Chapter PI 35

PI 35.16 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; correction in (5) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2016 No. 727.

PI 35.17 PI 35.17 Auditor fee.

PI 35.17(1) (1) The department shall annually determine the amount of the nonrefundable fee a school shall pay to the department under s. 119.23 (2) (a) 3., Stats. The department shall calculate the amount of the auditor fee by dividing the cost of the auditor position and unfunded prior year auditor costs, as determined by the department, by the number of schools that are required to submit the information under s. PI 35.06 (8).

PI 35.17(2) (2) Except as provided under s. PI 35.04 (1) (e), a school shall pay the auditor fee with a cashier’s check or another guaranteed manner permitted by the department by January 10 of the year prior to the school year in which the school participates in the choice program.

PI 35.17 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; CR 19-120: am. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

PI 35.18 PI 35.18 Income limit calculation. Annually by the first weekday in December, the state superintendent shall calculate the income and tuition limits for pupil participation in the choice program for the next school year as follows:

PI 35.18(1) (1) Multiply the most recent federal poverty level available from the federal office of management and budget by 3.00 to determine the income limit for pupils participating in the choice program in the next school year.

PI 35.18(2) (2) Multiply the most recent federal poverty level available from the federal office of management and budget by 2.20 to determine the income limit above which a school may charge tuition to choice pupils who are in grades 9 to 12.

PI 35.18 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; CR 19-120: am. (intro.) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

PI 35.19 PI 35.19 State aid payment calculation. The state superintendent shall make the payments under ss. 119.23 (4) and (4m), Stats., to schools participating in the choice program. The state superintendent may withhold payment from a school under ss. 119.23 (4) and (4m), Stats., if the school violates this chapter or s. 119.23, Stats. The state superintendent shall make the payments as follows:

PI 35.19(1) (1) September payment. The state superintendent shall calculate the September payment as the full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils multiplied by the per pupil payment amount determined under s. 119.23 (4), Stats., multiplied by 25 percent. The full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils at the school shall be based on the report filed under s. PI 35.06 (7). The state superintendent may not make a September payment to a school that has ceased instruction prior to the payment date.

PI 35.19(2) (2) November payment. The department shall calculate the November payment as the full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils multiplied by the per pupil payment amount determined under s. 119.23 (4), Stats., multiplied by 50 percent less the September payment received for the pupil. The full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils shall be based on the choice program pupils reported in the school’s pupil count report for the third Friday in September required under s. PI 35.06 (8), unless a pupil is determined ineligible by the department. The November payment shall include any payments due to the school for summer school instruction of choice program pupils in the immediately preceding summer as indicated in the report filed under s. 119.23 (4) (a), Stats., unless otherwise determined ineligible by the department. The department may not make a November payment to a school that has ceased instruction prior to the payment date.

PI 35.19(3) (3) February payment. The department shall calculate the February payment as the full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils multiplied by the per pupil payment amount determined under s. 119.23 (4), Stats., multiplied by 25 percent. The full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils shall be based on the choice program pupils reported in the school’s pupil count report for the second Friday in January under s. PI 35.06 (8), unless a pupil is determined ineligible by the department. The department may not make a February payment to a school that has ceased instruction prior to the payment date.

PI 35.19(4) (4) May payment. The department shall calculate the May payment as the full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils multiplied by the per pupil payment amount determined under s. 119.23 (4), Stats., multiplied by 25 percent. The full-time equivalent for the choice program pupils shall be based on the choice program pupils reported in the school’s pupil count report for the second Friday in January under s. PI 35.06 (8), unless a pupil is determined ineligible by the department. The department may not make a May payment to a school that has ceased instruction prior to the end of its scheduled school term unless the school obtained prior written approval from the department to end the school term early.

PI 35.19(5) (5) Amount due to department. A school shall refund an amount due to the department under this chapter or s. 119.23, Stats., as follows:

PI 35.19(5)(a) (a) If the school is currently eligible to receive choice program payments, the department shall reduce the payments made under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m), Stats., by the amount owed. If reducing a payment made under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m), Stats., is insufficient to pay the amount owed, the school shall pay the remaining amount within 60 days of the date of the notice to the school of the amount due.

