Chapter 39

39.41(1m)(i) (i) Notwithstanding par. (d), if the school board of a school district operating a high school or the governing body of a private high school has complied with s. 39.41 (1m) (d), 1991 stats., for the 1993-94 school year and a senior from that high school designated as a scholar under s. 39.41 (1m) (a), 1991 stats., and s. 39.41 (1m) (d), 1991 stats., does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar. The school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school shall certify to the board one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

39.41(1m)(j) (j) In the event that 2 or more seniors from the same high school of at least 80 pupils have the same grade point average and are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (a), the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school shall make the designation of the faculty of the high school for purposes of par. (d) or (i).

39.41(1m)(m) (m) Notwithstanding pars. (a), (b) and (d), if a high school ranks its seniors on the basis of grades in academic subjects, the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school or, for purposes of par. (d), the faculty of the high school may request a waiver from the executive secretary in order to fulfill its requirements under par. (a), (b) or (d) on the basis of grade point averages in academic subjects.

39.41(2) (2) 

39.41(2)(a) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (1m) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in an institution within the University of Wisconsin System or in a technical college district school that is participating in the program under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship that exempts the scholar from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, at the institution or district school for one year, except that the maximum scholarship for a scholar who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $2,250 per academic year.

39.41(2)(b) (b) For each year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average, or the equivalent as determined by the institution or district school, and makes satisfactory progress toward an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a vocational diploma, the student shall be exempt from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, in the subsequent year or, if the scholar does not enroll in a participating institution of higher education in the subsequent year, in the 2nd year following the year in which the scholar received the scholarship, except that the maximum scholarship for a scholar who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $2,250 per academic year. No scholar is eligible for an exemption for more than 4 years in the University of Wisconsin System or more than 3 years at a district school.

39.41(2)(c) (c) Subject to sub. (4), for each year the student is exempt from tuition and fees under par. (a) or (b), the board shall pay the institution or district school, on behalf of the student, an amount equal to 50 percent of the student’s tuition and fees, except that the maximum payment for a student who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $1,125 per academic year.

39.41(3) (3) 

39.41(3)(a) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (1m) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a private institution of higher education that is located in this state and participating in the program under this section, the board shall pay the institution, on behalf of the pupil, an amount equal to 50 percent of the tuition and fees charged a resident undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the same academic year, except that the maximum payment for a pupil who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $1,125 per academic year.

39.41(3)(b) (b) For each year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average, or the equivalent as determined by the private institution, and makes satisfactory progress toward a bachelor’s degree, the student is eligible for a higher education scholarship as determined under par. (a) in the subsequent year or, if the scholar does not enroll in a participating institution of higher education in the subsequent year, in the 2nd year following the year in which the scholar received the scholarship. No scholar is eligible for a higher education scholarship for more than 4 years at a private institution of higher education.

39.41(4) (4) 

39.41(4)(a) (a) The board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) only if the institution, district school or private institution matches the amount of the payment from institutional funds, gifts or grants. Beginning in the 1992-93 school year, the matching requirement under this paragraph for the institutions within the University of Wisconsin System shall be satisfied by payments of an amount equal to the total payments from the institutions made under this paragraph in the 1991-92 school year and, if such payments are insufficient to satisfy the matching requirement, by the waiver of academic fees established under s. 36.27.

39.41(4)(b) (b) The board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fy).

39.41(5) (5) 

39.41(5)(a) (a)

39.41(5)(a)1. 1. Each institution within the University of Wisconsin System, technical college district school and private institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the scholarship program under this section in academic year 1999-2000 and thereafter shall notify the board by October 1, 1998, that the institution wishes to participate.

39.41(5)(a)2. 2. If an institution of higher education that has notified the board under subd. 1. subsequently wishes to no longer participate in the scholarship program under this section, the institution of higher education shall notify the board of this fact in writing by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution will no longer participate.

39.41(5)(b) (b) Each designated scholar who is eligible for an original higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable of the institution of higher education he or she will be attending in the next academic year. Each designated scholar who is eligible for a subsequent higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable whether he or she will be enrolling in a participating institution of higher education in the academic year immediately following the academic year in which he or she received an original or subsequent scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), or in the 2nd academic year, following that academic year and of the institution of higher education in which he or she will be enrolling.

