February 9, 2022 - Introduced by Senators Roth, Darling, Nass, Wanggaard,
Stroebel and Jagler, cosponsored by Representatives Wittke, Thiesfeldt,
Dittrich, Knodl, Murphy, Penterman, Moses, Rozar, Brandtjen, Macco and
Magnafici. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB974,1,9 1An Act to repeal 118.60 (2) (a) 1., 118.60 (2) (be), 118.60 (2) (bm), 118.60 (3) (ar),
2118.60 (4v), 119.23 (2) (a) 1. and 119.23 (4v); and to amend 118.60 (2) (a) (intro.),
3118.60 (2) (a) 2. g., 118.60 (3) (a) (intro.), 118.60 (3) (b), 118.60 (3) (c), 118.60 (3m)
4(a) 2., 118.60 (3m) (b) 2., 119.23 (3) (b), 119.23 (3m) (a) 2. and 119.23 (3m) (b) 2.
5of the statutes; relating to: eliminating income limits for parental choice
6programs; eliminating pupil participation limits for the statewide parental
7choice program; private school tuition charged to a pupil participating in a
8parental choice program; and creating an education expense reimbursement
9program for the 2022-23 school year and the summer of 2023.

This bill 1) eliminates the income limits in the statewide parental choice
program (also known as the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program), Milwaukee
Parental Choice Program, and the Racine Parental Choice Program (parental choice
program); 2) eliminates the pupil participation limits in the WPCP; 3) increases the
family income threshold amount that determines whether a private school may
charge additional tuition to a pupil attending the private school under a parental
choice program; and 4) creates a temporary education expense reimbursement
program for public school pupils.

Under current law, a pupil is not eligible to participate in the MPCP or the
RPCP if the pupil's family income is greater than 300 percent of the federal poverty
level. Similarly, under current law, a pupil is not eligible to participate in the WPCP
if the pupil's family income is greater than 220 percent of the federal poverty level.
Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the bill eliminates the family income
requirements in each of the parental choice programs. In other words, under the bill,
a pupil may participate in a parental choice program regardless of the pupil's family
income.

Current law limits the number of pupils who reside in a school district that may
attend a private school under the WPCP. For the 2021-22 school year, the limit is
set at no more than 6 percent of a school district's membership in the previous school
year. The limit increases by one percent each year until the limit reaches 10 percent,
and then, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, there is no participation limit in the
WPCP. The bill eliminates the pupil participation limits in the WPCP on the date
the bill becomes law.

Current law provides specific WPCP application procedures that apply while
the pupil participation limits are in place. For example, while the limits are in place,
pupil applications may be submitted to private schools participating in the WPCP
only during the period beginning on the first weekday in February and ending on the
third Thursday in April. The bill eliminates the application procedures that apply
while the pupil participation limits are in place.

Under current law, a private school participating in a parental choice program
may not charge a pupil participating in a parental choice program tuition, in addition
to the payments the private school receives under the parental choice program,
unless the pupil is enrolled in a grade from 9 to 12 and the pupil's family income
exceeds 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Beginning in the 2022-23 school
year, the bill increases that threshold to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Under the bill, in the 2022-23 school year and in the summer semester or
session in 2023, a pupil enrolled in a public school, including a charter school, may
attend a course or purchase educational materials, and DPI must reimburse up to
$1,000 of the cost of attendance or purchase price for up to two courses or purchases
of educational materials.

A pupil that wants to attend a course for reimbursement under the bill must
apply to the educational institution or provider that offers the course. Public schools,
other than charter schools, institutions within the University of Wisconsin System,
technical colleges, tribally controlled colleges, and private, nonprofit institutions of
higher education located in this state are required to participate in the education
expense reimbursement program created in the bill. Charter schools, private
schools, tribal schools, and other educational providers DPI approves may choose

whether to participate. If an educational institution or provider participates in the
program (approved educational provider), the approved educational provider must
accept a pupil's application to attend a course if space is available in the course unless
certain conditions apply, and, if the approved educational provider receives more
applications than available spaces, the approved educational provider must accept
pupils on a random basis.

The parent of a pupil who wants to purchase educational materials for
reimbursement under the bill must, prior to purchasing the materials, submit a
notice to DPI describing the materials, listing what is included in the materials, and
specifying the materials' cost. DPI generally must approve such a request.

Under the bill, DPI must pay reimbursements in the 2023-24 school year. The
bill does not appropriate moneys in the current biennium to pay reimbursements
under the program. The bill provides that, if the amount available to DPI is
insufficient to pay the full reimbursement amounts, DPI must prorate the payments
among those eligible for reimbursement.