pupil with a mentor who supervises the pupil's work and provides the pupil with a year-end evaluation.
118.56(3)(e)
(e) Provide a year-end evaluation to the pupil.
118.56(4)
(4) Provide transportation to and from the workplace at no cost to the pupil or the pupil's family.
118.56(5)
(5) In determining eligibility for the program, allow the school board or governing body to require a pupil to demonstrate employability through an interview process, teacher recommendations, or previous work, internship, or volunteer experience.
118.56(6)
(6) Require that a pupil who wishes to participate in the program enter into a signed agreement with the participating school and the pupil's parent or guardian.
118.56 History
History: 2013 a. 20.
118.60
118.60
Parental choice program for eligible school districts and other school districts. 118.60(1)(ab)
(ab) "Accrediting entity" means Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located, and any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.
118.60(1)(ad)
(ad) "Administrator" means the superintendent, supervising principal, executive director, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a private school participating in the program under this section.
118.60(1)(af)
(af) "Disqualified organization" means an accrediting organization that is not an accrediting entity or a member of or otherwise sanctioned by an accrediting entity.
118.60(1)(ag)
(ag) "Disqualified person" means a person who, when a private school was barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section by an order issued under
sub. (10), satisfied at least one of the following:
118.60(1)(ag)1.
1. Had a controlling ownership interest in, or was the administrator or an officer, director, or trustee of, the private school.
118.60(1)(ag)2.
2. Was a person designated by the administrator of the private school to assist in processing pupil applications.
118.60(1)(ag)3.
3. Was responsible for an action or circumstance that led to the private school being barred or terminated from participation in the program under this section.
118.60(1)(am)
(am) "Eligible school district" means a school district that, subject to
sub. (1m), satisfies all of the following:
118.60(1)(am)1.
1. The school district's equalized value per member, as determined in accordance with
s. 121.15 (4) on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium for the distribution of equalization aid in that year, is no more than 80 percent of the statewide average.
118.60(1)(am)2.
2. The school district's shared cost per member, as determined in accordance with
s. 121.07 on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, for the distribution of aid in that year is no more than 91 percent of the statewide average.
118.60(1)(am)3.
3. The school district is eligible, in the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, to receive aid under
s. 121.136.
118.60(1)(am)4.
4. The school district is located in whole or in part in a city of the 2nd class.
118.60(1)(bn)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., "new private school" means a school that qualifies as a private school under
s. 115.001 (3r) and that satisfies either of the following:
118.60(1)(bn)1.a.
a. The school has been in continuous operation in this state for less than 12 consecutive months.
118.60(1)(bn)1.b.
b. The school provides education to fewer than 40 pupils divided into 2 or fewer grades.
118.60(1)(bn)2.
2. "New private school" does not include a private school the governing body of which operates or manages a private school that is participating in the program under this section or under
s. 119.23 if all of the following apply:
118.60(1)(bn)2.a.
a. No payment has been withheld from any private school operated or managed by the governing body under
sub. (10) (d) or
s. 119.23 (10) (d) in the 3 immediately preceding school years.
118.60(1)(c)
(c) "Preaccreditation" means the review and approval of an educational plan. Review of an education plan includes consideration of whether the school submitting the plan meets the requirements under
s. 118.165 (1). The fact that a private school has obtained preaccreditation does not require an accrediting entity to accredit the private school.
118.60(1)(cm)
(cm) "Preaccrediting entity" means the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, Wisconsin North Central Association, Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, and the diocese or archdiocese within which a private school is located.
118.60(1)(f)
(f) "Summer choice average daily membership equivalent" means the summer average daily membership equivalent of pupils who were attending a private school under this section on the 2nd Friday of January of the school term immediately preceding that summer or whose applications have been accepted under
sub. (3) for attendance at the private school in the school term immediately following that summer.
118.60(1)(g)
(g) "Teacher" means a person who has primary responsibility for the academic instruction of pupils.
118.60(1m)
(1m) By November 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of each fiscal biennium, the department shall prepare a list that identifies eligible school districts. The department shall post the list on the department's Internet site and shall notify in writing the school district clerk of each eligible school district. A school district that has qualified as an eligible school district under this section on April 20, 2012, shall remain an eligible school district, but no school district may qualify as an eligible school district after April 20, 2012.
118.60(2)(a)(a) 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:
118.60(2)(a)1.a.a. Except as provided in
par. (bm), the pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 3.0 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget. In this subdivision and
sub. (3m), family income includes income of the pupil's parents or legal guardians. The family income of the pupil shall be verified as provided in
subd. 1. b. A pupil attending a private school under this section whose family income increases may continue to attend a private school under this section.
118.60(2)(a)1.b.
b. The private school submits to the department of public instruction the names, addresses, social security numbers, and other state and federal tax identification numbers, if any, of the pupil's parents or legal guardians that reside in the same household as the pupil, whether and to whom the parents or legal guardians are married, the names of all of the other members of the pupil's family residing in the same household as the pupil, and the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. The department of revenue shall review the information submitted under this
subd. 1. b. and shall verify the eligibility or ineligibility of the pupil to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. In this subdivision, "family income" means federal adjusted gross income of the parents or legal guardians residing in the same household as the pupil for the tax year preceding the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. or, if not available, for the tax year preceding the tax year preceding the school year for which family income is being verified under this
subd. 1. b. Family income for a family in which the pupil's parents are married or in which the pupil's legal guardians are married shall be reduced by $7,000 before the verification is made under this
subd. 1. b. The department of revenue may take no other action on the basis of the information submitted under this
subd. 1. b. If the department of revenue is unable to verify family income or to verify whether the pupil is eligible or ineligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income, the department of revenue shall notify the department of public instruction of this fact and the department of public instruction shall utilize an alternative process, to be established by the department of public instruction, to determine whether the pupil is eligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. The department of public instruction may not request any additional verification of income from the family of a pupil once the department of revenue has verified that the pupil is eligible to participate in the program under this section on the basis of family income. The department of public instruction shall establish a procedure for determining family income eligibility for those pupils for whom no social security number or state or federal tax identification number has been provided.