39.41(5)(c) (c) Annually, the board shall notify each scholar who will be attending a participating institution of higher education in the next academic year of the amount of his or her higher education scholarship.

39.41(6) (6) 

39.41(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a scholarship under this section shall not be used to replace any other grant for which a student is eligible.

39.41(6)(b) (b) A student who receives a scholarship under this section is not eligible to receive a scholarship under s. 39.415.

39.41(7) (7) By August 1, 1997, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance evaluating the success of the program under this section. The report shall specify the number and amount of the scholarships awarded in the current fiscal year and the institutions of higher education chosen by the scholarship recipients.

39.41(8) (8) The executive secretary shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for the designation of scholars under sub. (1m) (c) 3.

39.41 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269, 315; 1993 a. 16, 399, 457; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 109, 237; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 57; 2005 a. 267; 2009 a. 302, 306; 2011 a. 260; 2013 a. 60, 237.

39.41 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. HEA 9, Wis. adm. code.

39.415 39.415 Technical excellence higher education scholarships.

39.415(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

39.415(1)(a) (a) “Executive secretary” means the executive secretary of the board.

39.415(1)(b) (b) “Faculty of the high school” means the principal administrative unit of the faculty personnel of a high school.

39.415(1)(c) (c) “Level of proficiency in technical education subjects” means the level of proficiency of a senior in technical education subjects according to criteria developed and approved under sub. (2).

39.415(1)(d) (d) “School board” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (7).

39.415(1)(e) (e) “School district” has the meaning given in s. 115.01 (3).

39.415(1)(f) (f) “Senior” means a pupil enrolled in the 12th grade in a public or private high school, a tribal school, the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

39.415(1)(g) (g) “Tribal school” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (15m).

39.415(1)(h) (h) “Vocational diploma” means a diploma granted to a person who has completed a 2-year, full-time program in an area designated and approved by the technical college system board for which the course requirements are established by that board.

39.415(2) (2) Level of proficiency criteria.

39.415(2)(a) (a) Each school board of a school district operating one or more high schools and each governing body of a private high school or tribal high school shall develop criteria to determine the level of proficiency in technical education subjects of seniors enrolled in a high school operated by the school district or governed by the governing body and submit those criteria to the board for approval. If the board approves those criteria, the school board or governing body may use those criteria to designate seniors as scholars under sub. (3) (a) or to nominate seniors for designation as scholars under sub. (3) (b) and the faculty of the high school may use those criteria to select seniors for designation as scholars or to certify alternates under sub. (3) (d) or (e).

39.415(2)(b) (b) The executive secretary shall develop criteria to determine the level of proficiency in technical education subjects of seniors enrolled in the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and of seniors nominated under sub. (3) (b) and submit those criteria to the board for approval. If the board approves those criteria, the executive secretary may use those criteria to designate seniors as scholars under sub. (3) (c) 1., 2., or 3., or to select alternates under sub. (3) (f) or (g).

39.415(3) (3) Designation of scholars.

39.415(3)(a) (a) Subject to par. (d), by February 25 of each school year, the school board of each school district operating one or more high schools and the governing body of each private high school and of each tribal high school shall:

39.415(3)(a)1. 1. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 80 pupils but fewer than 500 pupils, designate the senior with the highest level of proficiency in technical education subjects as a scholar.

39.415(3)(a)2. 2. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 500 pupils but fewer than 1,000 pupils, designate the 2 seniors with the 2 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects as scholars.

39.415(3)(a)3. 3. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,000 pupils but fewer than 1,500 pupils, designate the 3 seniors with the 3 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects as scholars.

39.415(3)(a)4. 4. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,500 pupils but fewer than 2,000 pupils, designate the 4 seniors with the 4 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects as scholars.

39.415(3)(a)5. 5. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 2,000 pupils but fewer than 2,500 pupils, designate the 5 seniors with the 5 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects as scholars.

39.415(3)(a)6. 6. For each high school with an enrollment of 2,500 or more pupils, designate the 6 seniors with the 6 highest levels of proficiency in technical education subjects as scholars.

39.415(3)(b) (b) Subject to par. (e), by February 25 of each school year, the school board of each school district operating one or more high schools and the governing body of each private high school and of each tribal high school may, for each high school with an enrollment of fewer than 80 pupils, nominate for designation as a scholar by the executive secretary under par. (c) 3. the senior with the highest level of proficiency in technical education subjects.

