Chapter 121

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.

121.83(1)(a)2. 2. If the agency of service counts the pupil under s. 121.05 (1) (a) or (2), or on an alternate counting date under s. 121.05 (3) or (3m), state general aid shall be subtracted.

121.83(1)(a)3. 3. If the pupil receives special education and related services under subch. V of ch. 115:

121.83(1)(a)3.a. a. The cost of instruction and specified services shall be subtracted.

121.83(1)(a)3.b. b. The federal and state aid for pupil transportation and special education and related services shall be added.

121.83(1)(b) (b) The regular annual tuition rate is the net school cost divided by the average daily membership of the agency of service.

121.83(1)(c) (c) If the pupil receives special education and related services under subch. V of ch. 115, the special annual tuition rate is the sum of instructional and specified services costs unique to that program divided by the average daily membership of all pupils enrolled in the program, including those for whom tuition is paid.

121.83(1)(d) (d) The annual tuition rate is the sum of the regular annual tuition rate and the special annual tuition rate, if any.

121.83(1)(e) (e) The daily tuition rate is the annual tuition rate divided by the number of school days in the session.

121.83(2) (2) 

121.83(2)(a) (a) The tuition for the regular school year is the daily tuition rate multiplied by the number of school days the pupil was enrolled. No reduction of tuition may be made because of the absence of a pupil, unless the pupil was absent more than 10 consecutive school days, in which case a reduction shall be made only for the absence in excess of 10 school days.

121.83(2)(b) (b) The tuition for summer school shall be the daily tuition rate for the previous school year multiplied by the number of school days held in the previous school year times the summer average daily membership equivalent of the pupil.

121.83(3) (3) All disbursements for tuition shall be made from the school district general fund. All receipts for tuition shall be made to the school district general fund.

121.83(4) (4) Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), if a pupil who is not a resident of this state attends a virtual charter school in this state, the school board that contracted for the establishment of the virtual charter school shall charge tuition for the pupil in an amount equal to at least the amount determined under s. 118.51 (16) (a) 3.

121.83 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1790 to 1792, 1794; Stats. 1985 s. 121.83; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 164; 2007 a. 222; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20, 257.

121.84 121.84 Tuition waiver; special cases.

121.84(1) (1) 

121.84(1)(a) (a)

121.84(1)(a)1. 1. A school board may permit a pupil who was enrolled in and a resident of the school district at the beginning of the school year to complete the school year at the school he or she is attending without payment of tuition, even though the pupil is no longer a resident of the school district.

121.84(1)(a)2. 2. A school board shall permit a pupil who was a resident of the school district on the 3rd Friday in September or the 2nd Friday in January of the current school year and who has been enrolled in the school district for at least 20 school days during the current school year to complete the current school year at the school he or she is attending without payment of tuition, even though the pupil is no longer a resident of the school district.

121.84(1)(b) (b) Upon request of a pupil’s parent or guardian, a school board of a district operating high school grades shall permit a pupil who has gained 12th grade status in a high school under its jurisdiction and is a resident of the school district at the time of gaining such status to complete 12th grade at the high school without payment of tuition, even though the pupil is no longer a resident of the school district. This paragraph does not apply to a pupil to whom s. 121.78 (2) (br) applies.

121.84(1)(c) (c) A school board may permit a foreign exchange student to attend school in the school district without payment of tuition.

121.84(1)(d) (d) The school district of attendance shall continue to count pupils under this subsection in membership.

121.84(1m) (1m) The school boards of 2 school districts operating high school grades may enter into an agreement under which a high school pupil who resides in one of the school districts as the result of a reorganization under ch. 117 and who has completed 9th and 10th grades at a high school in the other school district may complete his or her high school education at the latter high school without payment of tuition. The school district of attendance shall count the pupil in its membership for state aid purposes under subch. II.

121.84(4) (4) 

121.84(4)(a) (a) A school board shall permit a pupil to whom all of the following apply to attend school in the school district in the current school year without payment of tuition:

121.84(4)(a)1. 1. The pupil was a resident of the school district on the 2nd Friday in January of the previous school year.

121.84(4)(a)2. 2. The pupil was enrolled in the school district continuously from the 2nd Friday in January of the previous school year to the end of the school term of the previous school year.

121.84(4)(a)3. 3. The pupil ceased to be a resident of the school district after the first Monday in February of the previous school year.

121.84(4)(a)4. 4. The pupil continues to be a resident of this state.

