Chapter 38

38.22 38.22 Admission requirements.

38.22(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (1m) and (1s) and s. 38.12 (14), every person who is at least the age specified in s. 118.15 (1) (b) is eligible to attend a technical college if the person is:

38.22(1)(a) (a) A resident of this state.

38.22(1)(d) (d) A nonresident of this state, and if the district board of attendance approves the enrollment.

38.22(1m) (1m) Notwithstanding sub. (1) (intro.), a person who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age, who satisfies the other requirements for admission under sub. (1) and who obtains a letter from his or her high school principal recommending that the person be permitted to attend the schools of a district in order to take a course in motorcycle safety is eligible to attend the schools of a district for the purpose of taking a course in motorcycle safety. A person under the age of 16 years who takes a course in motorcycle safety under this subsection may not use in the course a motorcycle other than a motorcycle provided by the school of the district for the course.

38.22(1s) (1s) Notwithstanding sub. (1) (intro.), an individual under the age of 16 is eligible to attend the schools of a district if all of the following apply:

38.22(1s)(a) (a) The district board agrees to admit the individual.

38.22(1s)(b) (b) The individual satisfies the other requirements for admission under sub. (1).

38.22(1s)(c) (c) The individual has the written permission of his or her parent or guardian.

38.22(1s)(d) (d) The individual will not be attending the district school during the hours of the normal school day established under s. 119.18 (7) or 120.12 (15). This paragraph does not apply to an individual enrolled in a home-based private educational program, as defined in s. 115.001 (3g).

38.22(3) (3) Nonresident students shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as resident students.

38.22(4) (4) 

38.22(4)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), the board shall establish procedures to determine the residence of students attending district schools. In the case of any disagreement as to the residence of any student, the board shall make the final determination.

38.22(4)(b) (b)

38.22(4)(b)1. 1. In this paragraph, “relocated service member” means an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces who has been relocated from Wisconsin and stationed on active duty in another state.

38.22(4)(b)2. 2. For purposes of sub. (6) and the procedures established under par. (a), a relocated service member and the service member’s spouse and dependents are considered residents of this state during the period in which the service member is relocated on active duty if they demonstrate, under the procedures established under par. (a), that they are bona fide residents during this period.

38.22(4)(b)3. 3. Except as provided in subd. 4., subd. 2. does not apply after the relocated service member’s period of relocation on active duty in another state has ended.

38.22(4)(b)4. 4. A relocated service member’s dependent who is considered a resident of this state under subd. 2. continues to be considered a resident of this state after the relocated service member’s period of relocation on active duty in another state has ended.

38.22(5) (5) The board shall promulgate rules establishing the priority to be given by a district board in admitting students who are residents of the district, students who are not residents of the district but are residents of this state and students who are not residents of this state.

38.22(6) (6) The following persons are residents of this state for the purposes of this section and s. 38.24:

38.22(6)(a) (a) Any person who has been employed as a migrant worker for at least 2 months each year for 3 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school, or for at least 3 months each year for 2 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school, any adult whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed while the adult was a minor, and any minor whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed. In this paragraph, “migrant worker” has the meaning specified in s. 103.90 (5).

38.22(6)(b) (b) Any minor, or adult who is a dependent of his or her parents or guardian under 26 USC 152 (a), whose natural parents are divorced or legally separated, if one or both of the person’s parents have been bona fide residents of this state for at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school.

38.22(6)(c) (c) Any person continuously employed full time in this state, who was relocated to this state by his or her current employer or who moved to this state for employment purposes and accepted his or her current employment before applying for admission to a district school and before moving, and the spouse and dependents of any such person, if the student demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin. In this paragraph, “dependents” has the meaning given in 26 USC 152 (a).

38.22(6)(d) (d) Any person who is a refugee, as defined under 8 USC 1101 (a) (42), who moved to this state immediately upon arrival in the United States and who has resided in this state continuously since then, if he or she demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin.

38.22(6)(f) (f) Any person verified by the department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state under s. 38.24 (8) (a) 1r.

38.22 History History: 1971 c. 154; 1977 c. 29 ss. 494, 494m, 501m; 1977 c. 273; 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1987 a. 122; 1989 a. 24, 31, 336; 1991 a. 39, 184; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 159.

38.22 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. TCS 10, Wis. adm. code.

38.23 38.23 Student discrimination prohibited.

38.23(1) (1) No student may be denied admission to, participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility of the board or any district because of the student’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or parental status.

38.23(2) (2) 

38.23(2)(a) (a) Each district board shall establish policies and procedures to protect students from discrimination under sub. (1). The policies and procedures shall do all of the following:

38.23(2)(a)1. 1. Provide criteria for determining whether sub. (1) has been violated.

38.23(2)(a)2. 2. Provide remedies and sanctions for violations of sub. (1).

38.23(2)(a)3. 3. Require a complainant to file a complaint with the district director within 300 days of the alleged violation of sub. (1).

