Chapter 121

121.59(1) (1) In this section:

121.59(1)(a) (a) “Eligible school district” means a school district the membership of which in the previous school year, when divided by the school district’s area in square miles, is 50 or less.

121.59(1)(b) (b) “Transportation costs” means costs that are eligible for reimbursement under s. 121.58.

121.59(2) (2) Annually the department shall pay to each eligible school district the amount determined as follows:

121.59(2)(a) (a) Divide the statewide school district transportation costs in the previous school year by the statewide membership in the previous school year and multiply the quotient by 1.4.

121.59(2)(b) (b) Divide the school district’s transportation costs in the previous school year by the school district’s membership in the previous school year.

121.59(2)(c) (c) Subtract the product under par. (a) from the quotient under par. (b).

121.59(2)(d) (d) If the remainder under par. (c) is a positive number, multiply it by the school district’s membership.

121.59(2)(e) (e) Divide the product under par. (d) for the school district by the product under par. (d) for all eligible school districts.

121.59(2)(f) (f) Multiply the quotient under par. (e) by the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cq).

121.59(2m) (2m) 

121.59(2m)(a) (a) Beginning in the 2017-18 school year and in any school year thereafter, if a school district was eligible to receive aid under sub. (2) in the immediately preceding school year but is ineligible to receive aid in the current school year because the number under sub. (2) (d) is not a positive number, the state superintendent shall, subject to par. (b), pay to that school district the amount determined as follows:

121.59(2m)(a)1. 1. Determine the amount paid to the school district under sub. (2) (f) in the immediately preceding school year.

121.59(2m)(a)2. 2. Multiply the amount under subd. 1. by 0.5.

121.59(2m)(b) (b) The sum of all payments under par. (a) may not exceed $200,000 in any fiscal year. If in any school year the amount to which school districts are entitled under par. (a) exceeds $200,000, the state superintendent shall prorate the payments among the eligible school districts. This paragraph cannot apply after June 2023.

121.59(3) (3) Aid under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cq).

121.59 History History: 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 58; 2023 a. 19.

subch. V of ch. 121 SUBCHAPTER V

TUITION PAYMENTS

121.75 121.75 Construction. To the extent feasible, this subchapter shall be construed so that the tuition charge for a pupil shall:

121.75(1) (1) Include any unusual costs associated with the pupil.

121.75(2) (2) Exclude any costs associated with the pupil which are paid from a source other than tuition and property taxes.

121.75(3) (3) Cover only the period during which services were actually provided or available to the pupil.

121.75(4) (4) Not impose a financial burden on the agency of service.

121.75 History History: 1985 a. 29.

121.76 121.76 Definitions and general provisions.

121.76(1) (1) Definitions. In this subchapter:

121.76(1)(a) (a) “Agency of service” means a school board, board of control of a cooperative educational service agency, county children with disabilities education board, or governing body of a nonsectarian private school, university model school, or tribal school, which provides services for which tuition may be charged.

121.76(1)(b) (b) “Pupil” includes a child with a disability, as defined in s. 115.76 (5).

121.76(1)(c) (c) “Specified services” means social work; guidance; health; psychological, speech-language pathology and audiology services; supervision; coordination; and transportation.

121.76(2) (2) General provisions.

121.76(2)(a) (a) All tuition shall be calculated under s. 121.83 unless the state superintendent approves an alternative procedure consistent with s. 121.75.

121.76(2)(b) (b) A written agreement may provide for the prepayment in installments of up to 75 percent of the estimated tuition during the school year in which services are provided.

121.76(2)(c) (c) The agency of service, other than a tribal school, shall rebate a proportional share of state or federal aid received for pupils for whom it received tuition. The rebate shall be paid to the agency or person who paid the tuition within 30 days of its receipt by the agency of service.

121.76 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 316; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164; 2009 a. 302.

121.77 121.77 Admission of nonresident pupils.

121.77(1) (1) 

121.77(1)(a) (a) Every elementary school and high school shall be free to all pupils who reside in the school district.

121.77(1)(b) (b) If facilities are adequate, a school board, board of control of a cooperative educational service agency or county children with disabilities education board may admit nonresident pupils who meet its entrance requirements. Nonresident pupils shall have all of the rights and privileges of resident pupils and shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as resident pupils. The agency of service shall charge tuition for each nonresident pupil.

121.77(2) (2) Annually on or before September 1, the clerk or secretary of the agency of service shall file:

121.77(2)(a) (a) A tuition claim for each nonresident pupil or adult for whom services were provided under this subchapter during the preceding school year. The claim shall be filed with the school district clerk under s. 121.78, the state superintendent under s. 121.79, the county clerk under s. 121.80, the pupil’s parent or guardian under s. 121.81 or the adult under s. 121.82. Credit shall be given for prepayments.

121.77(2)(b) (b) A certified copy of each tuition claim under par. (a) with the state superintendent.

