Chapter PI 40

PI 40.01   Definitions.

PI 40.02   Applicability.

PI 40.03   Notification to school board, governing body of a private school, or governing board of an independent charter school.

PI 40.04   Undue financial burden.

PI 40.05   Transportation reimbursement.

PI 40.06   Determination of credit.

PI 40.07   Appeals.

Ch. PI 40 Note Note: Chapter PI 40 was repealed and recreated effective June 1, 2019.

PI 40.01 PI 40.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

PI 40.01(1) (1) “Attended” means courses taken by pupils in an online, blended, or in-person format.

PI 40.01(1m) (1m) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

PI 40.01(1r) (1r) “Governing board of an independent charter school” means a governing board of an independent charter school authorized under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), Stats.

PI 40.01(2) (2) “Governing body of a private school” has the meaning given under s. 118.55 (1) (b), Stats.

PI 40.01(3) (3) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning given under s. 118.55 (1) (bm), Stats.

PI 40.01(4) (4) “Parent” includes a guardian.

PI 40.01(5) (5) “Participating private school” has the meaning given under s. 118.55 (1) (c), Stats.

PI 40.01(6) (6) “State superintendent” means the state superintendent of public instruction.

PI 40.01 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19; CR 21-010: cr. (1m), (6) Register September 2021 No. 789, eff.10-1-21; CR 24-020: cr. (2r) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24; (2r) renum. to (1r) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register July 2024 No. 823.

PI 40.02 PI 40.02 Applicability. This chapter governs the early college credit program under s. 118.55, Stats., and is promulgated pursuant to s. 118.55 (9), Stats.

PI 40.02 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

PI 40.03 PI 40.03 Notification to school board, governing body of a private school, or governing board of an independent charter school. A pupil intending to enroll in an institution of higher education under s. 118.55, Stats., shall provide the notice under s. 118.55 (3) (a), Stats., by the following dates:

PI 40.03(1) (1) By February 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the summer semester or session.

PI 40.03(2) (2) By March 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the fall semester.

PI 40.03(3) (3) By October 1 if the pupil intends to enroll in the spring semester.

PI 40.03 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19; CR 24-020: am. (title) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

PI 40.04 PI 40.04 Undue financial burden. The department shall determine under s. 118.55 (6) (c) 2., Stats., that paying 25 percent of the cost of a course is an undue financial burden on a pupil’s family if the pupil is eligible for free or reduced price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

PI 40.04 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

PI 40.05 PI 40.05 Transportation reimbursement.

PI 40.05(1) (1) Request form. A parent seeking reimbursement of transportation costs under s. 118.55 (7g), Stats., shall file the request on a form provided by the department. The request shall be filed with the department by July 15 following the school year in which the transportation was provided.

PI 40.05(2) (2) Mode of transportation.

PI 40.05(2)(a) (a) The state superintendent may only reimburse a parent under s. 118.55 (7g), Stats., for the cost of using a private vehicle if public transportation is unavailable or using public transportation would prevent the pupil from being able to attend the institution of higher education.

PI 40.05(2)(b) (b) The state superintendent may only reimburse a parent under s. 118.55 (7g), Stats., for a mode of transportation other than public transportation and a private vehicle if all of the following apply:

PI 40.05(2)(b)1. 1. Public transportation is unavailable or using public transportation would prevent the pupil from being able to attend the institution of higher education.

PI 40.05(2)(b)2. 2. The pupil or the pupil’s parent do not have access to a private vehicle.

PI 40.05(3) (3) Priority of reimbursement. If adequate funds are not available under s. 20.255 (2) (cy), Stats., to reimburse each eligible request for reimbursement under this section and s. 118.51 (14) (b), Stats., the state superintendent shall make reimbursements as follows:

PI 40.05(3)(a) (a) The state superintendent shall first fully reimburse each family eligible for free or reduced price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) or, if there are insufficient funds, on a prorated basis.

PI 40.05(3)(b) (b) If there are funds remaining after fully reimbursing families under par. (a) and under s. 118.51 (14) (b), Stats., the state superintendent shall reimburse any remaining requests for reimbursement fully or, if there are insufficient funds, on a prorated basis.

