WI Stat § 39.41 (2021)
2021 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations|Chapter 39 - Higher educational agencies and education compacts.|39.41 - Academic excellence higher education scholarships.

39.41  Academic excellence higher education scholarships. (1) In this section:(ae) “Executive secretary" means the executive secretary of the board.(ag) “Faculty of the high school" means the principal administrative unit of the faculty personnel of a high school designated under sub. (1m) (j).(aj) “Governing body of a private school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3d). (av) “School board" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (7).(b) “School district" has the meaning given in s. 115.01 (3).(bm) “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. (br) “Tribal school" has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (15m).(c) “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. (1m) (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:1. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 80 pupils but less than 500 pupils, designate the senior with the highest grade point average in all subjects as a scholar.2. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 500 pupils but less than 1,000 pupils, designate the 2 seniors with the 2 highest grade point averages in all subjects as scholars.3. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,000 pupils but less than 1,500 pupils, designate the 3 seniors with the 3 highest grade point averages in all subjects as scholars.4. For each high school with an enrollment of at least 1,500 pupils but less than 2,000 pupils, designate the 4 seniors with the 4 highest grade point averages in all subjects as scholars.5. For each high school with an enrollment of 2,000 or more pupils, designate the 5 seniors with the 5 highest grade point averages in all subjects as scholars.6. For each high school with an enrollment of 2,500 or more pupils, designate the 6 seniors with the 6 highest grade point averages in all subjects as scholars.(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 less than 80 pupils, nominate the senior with the highest grade point average in all subjects who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary under par. (c) 3.(c) The executive secretary shall: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 grade point average in all subjects as a scholar.2. Subject to par. (fm), for the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, designate the senior with the highest grade point average in all subjects as a scholar. 3. Designate not more than 10 seniors nominated under par. (b) as scholars.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).5. For each public, private, or tribal high school with an enrollment of less 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.(cm) The executive secretary may grant waivers under par. (m).(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 grade point average 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 certify, in order of priority, any remaining seniors with the same grade point average as alternates for the scholars or, if there is no remaining senior with the same grade point average, any remaining seniors with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, as alternates for the scholars. If a senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), an alternate for the scholar with the same grade point average as any senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a) shall be 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. If an alternate with the same grade point average as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), an alternate with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, shall be 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. (e) If 2 or more seniors from the same high school of less than 80 pupils have the same grade point average 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. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar or, if there is no remaining senior with the same grade point average, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, for certification 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 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.(f) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired have the same grade point average 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 as a scholar. If that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the executive secretary shall designate, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average, or, if there is no remaining senior with the same grade point average, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, 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. (fm) 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 grade point average 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 as a scholar. If that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the executive secretary shall designate, in order of priority, one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average, or, if there is no remaining senior with the same grade point average, one or more of the remaining seniors with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, 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. (g) Notwithstanding par. (a), if a high school of at least 80 pupils closes or merges in the 1991-92 school year or in any school year thereafter, 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.(h) Notwithstanding par. (a), if a public high school of at least 80 pupils closed following the 1989-90 school year and a pupil from the closed high school was designated a scholar under this section for either of the 2 school years following the closure by the school board of a school district operating a high school that enrolled pupils from the closed high school, such school board shall designate the senior with the next highest grade point average for that school year as a scholar. Any scholar designated under this paragraph shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b) as determined under par. (a), notwithstanding that the scholar did not receive a higher education scholarship for the academic year immediately following the school year in which the pupil from the closed high school was designated a scholar under this section.(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.(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).(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. (2) (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.(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. (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. (3) (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.(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.  (4) (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.(b) The board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fy). (5) (a)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.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.(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. (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. (6) (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.(b) A student who receives a scholarship under this section is not eligible to receive a scholarship under s. 39.415.  (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. (8) The executive secretary shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for the designation of scholars under sub. (1m) (c) 3.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.