PI 35.19(5)(b) (b) If the school is not currently eligible to receive choice program payments, the school shall refund the department within 60 days of the date of the notice to the school of the amount due.

PI 35.19 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; correction in (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2016 No. 727; CR 19-120: am. (1) to (4), cr. (5) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

PI 35.20 PI 35.20 Department authority.

PI 35.20(1) (1) Inquiries. Except as provided under s. 119.23, Stats., the department may make inquiries to ascertain the accuracy and completeness of information contained in audits or reports required under s. 119.23, Stats., or this chapter. Schools and auditors shall promptly respond to inquiries made by the department.

PI 35.20(2) (2) Training. The department may provide training to school staff and auditors. The department may charge a reasonable fee for providing training under this subsection.

PI 35.20(3) (3) Disqualified person. The department may disqualify a person under s. 119.23 (1) (ag), Stats., whether the individual is compensated or uncompensated.

PI 35.20(4) (4) Pupil confidentiality. The department shall maintain pupil confidentiality at all times.

PI 35.20 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16.

PI 35.21 PI 35.21 Request for a hearing on department action.

PI 35.21(1) (1) Who may request. A person or school adversely affected by an action of the department under this chapter or s. 119.23, Stats., may request a contested case hearing on that action. A request for a contested case hearing shall be filed with the office of legal services within 14 days of the date of the department’s action.

PI 35.21 Note Note: See s. 227.42, Stats. A request for a contested case hearing may be filed with the office of legal services at the following address:

PI 35.21 Note Office of Legal Services
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster St.
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841

PI 35.21(2) (2) Request form.

PI 35.21(2)(a) (a) A request for a contested case hearing under sub. (1) shall be in writing and shall describe all of the following:

PI 35.21(2)(a)1. 1. The department action on which a hearing is requested.

PI 35.21(2)(a)2. 2. The requester’s substantial interest claimed to be adversely affected.

PI 35.21(2)(a)3. 3. How the department’s action adversely affected the requester’s substantial interest.

PI 35.21(2)(a)4. 4. The grounds for the hearing request, including each of the specific material facts or legal issues that are in dispute. Any material fact or legal issue that is not disputed shall be deemed admitted.

PI 35.21(2)(a)5. 5. The relief sought.

PI 35.21(2)(b) (b) Upon the request of the department, the person or school who filed a request for a hearing under sub. (1) shall provide the department with any additional clarifying information the department determines is necessary to decide whether to grant or deny a hearing request.

PI 35.21(3) (3) Granting or denying request.

PI 35.21(3)(a) (a) The department shall grant or deny a request for a contested case hearing under sub. (1) within 20 days after a request is filed, unless the person or school requesting the hearing agrees to an extension of time. The department may grant a request for a contested case hearing if, upon preliminary review, it appears that all of the following apply:

PI 35.21(3)(a)1. 1. The department has jurisdiction over the matter.

PI 35.21(3)(a)2. 2. The request for a hearing complies with the requirements under subs. (1) and (2).

PI 35.21(3)(a)3. 3. The requestor is entitled to a hearing under s. 227.42, Stats.

PI 35.21(3)(b) (b) Any action taken by the department which is contested under sub. (1) shall remain in effect until the state superintendent issues a final decision and order under s. 227.47, Stats.

PI 35.21(4) (4) Transcript.

PI 35.21(4)(a) (a) Upon filing a written request with the department, any party in a contested case hearing may obtain a written transcript of the hearing. Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall charge the requesting party the actual cost to produce the transcript.

PI 35.21(4)(b) (b) The department may provide a written transcript free of charge to a requesting party if the requesting party demonstrates, to the department’s satisfaction, that the requesting party is indigent and has a legal need for the transcript.

PI 35.21 History History: CR 16-004: cr. Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16.