38.23(2)(a)4. 4. Provide periods within which the complainant and the district director must act for each procedural step leading to the issuance of a final decision and for appeal of the final decision to the district board.

38.23(2)(b) (b) The policies and procedures established under par. (a) are subject to review and approval by the board.

38.23(3) (3) By September 1, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, the board shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3). The report shall specify the number of complaints received by each district board in the previous school year alleging a violation of sub. (1) and the disposition of each such complaint.

38.23(4) (4) Nothing in this section or s. 36.12 prevents institutions from segregating students in dormitories based on sex.

38.23 History History: 1989 a. 186.

38.23 Annotation The exclusion of contraceptives from an employer or college or university sponsored benefits program that otherwise provides prescription drug coverage violates Wisconsin law prohibiting sex discrimination in employment and in higher education, ss. 111.31 to 111.395, 36.12, and 38.23. OAG 1-04.

38.24 38.24 Fees and tuition.

38.24(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “operational cost” means costs funded by general purpose revenue, property taxes and uniform fees established under sub. (1m) (a) and (b).

38.24(1g) (1g) Operational costs. Annually, by January 1, the board shall estimate the statewide operational cost per full-time equivalent student in collegiate transfer programs and postsecondary and vocational-adult programs for the next fiscal year. The board shall furnish each district board with definitions of statewide operational costs per full-time equivalent student and shall establish procedures for determining operational cost per full-time equivalent student.

38.24(1m) (1m) Program fees. The district boards shall charge students the fees established by the state board under this subsection. Annually, the board shall establish:

38.24(1m)(a) (a) Liberal arts collegiate transfer programs. Uniform fees based on not less than 31 percent of the statewide average operational costs of liberal arts collegiate transfer programs in district schools.

38.24(1m)(b) (b) Postsecondary and vocational-adult programs. Uniform fees based on not less than 14 percent of the combined estimated statewide operational cost of postsecondary, exclusive of collegiate transfer, and vocational-adult programs. The board shall maintain statewide uniformity in the program fees charged for postsecondary and vocational-adult credits. Students 62 years old and over shall be exempted from program fees under this paragraph in vocational-adult programs. Students enrolled in adult high school, including students enrolled under s. 118.15 (1) (cm) 3., adult basic education and English as a 2nd language courses shall be exempted from program fees under this paragraph. The board shall establish fees under this paragraph as if students exempt from fees under sub. (4) were not exempt.

38.24(1m)(c) (c) Materials fees. Establish uniform fees against all students, including tuition exempted students under par. (b), to cover the cost of consumable materials in addition to program fees. The board shall establish fees under this paragraph as if students exempt from fees under sub. (4) were not exempt.

38.24(1m)(d) (d) Programs for inmates. Uniform fees, for vocational programs or courses offered to state prison inmates at a district facility by the department of corrections or the department of health services in cooperation with a district board, equal to the fees established under par. (b).

38.24(1s) (1s) Additional fees. A district board may establish and charge a fee in addition to the fees under sub. (1m) for any of the following:

38.24(1s)(a) (a) A court-approved alcohol or other drug abuse education program offered to individuals under s. 48.245 (2) (a) 4., 48.345 (13) (b), 48.347 (5) (b), 938.245 (2) (a) 4., 938.32 (1g) (b), 938.34 (6r) (b) or (14s) (b) 3., 938.343 (10) (c) or 938.344 (2g) (a).

38.24(1s)(b) (b) A professional development, vocational-adult seminar or workshop, consisting of no more than 24 hours of instruction, offered to individuals who are employed in a related field. Annually the district board shall report to the board the courses for which an additional fee was charged under this paragraph and the amount of the additional fee.

38.24(1s)(c) (c) A vocational-adult course intended to improve an individual’s skills beyond the entry level if the course is required by state or federal law, rule or regulation, or by a professional organization, to maintain licensure or certification in the individual’s field of employment and the state director approves. The additional fee may not exceed an amount equal to the full cost of the course less the fee under sub. (1m).

38.24(1v) (1v) Certain fees prohibited. No district board may charge a student a fee associated with accident insurance coverage if all of the following apply:

38.24(1v)(a) (a) The student requests that the fee be waived.

38.24(1v)(b) (b) The student provides evidence that the student is already insured under a policy providing equivalent accident insurance coverage.

38.24(2) (2) Refunds. The board shall establish fee and tuition refund policies.

38.24(3) (3) Nonresident fees and liabilities; remissions.

38.24(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3m), for all students who are not residents of this state, nor subject to reciprocal agreements with the board, annually the board shall establish a fee based on 150 percent of program fees established under sub. (1m) (a) and (b).

38.24(3)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the state director may authorize the district board to charge a student who is not a resident of this state and who is subject to a contract with a federal agency under s. 38.14 (3) (a) a fee equal to the contracting district board’s direct cost per full-time equivalent student for operating the program in which he or she is enrolled plus an amount equal to the district board’s indirect costs per full-time equivalent student attributable to the contract.

