Chapter 121

121.07(2) (2) Membership. For the purposes of ss. 121.08, 121.09, 121.095, 121.105, and 121.137, a school district’s membership is the sum of all of the following:

121.07(2)(a) (a) The school district’s membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(b) (b) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year who were incoming choice pupils, as defined in s. 118.60 (4d) (a), and for whom a payment was made under s. 118.60 (4) (bg) in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(c) (c) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 115.7915 (4m) (a) or (e) in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(d) (d) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) to an operator of a charter school established under contract with an entity under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. to h. in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(f) (f) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2x) (e) in the previous school year.

121.07(6) (6) Shared cost.

121.07(6)(a) (a) “Shared cost” is the sum of the net cost of the general fund and the net cost of the debt service fund, except that “shared cost” excludes any costs, including attorney fees, incurred by a school district as a result of its participation in a lawsuit commenced against the state, beginning with such costs incurred in the fiscal year in which the lawsuit is commenced, excludes any expenditures from a capital improvement trust fund created under s. 120.137, excludes any debt service costs associated with an environmental remediation project under s. 67.05 (7) (er), and excludes the costs of transporting those transfer pupils for whom the school district operating under ch. 119 does not receive intradistrict transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) as a result of s. 121.85 (6) (am). In this paragraph:

121.07(6)(a)1m. 1m. “Net cost of the debt service fund” includes all of the following amounts:

121.07(6)(a)1m.a. a. If a school board makes an expenditure from a capital expansion fund created under s. 120.10 (10m), an amount determined by dividing the expenditure by the number of years in which the school district levied a tax for the capital project. This subd. 1m. a. applies for the number of years equal to the number of years in which the school district levied a tax for the capital project.

121.07(6)(a)1m.b. b. The annual cost of leasing a school or other school district facility if the lease provides for construction of the school or facility and the lease either provides that ownership of the school or facility transfers to the school district at the termination of the lease or provides an option for such a transfer.

121.07(6)(a)2m. 2m. “Net cost of the general fund” includes money deposited in a long-term capital improvement trust fund created under s. 120.137.

121.07(6)(am) (am) In par. (a), for the purpose of calculating state aid paid to a school district in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, “shared cost” excludes any amount expended in the previous school year from the school district’s fund balance to pay the school district’s unfunded pension liability under the Wisconsin Retirement System or to pay debt service for debt issued to refinance the balance of the unfunded pension liability if the result of excluding such expenditures is an increase in state aid paid to the school district under s. 121.08.

121.07(6)(b) (b) The “primary ceiling cost per member” is $1,000.

121.07(6)(c) (c) The “primary shared cost” is that portion of a district’s shared cost which is less than or equal to the primary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(d) (d) The “secondary ceiling cost per member” in the 2001-02 school year and in each school year thereafter is an amount determined by dividing the state total shared cost in the previous school year by the state total membership in the previous school year and multiplying the result by 0.90.

121.07(6)(dg) (dg) The “secondary shared cost” is that portion of a school district’s shared cost which is greater than the primary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership and less than or equal to the secondary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(dr) (dr) The “tertiary shared cost” is that portion of a school district’s shared cost which is greater than the secondary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(e) (e)

121.07(6)(e)1. 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09 that takes effect before July 1, 2019, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lowest dollar.

121.07(6)(e)2. 2. For a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105, in each of the 3 school years beginning on the July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization under s. 117.105, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7) (7) Guaranteed valuation per member.

121.07(7)(a) (a) The “primary guaranteed valuation per member” is $1,930,000.

121.07(7)(b) (b) The “secondary guaranteed valuation per member” is an amount, rounded to the next lower dollar, that, after subtraction of payments under ss. 121.09 and 121.85 (6) (b) 2. and 3. and (c), fully distributes an amount equal to the amount remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).

121.07(7)(bm) (bm) The “tertiary guaranteed valuation per member” is the amount rounded to the next lower dollar determined by dividing the equalized valuation of the state by the state total membership.

121.07(7)(c) (c) For districts operating only high school grades, the amounts in pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 3 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(d) (d) For districts operating only elementary grades, the amounts in pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.5 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(e) (e)

121.07(7)(e)1. 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09 that takes effect before July 1, 2019, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(e)2. 2. For a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105, in each of the 3 school years beginning on the July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization under s. 117.105, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(8) (8) Guaranteed valuation. A school district’s primary, secondary and tertiary guaranteed valuations are determined by multiplying the amounts in sub. (7) by the district’s membership.

121.07(10) (10) Required levy rate.

121.07(10)(a) (a) The “required levy rate” is the sum of the rates derived in pars. (b) to (d).

121.07(10)(b) (b) The “primary required levy rate” is the primary shared cost divided by the primary guaranteed valuation.