39.415(3)(c) (c) The executive secretary shall do all of the following:

39.415(3)(c)1. 1. Subject to par. (f), for the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, designate the senior with the highest level of proficiency in technical education subjects as a scholar.

39.415(3)(c)2. 2. Subject to par. (g), for the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, designate the senior with the highest level of proficiency in technical education subjects as a scholar.

39.415(3)(c)3. 3. Designate not more than 10 seniors nominated under par. (b) as scholars.

39.415(3)(c)4. 4. For each public, private, or tribal high school with an enrollment of at least 80 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school of the number of scholars to be designated under par. (a).

39.415(3)(c)5. 5. For each public, private, or tribal high school with an enrollment of fewer than 80 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school that the school board or governing body may nominate a senior under par. (b) who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary.

39.415(3)(d) (d) By February 25 of each school year, if 2 or more seniors from the same high school of at least 80 pupils have the same level of proficiency in technical education subjects and, except for the limitation on the number of designated scholars, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (a), the faculty of the high school shall select the applicable number of seniors for designation under par. (a) as scholars and shall select, in order of priority, any remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency as alternates for the scholars or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, any remaining seniors with the next highest level of proficiency as alternates for the scholars. If a senior from that high school who is designated as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), an alternate for the scholar with the same level of proficiency as any senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a) shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board. If an alternate with the same level of proficiency as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), an alternate with the next highest level of proficiency shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

39.415(3)(e) (e) If 2 or more seniors from the same high school of fewer than 80 pupils have the same level of proficiency in technical education subjects and, except for the limitation of one nominated senior, are otherwise eligible for nomination under par. (b), the faculty of the high school shall select the senior who may be nominated by the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school for designation under par. (b) as a scholar by the executive secretary. If that senior is designated as a scholar by the executive secretary, but does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency for nomination as a scholar or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest level of proficiency for nomination as a scholar, and the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school shall nominate under par. (b) one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

39.415(3)(f) (f) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired have the same level of proficiency in technical education subjects and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 1., the executive secretary shall make the designation under par. (c) 1. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a). If that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), the executive secretary shall designate, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency, or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest level of proficiency as eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

39.415(3)(g) (g) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have the same level of proficiency in technical education subjects and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 2., the executive secretary shall make the designation under par. (c) 2. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a). If that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a), the executive secretary shall designate, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same level of proficiency, or, if there is no remaining senior with the same level of proficiency, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest level of proficiency as eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

39.415(3)(h) (h) Notwithstanding par. (a), if a high school of at least 80 pupils closes or merges, the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private or tribal high school shall, subject to par. (d), for each of the 2 school years following the closure or merger, designate the same number of scholars from among the pupils enrolled in the high school at the time of closure or merger as the number of scholars designated for that high school in the school year the high school closed or merged. Any seniors designated under this paragraph shall be eligible for an original scholarship under this section.

39.415(4) (4) Technical college scholarships.

39.415(4)(a) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (3) is admitted to and enrolls, for at least 6 credits, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a technical college district school that is participating in the program under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship in an amount not to exceed $2,250 per academic year.

39.415(4)(b) (b) For each academic year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled for at least 6 credits, maintains at least a 3.000 grade point average or the equivalent as determined by the district school, and makes satisfactory academic progress toward an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a vocational diploma as certified by the district school, the student is eligible to receive a higher education scholarship as determined under par. (a) in the subsequent year or, if the scholar does not enroll in a participating district school in the subsequent year, in the semester immediately following the subsequent year.

39.415(4)(bg) (bg) If a student who received a higher education scholarship under par. (a) is not eligible under par. (b) for the scholarship for a year because the scholar failed to maintain for a prior year at least a 3.000 grade point average or the equivalent determined by the district school, the student is eligible to receive a scholarship under par. (a) for the year immediately following a year for which all of the following criteria are satisfied:

39.415(4)(bg)1. 1. The student enrolls for at least 6 credits.

39.415(4)(bg)2. 2. The student’s grade point average increases to at least 3.000.

39.415(4)(bg)3. 3. The district school certifies that the student has made satisfactory academic progress.

39.415(4)(br) (br) No scholar is eligible for a higher education scholarship for more than 3 years at a district school.