38.24(3)(c) (c) The state director may authorize a district board to remit the fees under par. (a), but not the fees under sub. (1m), to any of the following:

38.24(3)(c)1. 1. A number of needy and worthy students. The number of students receiving fee remissions under this subdivision in all districts may not exceed a number equal to 0.5 percent of the full-time equivalent statewide enrollment.

38.24(3)(c)2. 2. Students enrolling under agreements with foreign educational institutions that provide for the exchange of an equal number of students who are residents of this state.

38.24(3)(d) (d) The board shall promulgate rules relating to the remission of fees under par. (c), including rules defining “needy and worthy”.

38.24(3)(f) (f) Notwithstanding par. (a), the state director may authorize the district board to charge a student who is not a resident of this state and who is enrolled in a course provided through the use of distance education, as defined in s. 24.60 (1g), a fee that is less than the fee established under par. (a) but not less than the fees established under sub. (1m).

38.24(3m) (3m) Nonresident fee exemption for covered individuals.

38.24(3m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “covered individual” has the meaning given in 38 USC 3679 (c).

38.24(3m)(b) (b) The district boards shall charge covered individuals living in this state the fees established under sub. (1m) (a) and (b).

38.24(3m)(d) (d) This subsection does not affect any other fee exemption or fee remission for which a covered individual may be eligible under this section.

38.24(4) (4) Fee exemptions. A graduate of an associate degree program or vocational diploma program who is a resident of this state is exempt from the fees under sub. (1m) (b) and (c) for up to 6 credits within the same occupational program for which the degree or diploma was awarded if the graduate applies for the exemption within 6 months of graduation and any of the following applies:

38.24(4)(a) (a) Within 90 days after his or her initial employment, the graduate’s employer certifies to the district board that the graduate lacks entry-level job skills and specifies in writing the specific areas in which the graduate’s skills are deficient.

38.24(4)(b) (b) The graduate certifies that all of the following apply:

38.24(4)(b)1. 1. The graduate has not secured employment in the occupational field in which he or she received the degree or diploma.

38.24(4)(b)2. 2. The graduate has actively pursued employment in that occupational field.

38.24(4)(b)3. 3. The graduate has not refused employment in that occupational field or in a related field.

38.24(4)(b)4. 4. The graduate has actively sought the assistance of the district placement office.

38.24(4m) (4m) Auditor’s fee exemption. The board shall permit a person who is 60 years of age or older to audit a course, other than a community service program, without paying an auditor’s fee if the person is a resident of this state, as determined by the board by rule, space is available in the course and the instructor approves.

38.24(5) (5) Fee remissions for survivors.

38.24(5)(a) (a) In this subsection:

38.24(5)(a)1g. 1g. “Correctional officer” has the meaning give in s. 102.475 (8) (a).

38.24(5)(a)1j. 1j. “Emergency medical services technician” means an individual under s. 256.01 (4p) or (5).

38.24(5)(a)1m. 1m. “Fire fighter” means any person employed by this state or any political subdivision of this state as a member or officer of a fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training or a member of a volunteer fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training.

38.24(5)(a)2. 2. “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).

38.24(5)(b) (b) The district board shall grant full remission of fees under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) to any resident student who is enrolled in a program leading to an associate of arts degree, a collegiate transfer program or a vocational diploma program and who is any of the following:

38.24(5)(b)1. 1. The child of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state or who qualified for a duty disability benefit under s. 40.65 (4), under the Wisconsin Retirement System, the Employees’ Retirement System of the city of Milwaukee, or the Milwaukee County Employee’s Retirement System and died as a result of the qualifying disability. The student must be the child of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was so killed or who died as a result of the qualifying disability when the child was under the age of 21 or before the child was born.

38.24(5)(b)2. 2. The surviving spouse of an ambulance driver, correctional officer, fire fighter, emergency medical services technician or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state or who qualified for a duty disability benefit, as defined in s. 40.65 (4), under the Wisconsin Retirement System, the Employees’ Retirement System of the city of Milwaukee, or the Milwaukee County Employee’s Retirement System and died as a result of the qualifying disability.

38.24(5)(c) (c) The fee remission under par. (b) shall remain in effect until completion of a sufficient number of credits to complete the program in which the student is enrolled, except that a student must be in good academic standing to receive the remission for the next semester and may not receive a remission for more than 3 consecutive years.

38.24(5)(d) (d) If the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (am) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fully fund the fee remissions under par. (b), the district board shall notify the joint committee on finance.

38.24(6) (6) Fee remissions for funeral assistants. The district board shall grant a $25 remission of fees under subs. (1m) and (3) to a student for each valid voucher issued to the student under s. 45.60 (3).

38.24(7) (7) Fee remission for spouse, surviving spouse, and children of certain veterans.