121.84(4)(b) (b) If a pupil attends school in a school district outside the pupil’s school district of residence under par. (a), s. 118.51 (12) (b), (14), (16), and (17) apply to the pupil as if the pupil were attending school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.51. If the pupil is rejected as a result of s. 118.51 (12) (b), s. 118.51 (9) applies.

121.84(5) (5) The transportation requirement in s. 121.54 (2) shall not apply to transportation beyond the school district boundaries for pupils under this section.

121.84 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29, 78; 1985 a. 29, 218; 1989 a. 31, 114; 1997 a. 27, 286; 1999 a. 117; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

subch. VI of ch. 121 SUBCHAPTER VI

SPECIAL TRANSFER AID

121.845 121.845 Definitions. In this subchapter:

121.845(1) (1) “Attendance area” means the geographical area within a school district established by the school board thereof for the purpose of designating the elementary, middle, high or other school which pupils residing within the area normally would attend.

121.845(1m) (1m) “Membership” has the meaning given in s. 121.07 (2).

121.845(2) (2) “Minority group pupil” means a pupil who is Black or African American, Hispanic, American Indian, an Alaskan native, or a person of Asian or Pacific Island origin, and who has reached the age of 4 on or before September 1 of the year he or she enters school.

121.845(3) (3) “School” means an organized educational activity operated by the school board and approved by the department.

121.845 History History: 1985 a. 29 ss. 1797, 1799; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 48; 2015 a. 55.

121.85 121.85 Special transfer programs.

121.85(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “net school cost” is the sum of the net cost of the general fund and the net cost of the debt service fund for the previous school year, plus any aid received in the previous year under this section.

121.85(2) (2) Applicability of section. This section applies to transfers:

121.85(2)(a) (a) Interdistrict.

121.85(2)(a)1. 1. By minority group pupils who reside in an attendance area in a school district where minority group pupils constitute 30 percent or more of the number of pupils enrolled in the school serving that attendance area and which the pupil would normally attend, from that district to a school in a school district where minority group pupils constitute less than 30 percent of the number of pupils enrolled in that school, as of May 1 of the prior year.

121.85(2)(a)2. 2. By nonminority group pupils who have reached the age of 4 on or before September 1 of the year they enter school and who reside in an attendance area in a school district where minority group pupils constitute less than 30 percent of the number of pupils enrolled in the school serving that attendance area and which the pupil would normally attend in the district, from that district to a school in a school district where minority group pupils constitute 30 percent or more of the number of pupils enrolled in that school, as of May 1 of the prior year.

121.85(2)(b) (b) Intradistrict.

121.85(2)(b)1. 1. By minority group pupils who reside in an attendance area where minority group pupils constitute 30 percent or more of the number of pupils enrolled in the school serving that attendance area and which the pupil normally would attend, from that school to another school within the district where minority group pupils constitute less than 30 percent of the number of pupils enrolled in that school or to a school serving the entire district.

121.85(2)(b)2. 2. By nonminority group pupils who have reached the age of 4 on or before September 1 of the year they enter school and who reside in an attendance area where minority group pupils constitute less than 30 percent of the number of pupils enrolled in the school serving that attendance area and which the pupil normally would attend, from that school to another school within the district where minority group pupils constitute 30 percent or more of the number of pupils enrolled in that school or to a school serving the entire district.

121.85(3) (3) Transfer agreements. In accordance with sub. (2) and with the approval of the parents or guardian of the pupil:

121.85(3)(a) (a) Interdistrict.

121.85(3)(a)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., the school board of the district of residence and the school board of the district of attendance may enter into annual written agreements to permit a pupil to attend a public school outside the school district of residence.

121.85(3)(a)2. 2.

121.85(3)(a)2.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., c., and d., beginning on July 14, 2015, no school board may enter into a written agreement with another school board under subd. 1.

121.85(3)(a)2.b. b. A school board may continue to enter into an annual written agreement with another school board under subd. 1. on behalf of a pupil that attended a public school under a written agreement under subd. 1. in the 2015-16 school year.

121.85(3)(a)2.c. c. A school board may enter into a written agreement with another school board under subd. 1., and may continue to enter into that written agreement, on behalf of a pupil that will attend a public school under that agreement in the 2015-16 school year.

121.85(3)(a)2.d. d. The school board of a school district operating grades kindergarten through 8 and a school board operating a unified high school district may enter into an annual written agreement under subd. 1. on behalf of a pupil that attended a public school in the school district operating grades kindergarten through 8 in the 2015-16 school year.

121.85(3)(b) (b) Intradistrict.