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Open Enrollment Transportation and Transportation Reimbursement

Transportation

Parents are responsible to provide transportation to and from school in the nonresident school district, except that transportation required in a child’s IEP must be provided by the nonresident school district. A nonresident or resident school district is permitted (but not required) to provide transportation to open enrolled pupils, however the nonresident school district is prohibited from picking up or dropping off a pupil within the boundaries of the pupil’s resident school district unless the resident school district agrees. 

Bulletin 14-08 – Statutes Concerning Open Enrollment Transportation  

 

Transportation Reimbursement

Low-income parents may apply to the DPI for reimbursement of a portion of their transportation costs.

Parents may indicate on their open enrollment application form that they intend to apply for reimbursement. Shortly after the beginning of the school term, DPI will send information about how to file a claim. If a parent did not request reimbursement at the time of applying for open enrollment, the parent should contact DPI and we will send information about filing a claim.

Eligibility

Low-income is defined as eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the school lunch program. Income eligibility guidelines for July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023 are:
 

Household Size

Yearly Income

Monthly Income

Household Size

Yearly Income

Monthly Income

1

$25,142

$2,096

6

$68,802

$5,734

2

$33,874

$2,823

7

$77,534

$6,462

3

$42,606

$3,551

8

$86,266

$7,189

4

$51,338

$4,279

9

$94,998

$7,917

5

$60,070

$5,006

10

$103,730

$8,645

For each additional household member, add

+$8,732

+$728

 

Calculation of Reimbursement

Only transportation to and from the regular school day is reimbursable. Additional trips to and from school for extra-curricular activities, parent-teacher conferences, etc. may not be reimbursed. Transportation to and from an alternate site (i.e. day care or a bus pick-up point) may be reimbursed, as long as the miles do not exceed the number of miles from home to school.

The maximum reimbursement per pupil for the 2022-23 school year is $1,218.54. However, the DPI expects to receive many more claims than it has money, so it is estimated that payments will be prorated as low as 20%. As a result, the maximum reimbursement per pupil may be as low as $243.71. Claims are paid by miles, not by children. If two or more children are transported at the same time, those miles are only reimbursed once, although transporting more children may increase the maximum.

For example, here are the calculations for one and two children using the same number of miles and days transported:
 

 

One child

Two children

Number of miles per round trip

10

10

x Number of round trips per day

x 2

x 2

x Number of days transported

x 180

x 180

= Total number of miles

= 3,600 miles

= 3,600 miles

x 36.5 cents per mile

x .365

x .365

= Total Mileage Cost

$1,314.00

$1,314.00

Maximum Reimbursement

= $1,218.54 x number of children

$1,218.54

$2,437.08

Eligible Reimbursement

= the lesser of the Total Mileage Cost or the Maximum Reimbursement

$1,218.54

$1,314.00

Estimated Prorated Payment at 20%

$243.71

$262.80

 

Claims and Payment

Claims should be filed as soon as the school term ends, but must be filed on or before July 15, 2023. 

 

 

Contact Us:  Email: openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov or call toll-free: 888-245-2732