Chapter 118

118.51(5)(a) (a) Permissible criteria. Except as provided in sub. (3) (a) 2., the criteria for accepting and rejecting applications from nonresident pupils under subs. (3) (a) and (3m) (a) may include only the following:

118.51(5)(a)1. 1. The availability of space in the schools, programs, classes, or grades within the nonresident school district. The nonresident school board shall determine the number of regular education and special education spaces available within the school district in the January meeting of the school board, except that for the 2011-12 school year the board shall determine the number of regular education and special education spaces available within the school district in the February meeting of the school board. In determining the availability of space, the nonresident school board may consider criteria such as class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios, or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board and may include in its count of occupied spaces all of the following:

118.51(5)(a)1.a. a. Pupils attending the school district for whom tuition is paid under s. 121.78 (1) (a).

118.51(5)(a)1.b. b. Pupils and siblings of pupils who have applied under sub. (3) (a) or (3m) (a) and are already attending the nonresident school district.

118.51(5)(a)1.c. c. If the nonresident school district is a union high school district, pupils who have applied under sub. (3) (a) or (3m) (a) and are currently attending an underlying elementary school district of the nonresident school district under this section.

118.51(5)(a)2. 2. Whether the pupil has been expelled from school by any school district during the current or 2 preceding school years for any of the following reasons or whether a disciplinary proceeding involving the pupil, which is based on any of the following reasons, is pending:

118.51(5)(a)2.a. a. Conveying or causing to be conveyed any threat or false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to destroy any school property by means of explosives.

118.51(5)(a)2.b. b. Engaging in conduct while at school or while under supervision of a school authority that endangered the health, safety or property of others.

118.51(5)(a)2.c. c. Engaging in conduct while not at school or while not under the supervision of a school authority that endangered the health, safety or property of others at school or under the supervision of a school authority or of any employee of the school district or member of the school board.

118.51(5)(a)2.d. d. Possessing a dangerous weapon, as defined in s. 939.22 (10), while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority.

118.51(5)(a)3. 3. Whether the nonresident school board determined that the pupil was habitually truant from the nonresident school district during any semester of attendance at the nonresident school district in the current or previous school year.

118.51(5)(a)4. 4. Whether the special education or related services described in the child’s individualized education program under s. 115.787 (2) are available in the nonresident school district or whether there is space available to provide the special education or related services identified in the child’s individualized education program, including any class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board.

118.51(5)(a)6. 6. Whether the child has been referred to his or her resident school board under s. 115.777 (1) or identified by his or her resident school board under s. 115.77 (1m) (a) but not yet evaluated by an individualized education program team appointed by his or her resident school board under s. 115.78 (1).

118.51(5)(b) (b) Rejection after initial acceptance. The criteria under par. (a) may provide that, notwithstanding the nonresident school board’s acceptance of an application under sub. (3) (a) 3., at any time prior to the beginning of the school year in which the pupil will first attend school in the school district under this section, the school board may notify the pupil that he or she may not attend school in the school district if the school board determines that any of the criteria under par. (a) 2. are met.

118.51(5)(d) (d) Waiting list.

118.51(5)(d)1. 1. The school board of a nonresident school district may create a waiting list of pupils whose applications were rejected under sub. (3) (a) 3. The nonresident school board may accept pupils from a waiting list created under this paragraph until the 3rd Thursday in September but only if the pupil will be in attendance at the school or program in the nonresident school district on the 3rd Friday in September. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (a) 6., if a pupil is accepted from a waiting list created under this paragraph after the start of the school term, the parent shall immediately notify the resident school district of the pupil’s intent to attend school in the nonresident school district for the current school term.

118.51(5)(d)2. 2. A pupil accepted from a waiting list created under this paragraph may attend the school or program in the nonresident school district even if the pupil has attended a school or program in the pupil’s resident school district in the current school term, but not if the pupil has attended a school or program in a nonresident school district in the current school term.

118.51(5)(d)3. 3. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this paragraph.

118.51(7) (7) Racial balance. The school board of a school district that receives applications for transfer into the school district under subch. VI of ch. 121 and this section may not accept applications made under this section until it has accepted or rejected all applications made under subch. VI of ch. 121.

118.51(8) (8) Disciplinary records. Notwithstanding s. 118.125, for an application submitted under sub. (3) (a), by the first Friday following the first Monday in May, and within 10 days of receiving a copy of an application under sub. (3m) (c), the resident school board shall provide to the nonresident school board to which a pupil has applied under this section a copy of any expulsion findings and orders pertaining to the pupil, 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.

118.51(9) (9) Appeal of rejection. If the nonresident school board rejects an application under sub. (3) (a) or (7), the resident school board prohibits a pupil from attending public school in a nonresident school district under sub. (3m) (d) or the nonresident school board prohibits a pupil from attending public school in the nonresident school district under sub. (11), the pupil’s parent may appeal the decision to the department within 30 days after the decision. If the nonresident school board provides notice that the special education or related service is not available under sub. (12) (b), the pupil’s parent may appeal the required transfer to the department within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The department shall affirm the school board’s decision unless the department finds that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable.

118.51(10) (10) Pupil assignment. A nonresident school board may assign pupils accepted to attend public school in the school district under this section to a school or program within the school district. The school board may give preference in attendance at a school, program, class or grade to residents of the school district who live outside the school’s attendance area.

118.51(11) (11) Habitual truancy. Notwithstanding subs. (3) (c) and (13), if a nonresident school board determines that a pupil attending the nonresident school district under this section is habitually truant from the nonresident school district during either semester in the current school year, the nonresident school board may prohibit the pupil from attending the nonresident school district under this section in the succeeding semester or school year.

118.51(12) (12) Nonresident school district statement of educational costs; special education or related services.

118.51(12)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, at the end of a school year in which a child with a disability who attends a nonresident school district under this section and receives special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115 in the nonresident school district, the nonresident school board may submit to the department a financial statement that shows the actual costs the nonresident school board incurred to provide a free appropriate public education to the child during that school year. The department shall provide the resident school board with a copy of any financial statement it receives under this paragraph.

118.51(12)(b) (b) If the individualized education program for a pupil, developed or revised under s. 115.787 after a child begins attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section, requires special education or related services that are not available in the nonresident school district or if there is no space available to provide the special education or related services identified in the child’s individualized education program, including any class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board, the nonresident school board may notify the child’s parent and the child’s resident school board that the special education or related service is not available in the nonresident school district. If such notice is provided, the child shall be transferred to his or her resident school district, which shall provide an educational placement for the child under s. 115.79 (1) (b).

118.51(13) (13) Rights and privileges of nonresident pupils. Except as provided in s. 118.134 (3m), a pupil attending 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.

118.51(13m) (13m) Participation in certain programs. A pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under this section shall be considered a resident of the nonresident school district for the purposes of participating in programs of a cooperative educational service agency or a county children with disabilities education board.

118.51(14) (14) Transportation.

118.51(14)(a) (a) Responsibility.

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.