121.77(3) (3) Subsections (1) (b) and (2) do not apply to a pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, or 121.84 (4).

121.77 History History: 1977 c. 29, 78, 203; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164; 1999 a. 117; 2015 a. 55.

121.78 121.78 Tuition payments by school districts.

121.78(1) (1) By agreement.

121.78(1)(a) (a) The school board of the district of residence and the school board of the district of attendance may make a written agreement to permit an elementary or high school pupil to attend a public school, including an out-of-state school, outside the school district of residence. The school district of residence shall pay tuition to the school board of the district of attendance in an amount specified in the written agreement. The school district of residence shall be paid state aid for the pupil, in an amount up to the amount specified in the written agreement, as though the pupil were enrolled in the school district of residence.

121.78(1)(b) (b) A school board, upon its own order, may provide for the enrollment of a pupil in a public school located outside this state if the course of study in such school is equivalent to the course of study in this state. The school board shall pay the tuition for such pupil and the school district shall be paid state aid as though such pupil was enrolled in the school district of residence.

121.78(2) (2) Reorganized school districts.

121.78(2)(a) (a) The school board of a district operating high school grades shall permit a high school pupil who resides in the school district as the result of school district reorganization under ch. 117 and has completed 9th and 10th grades at one high school outside the school district to complete the pupil’s high school education at that high school. The school board of residence shall pay tuition for the pupil. If the parent or guardian of the pupil has paid tuition in order to enroll the pupil in the high school, the school board of residence shall reimburse the parent or guardian for the tuition upon receipt of a tuition claim within 3 years from the date the tuition was paid.

121.78(2)(b) (b) A school district created or altered by a reorganization under ch. 117, in its first year of operating high school grades, may provide for its 11th and 12th grade pupils on a tuition basis and, in its 2nd such year, may provide for its 12th grade pupils on a tuition basis. The clerk of the school district in which nonresident pupils under this subsection are enrolled shall certify the number of such pupils enrolled to the department and to the clerk of their school district of residence. The school district of residence shall include such pupils in membership for aid under subch. II.

121.78(2)(bm) (bm) The school board of a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105 and the school board of the school district created under s. 117.105 shall permit a pupil who resides in the territory that was detached to continue to attend school in the school district from which the territory was detached until the school district created by the reorganization begins offering instruction at the pupil’s grade level. The school board of the school district created by the reorganization shall pay tuition for the pupil.

121.78(2)(br) (br) The school board of a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105 and the school board of the school district created under s. 117.105 shall permit a pupil who resides in the territory that was detached and has gained 12th grade status in the school district from which the territory was detached to continue to attend school in the school district from which the territory was detached. The school board of the school district created by the reorganization shall pay tuition for the pupil.

121.78(2)(c) (c) A school district created or altered by a reorganization under ch. 117 which has at least one operating high school within its territory and which does not have sufficient building facilities to provide high school educational services for all of the high school pupils residing in the reorganized school district may provide for such high school pupils on a tuition basis for a period of 2 years. The reorganized school district shall be eligible for state aid in accordance with par. (b).

121.78(3) (3) Special placement. Pupils may be placed in:

121.78(3)(a) (a) Special education and related services under subch. V of ch. 115.

121.78(3)(b) (b) Alternative programs under s. 118.15 (1) (d) 4. and 6.

121.78(4) (4) Court-ordered educational services. If a pupil is receiving educational services as the result of a court order under s. 48.345 (12) or 938.34 (7d), the school board of the school district in which the pupil resided at the time of issuance of the court order shall pay tuition for the pupil. A school board paying tuition for a pupil under this subsection shall count the pupil as 1.0 pupil in membership for general aid under subch. II. The school board shall pay each agency specified under s. 48.345 (12) (a) 2. to 4. or 938.34 (7d) (a) 2. to 4., for each full-time equivalent pupil served by the agency, an amount equal to at least 80 percent of the average per pupil cost for the school district. No state aid may be paid to the technical college district for pupils attending the technical college under s. 48.345 (12) (a) 4. or 938.34 (7d) (a) 4. The minimum amount paid by a school board to a tribal school specified under s. 48.345 (12) (a) 5. or 938.34 (7d) (a) 5., for each full-time equivalent pupil served by the tribal school, shall be determined by multiplying the average per pupil cost for the school district by 0.8 and then subtracting any federal or state aid received by the tribal school for the pupil.

121.78(5) (5) Alternative programs. If a pupil is placed in an alternative program under s. 118.15 (1) (d) 4., the school board shall pay tuition for the pupil to the agency of service pursuant to a contractual agreement between the school board and the agency of service. If the agency of service is a tribal school, any federal or state aid received by the tribal school for the pupil shall be subtracted in determining the amount of aid to be paid.

121.78 History History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1979 c. 244; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1785 to 1787, 1796, 3202 (43); 1987 a. 285; 1989 a. 114, 359; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 77; 1997 a. 27, 164, 240, 286; 2009 a. 302; 2015 a. 55.