39.415(4)(c) (c) Subject to sub. (5), for each year the student receives a higher education scholarship under par. (a) or (b), the board shall pay the district school, on behalf of the student, an amount not to exceed $1,125 per academic year.

39.415(5) (5) Payments; match required.

39.415(5)(a) (a) The board shall make the payments under sub. (4) (c) only if the district school matches the amount of the payment from institutional funds, gifts, or grants.

39.415(5)(b) (b) The board shall make the payments under sub. (4) (c) from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fw).

39.415(6) (6) Notifications; approval; withdrawal.

39.415(6)(a) (a)

39.415(6)(a)1. 1. Each technical college district school that wishes to participate in the scholarship program under this section shall notify the board of its wish to participate in the program by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the school wishes to begin participation. The board shall approve for participation in the program a district school that provides notice under this subdivision of its wish to participate in the program. An approval under this subdivision remains valid until suspended or revoked by the board or until withdrawn by the school as provided under subd. 2.

39.415(6)(a)2. 2. If a district school that is approved under subd. 1. for participation in the scholarship program under this section subsequently wishes to no longer participate in the program, the school shall notify the board of this fact in writing by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution will no longer participate.

39.415(6)(b) (b) Each designated scholar who is eligible for an original higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable of the district school he or she will be attending in the next academic year. Each designated scholar who is eligible for a subsequent higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable whether he or she will be enrolling in a participating district school in the academic year immediately following the academic year in which he or she received an original or subsequent scholarship under sub. (4), or in the semester immediately following that immediately following year, and of the district school in which he or she will be enrolling.

39.415(6)(c) (c) Annually, the board shall notify each scholar who will be attending a participating technical college district school in the next academic year of the amount of his or her higher education scholarship.

39.415(7) (7) Scholarships not to supplant other grant; exception.

39.415(7)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a scholarship under this section shall not be used to supplant any other grant for which a student is eligible.

39.415(7)(b) (b) A student who receives a scholarship under this section is not eligible to receive a scholarship under s. 39.41.

39.415(8) (8) Annual report. By August 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance evaluating the success of the program under this section. The report shall specify the number and amount of the scholarships awarded in the current fiscal year and the technical college district schools chosen by the scholarship recipients.

39.415(9) (9) Rules. The board shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

39.415 History History: 2013 a. 60; 2017 a. 91.

39.42 39.42 Interstate agreements. The board, with the approval of the joint committee on finance, or the governing boards of any publicly supported institution of post-high school education, with the approval of the board and the joint committee on finance, may enter into agreements or understandings which include remission of nonresident tuition for designated categories of students at state institutions of higher education with appropriate state agencies and institutions of higher education in other states to facilitate use of public higher education institutions of this state and other states. Such agreements and understandings shall have as their purpose the mutual improvement of educational advantages for residents of this state and such other states or institutions of other states with which agreements are made. This section does not apply to the agreement under s. 36.27 (2r).

39.42 History History: 1971 c. 100, 125; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 20; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2023 a. 104.

39.435 39.435 Wisconsin grants and talent incentive grants.

39.435(1) (1) There is established, to be administered by the board, a grant program for postsecondary resident students who satisfy the eligibility criteria under 20 USC 1091 (a) (1) and (2). Except as authorized under sub. (5), such grants shall be made only to students enrolled in nonprofit public institutions or tribally controlled colleges in this state.

39.435(2) (2) The board shall award talent incentive grants to uniquely needy students enrolled at least half-time as first-time freshmen at public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education located in this state and to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who received such grants as freshmen. No grant under this subsection may exceed $1,800 for any academic year. The board may award a grant under this subsection to the same student for up to 10 semesters or their equivalent, but may not award such a grant to the same student more than 6 years after the initial grant is awarded to that student. A student need not maintain continuous enrollment at an institution of higher education to remain eligible for a grant under this subsection. The board shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection. No provision of this subsection applies to a grant under sub. (1).

39.435(2m) (2m) The board may award a grant under sub. (1) to the same student for up to 10 semesters of full-time enrollment or, as determined by the board, the equivalent of 10 semesters of full-time enrollment. If the student receiving the grant is enrolled less than full time in any semester or session, only the fraction of the student’s enrollment, in proportion to full-time enrollment, shall be applied toward this 10-semester limit.