PI 40.05 Note Note: The Early College Credit Program Transportation Reimbursement Application online form is available on the Department’s open enrollment website at: https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment.

PI 40.05 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

PI 40.06 PI 40.06 Determination of credit.

PI 40.06(1) (1) Awarding credit.

PI 40.06(1)(a) (a) A school board, governing body of a private school, or governing board of an independent charter school may deny high school credit for a postsecondary course attended under s. 118.55, Stats., if any of the following apply:

PI 40.06(1)(a)1. 1. The postsecondary course is comparable to a course offered by the school district, private school, or independent charter school in which the student is enrolled, as determined under sub. (2).

PI 40.06(1)(a)2. 2. At least 80 percent of the postsecondary course covers content for which the pupil has already received high school credit.

PI 40.06(1)(a)3. 3. The postsecondary course covers content previously offered to the pupil in a different postsecondary course under s. 118.55, Stats., and the pupil received a failing grade in that course.

PI 40.06(1)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (a), a school board shall grant high school credit for a course attended under s. 118.55, Stats., if the postsecondary course meets any high school graduation requirement under s. 118.33, Stats., including any requirement contained in the school board’s policy required under s. PI 18.05 (1), or if the course fulfills any elective requirement.

PI 40.06(1)(c) (c) Except as provided under par. (a), a governing body of a private school shall grant high school credit for a course attended under s. 118.55, Stats., if the postsecondary course meets any high school graduation requirement.

PI 40.06(1)(cm) (cm) Except as provided under par. (a), a governing board of an independent charter school shall grant high school credit for a course attended under s. 118.55, Stats., if the postsecondary course meets any criteria for granting a high school diploma, including any criteria contained in the charter school’s policy under s. 118.33 (1) (f) 2., Stats.

PI 40.06(1)(d) (d) A school board, governing body of a private school, and governing board of an independent charter school shall evaluate a postsecondary course for high school credit under this subsection using the same method and criteria it would to approve a course the school board, governing body of a private school, or governing board of an independent charter school offered for high school credit.

PI 40.06(2) (2) Comparability. A postsecondary course is comparable to a course offered by a high school if all of the following apply to the high school course:

PI 40.06(2)(a) (a) The high school course is offered or will be offered between the date the pupil submits a notice under s. 118.55 (3) (a), Stats., and the date the pupil is expected to graduate from high school.

PI 40.06(2)(b) (b) The content of the high school course is at least 80 percent equivalent to the content of the postsecondary course. A determination under this paragraph shall be made by comparing, if available, the curriculum guide, course expectations, course goals, and the scope and sequence of the high school course to the course syllabus, if available, and course description for the postsecondary course.

PI 40.06(3) (3) Notification of appeal rights.

PI 40.06(3)(a) (a) A school board’s written notification under s. 118.55 (3) (b), Stats., regarding comparability of courses, satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, or the number of high school credits to be awarded shall inform the pupil of the right to appeal the school board’s decision to the state superintendent within 30 days of the decision.

PI 40.06(3)(b) (b) A governing body of a private school’s written notification under s. 118.55 (3) (b), Stats., regarding comparability of courses, satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, or the number of high school credits to be awarded shall inform the pupil of the right to appeal the governing body’s decision to the governing body within 30 days of the decision.

PI 40.06(3)(c) (c) A governing board of an independent charter school’s written notification under s. 118.55 (3) (b), Stats., regarding comparability of courses, satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, or the number of high school credits to be awarded shall inform the pupil of the right to appeal the governing board’s decision to the governing board within 30 days of the decision.

PI 40.06 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, 6-1-19; CR 24-020: am. (1) (a) (intro.), 1., cr. (1) (cm), am. (1) (d), cr. (3) (c) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

PI 40.07 PI 40.07 Appeals. The state superintendent shall review appeals made under s. 118.55 (3) (b), Stats., using the procedures under ss. PI 1.03 and 1.04 (9).

PI 40.07 History History: EmR1825: emerg. cr. eff. 10-27-18; EmR1905: emerg. cr. eff. 2-5-19; CR 18-077: cr. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.