121.79 121.79 Tuition payments by state.

121.79(1) (1) The state shall pay tuition from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cg) for pupils attending public schools in the following cases:

121.79(1)(a) (a) For pupils in children’s homes.

121.79(1)(b) (b) For pupils whose parents or guardians are employed at and reside on the grounds of a state or federal military camp, federal veteran hospital or state charitable or penal institution.

121.79(1)(d) (d) For pupils in foster homes or group homes, if the foster home or group home is located outside the school district in which the pupil’s parent or guardian resides and either of the following applies:

121.79(1)(d)2. 2. The foster or group home is exempted under s. 70.11.

121.79(1)(d)3. 3. The pupil is a child with a disability, as defined in s. 115.76 (5), and at least 4 percent of the pupils enrolled in the school district reside in foster homes or group homes that are not exempt under s. 70.11. Notwithstanding s. 121.83 (1) (d), the annual tuition rate for pupils under this subdivision is the special annual tuition rate only, as described in s. 121.83 (1) (c).

121.79(1)(e) (e) For pupils in secured residential care centers for children and youth, as defined under s. 938.02 (15g).

121.79(2) (2) When transportation is provided for pupils under this section, state aid shall be paid in accordance with subch. IV.

121.79 History History: 1971 c. 125 ss. 459, 460, 522 (1); 1973 c. 89, 90, 336; 1975 c. 39, 199; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (43) (a); 1979 c. 60, 221; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1486m, 2202 (42); 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 446; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 185.

121.80 121.80 Tuition payments by counties. The county shall pay the elementary and high school tuition of every pupil whose parent or guardian is employed at and resides on the grounds of a county institution. The county board may charge such tuition to the account of the county asylum or the county home.

121.80 History History: 1985 a. 29.

121.81 121.81 Tuition payments by parents.

121.81(1) (1) General. Before the admission of a nonresident pupil to an elementary or a high school of a school district, the school board of that district shall make a written agreement with the pupil’s parent or guardian for the payment of tuition except when the tuition is otherwise chargeable under this subchapter. The tuition amount shall be calculated under s. 118.51 (16) (a) 3. except as follows:

121.81(1)(a) (a) If the nonresident pupil attends school in the school district for less than a full school term, the tuition amount shall be prorated based on the number of days that school is in session and the nonresident pupil attends school in the school district.

121.81(1)(b) (b) If the pupil is receiving special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115, the tuition amount shall be calculated using the daily tuition rate under s. 121.83 for children receiving such special education and related services or an amount agreed to by the school board and the pupil’s parent or guardian.

121.81(2) (2) Special.

121.81(2)(a) (a) A pupil whose parent or legal custodian is a resident of this state but not a resident of the school district may file with the school board of the district a written application for enrollment in the schools of the school district. The application shall be accompanied by a written declaration of the parent or legal custodian that the parent or legal custodian will establish residence in the school district by a specified time. If facilities are adequate, the school board may permit the pupil to enroll in the schools of the school district, and may require prepayment of a tuition fee for 9 school weeks or may waive the tuition requirement for that pupil. If the parent or legal custodian establishes residence in the school district within such 9 school weeks, the school board shall refund the tuition fee. If such residence is not established there shall be no refund of the tuition fee but another written application for enrollment may be filed for the next succeeding 9 school weeks and, upon prepayment of a tuition fee for such 9 school weeks, the school board may permit the pupil to reenroll. If the parent or legal custodian establishes residence in the school district within the second 9 school weeks, the school board shall refund the tuition fee for the second 9 school weeks.

121.81(2)(b) (b) If the parent or legal custodian establishes residence in the school district prior to the expiration of the first 18 school weeks of the school term and if the pupil was enrolled in the school district on the 3rd Friday in September, the pupil shall be considered a resident pupil in computing general aid under subch. II.

121.81(2)(c) (c) The parent or legal custodian of a pupil who is enrolled under this subsection shall be responsible for the transportation of such pupil to the school in which the pupil is so enrolled. No transportation aid under subch. IV may be paid for such transportation.

121.81 History History: 1971 c. 200; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 346 s. 15; 1993 a. 492; 1999 a. 117.

121.82 121.82 Tuition payment by adult. An adult for whom the school district provides services under s. 120.13 (4) shall provide for the payment of tuition.

121.82 History History: 1985 a. 29.

121.83 121.83 Computation of tuition.

121.83(1) (1) 

121.83(1)(a) (a) The net school cost for a school year is the sum of the net cost of the general fund, the net cost of the debt service fund, all tuition revenues under this subchapter and special transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) (b) 2. and 3. for that school year for the agency of service, except as follows:

121.83(1)(a)1. 1. If the agency of service does not transport the pupil to and from school:

121.83(1)(a)1.a. a. The cost of pupil transportation shall be subtracted.

121.83(1)(a)1.b. b. State aid for pupil transportation shall be added.