121.07(10)(c) (c) The “secondary required levy rate” is the secondary shared cost divided by the secondary guaranteed valuation.

121.07(10)(d) (d) The “tertiary required levy rate” is the tertiary shared cost divided by the tertiary guaranteed valuation.

121.07 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 61, 90, 190, 333; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29, 178, 418; 1979 c. 34, 221; 1981 c. 20, 317, 385; 1983 a. 27, 212; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 114, 309, 336, 359; 1991 a. 39, 269, 315; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4046m to 4064, 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 113, 286; 1999 a. 9, 17; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 71; 2013 a. 20, 336; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 219; 2023 a. 138.

121.08 121.08 Payment of state aids; reductions.

121.08(1) (1) The state shall pay to the school district the sum of the following amounts:

121.08(1)(a) (a) The amount by which the primary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation, multiplied by the primary required levy rate.

121.08(1)(b) (b) The amount by which the secondary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation multiplied by the secondary required levy rate.

121.08(1)(c) (c) The amount by which the tertiary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation multiplied by the tertiary required levy rate.

121.08(2) (2) The aid computed under sub. (1) shall be reduced by the sum of the amount by which the school district equalized valuation exceeds the secondary guaranteed valuation, multiplied by the secondary required levy rate, and the amount by which the school district equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation, multiplied by the tertiary required levy rate. In no case may the aid under this section be less than the amount under sub. (1) (a).

121.08(3) (3) The aid computed under sub. (1) shall be reduced by the amount by which the aid that the school district is receiving under sub. (1) as a result of the number of pupils reported as enrolled in the school district under s. 121.05 (1) (a) 7. exceeds the amount paid by the school district for tuition for those pupils.

121.08(4) (4) 

121.08(4)(b) (b) The amount of state aid that the school district operating under ch. 119 is eligible to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) shall be reduced by the amount calculated as follows:

121.08(4)(b)1. 1. Multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2009-10 school year by 41.6 percent, and multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2010-11 to 2012-13 school years by 38.4 percent. Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the current school year by a percentage determined by subtracting 3.2 percentage points from the percentage that was applied under this subdivision in the previous school year. This subdivision does not apply after the 2024-25 school year.

121.08(4)(b)2. 2. Multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2009-10 school year by 3.4 percent, and multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2010-11 school year and in each school year thereafter by 6.6 percent.

121.08(4)(b)3. 3. Add the amounts determined under subds. 1. and 2.

121.08(4)(d) (d) The state superintendent shall ensure that the total amount of aid reduction under par. (b) lapses to the general fund.

121.08 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1983 a. 509; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 100; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32, 157; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2021 a. 58.

121.085 121.085 State aid; other reductions.

121.085(1) (1) The department shall make state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17) before making a reduction under s. 115.7915 (4m) (f), 118.40 (2r) (g) or (2x) (f), or 118.60 (4d) (b).

121.085(2) (2) For purposes of ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 2., 118.40 (2r) (g) 2. and (2x) (f) 2., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 2., a school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover a reduction if, after making state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17), the amount of the school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover all of the reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1.

121.085(3) (3) The state superintendent shall ensure that the aid reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. lapse to the general fund.

121.085 History History: 2015 a. 55.

121.09 121.09 State aid adjustment; redetermination of assessment.

121.09(1) (1) If, on or after July 1, 1980, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, or if, on or after January 1, 1982, the state board of assessors makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after the date of the determination, decision, or judgment, file the determination of the state board of assessors, the decision of the tax appeals commission, or the judgment of the court with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the determination, decision, or judgment is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2) (2) If, on or after May 3, 1984, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is higher than the previous assessment, the state superintendent shall notify the school district in which the property is located of the recertification by the department of revenue under s. 70.57 (2). The state superintendent shall, in the subsequent fiscal year, withhold from the school district’s state aid entitlement under s. 121.08 an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year, using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2m) (2m) If after June 30, 1995, and before July 26, 2003, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission, or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of telephone company property subject to taxation under s. 70.112 (4) and subch. IV of ch. 76 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after July 26, 2003, file the redetermination with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the redetermination is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2r) (2r) If after July 26, 2003, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission, or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of telephone company property subject to taxation under s. 70.112 (4) and subch. IV of ch. 76 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after the redetermination, file the redetermination with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the redetermination is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09 History History: 1983 a. 372; 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33.

121.09 Annotation School districts may obtain adjustments in state aid payments whether their equalized valuation is changed either as a result of a reassessment of or a finding of exemption of manufacturing property. 73 Atty. Gen. 119.

121.095 121.095 State aid adjustment; Challenge Academy program.

121.095(1) (1) Annually the department shall reduce each school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08, or other state aid payments, if necessary, by an amount calculated as follows:

121.095(1)(a) (a) Determine the number of pupils counted in the school district’s membership who are attending the Challenge Academy program under s. 321.03 (1) (c).

121.095(1)(b) (b) Multiply the result under par. (a) by the lesser of the following:

121.095(1)(b)1. 1. The amount determined by the department of military affairs under s. 321.03 (1) (c) 1.

121.095(1)(b)2. 2. The amount determined for the school district under s. 121.91 (2m) (e) 3. for the current school year.

121.095(2) (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), annually the department of public instruction shall pay to the department of military affairs an amount equal to the sum of the reductions under sub. (1). The department of public instruction shall ensure that the aid adjustment under sub. (1) does not affect the amount determined to be received by a school district as state aid under s. 121.08 or for any other purpose.

121.095 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 200.

121.105 121.105 Special adjustment aids.

121.105(1) (1) In this section “state aid” means the sum of the payments provided to a school district under this section and ss. 121.08, 121.85 and 121.86.

121.105(2) (2) 

121.105(2)(am) (am)

121.105(2)(am)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a school district would receive less in state aid in the current school year before any adjustment is made under s. 121.15 (4) (b) than an amount equal to 85 percent of the amount of state aid that it received in the previous school year, as adjusted under s. 121.15 (4) (b) in the current school year, its state aid for the current school year shall be increased to an amount equal to 85 percent of the state aid received in the previous school year.

121.105(2)(am)2. 2. If a school district from which territory was detached to create a new school district under s. 117.105 would receive in state aid in the school year beginning on the first July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization less than 85 percent of the amount determined as follows, its state aid in the school year beginning on the first July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization shall be increased to an amount equal to 85 percent of the amount determined as follows:

121.105(2)(am)2.a. a. Divide the school district’s membership in the preceding school year by the school district’s membership in the 2nd preceding school year.

121.105(2)(am)2.b. b. Multiply the amount of state aid received by the school district in the preceding school year, as adjusted under s. 121.15 (4) (b) in the current school year, by the quotient under subd. 2. a.

121.105(2)(b) (b) A school district is eligible to receive additional aid under par. (am) only if additional aid does not result in a state aid payment greater than the school district’s shared cost.

121.105(3) (3) In the school year in which a school district consolidation takes effect under s. 117.08 or 117.09 and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the consolidated school district’s state aid shall be an amount that is not less than the aggregate state aid to which the consolidating school districts were eligible in the school year prior to the school year in which the consolidation takes effect. The additional state aid shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).

121.105(4) (4) In the school year in which a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50 first takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the department shall pay additional aid to each school district that is participating in the agreement to ensure that the school district receives no less state aid than the amount of state aid to which the school district was eligible in the school year prior to the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement took effect. In the 5th school year following the school year in which a whole grade sharing agreement first takes effect, the department shall pay additional aid to each school district that is participating in the whole grade sharing agreement in an amount that is equal to 66 percent of the payment that the school district received under this subsection in the prior school year. In the 6th school year following the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement first takes effect, the department shall pay to each school district that is participating in the whole grade sharing agreement an amount that is equal to 33 percent of the payment that the school district received in the 4th school year following the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement took effect. The department shall pay additional aid under this paragraph from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac). This subsection does not apply to the renewal of an existing whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50.

121.105 History History: 1985 a. 29, 251; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 114, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1997 a. 27, 113; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 104; 2005 a. 219, 222; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

121.135 121.135 State aid to county children with disabilities education boards.

121.135(1) (1) If, upon receipt of the plan under s. 115.77 (4), the state superintendent is satisfied that there are children participating in a special education program provided by a county children with disabilities education board, the state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bh) in favor of the county children with disabilities education board the amount determined under sub. (2), except as provided under sub. (3).

121.135(2) (2) 

121.135(2)(a) (a) In this subsection:

121.135(2)(a)1. 1. “Additional general aid” means the amount determined by calculating the percentage of a school district’s shared costs that would be paid under s. 121.08 if its membership included each pupil who is a resident of the school district or is attending the school district under s. 118.51 and solely enrolled in a special education program provided by the county children with disabilities education board that includes the school district in its program under s. 115.817 (2) and the school district’s shared costs were increased by the costs of the county children with disabilities education board program for all pupils participating in the county children with disabilities education board program who are residents of the school district or attending the school district under s. 118.51, and multiplying the costs of the county children with disabilities education board program by that percentage.

121.135(2)(a)2. 2. “Costs of the county children with disabilities education board program” means the gross cost of the county children with disabilities education board program minus all nonduplicative revenues and other financing sources except property taxes and state aid paid under this section in the previous school year.