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Pupil Transportation Aid

Program Description

State pupil transportation aids are determined under the provisions of Wis. Stat. §. 121.58. The appropriation for reimbursement of transporting public and nonpublic school pupils who are actually transported is found in Wis. Stat. §. 20.255(2)(cr). 

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Transportation Aid Information

Effective with the 2011-12 school year, any balance remaining after paying all claims for pupil transportation aid shall be apportioned among districts. This apportionment shall be based on each district's share of the total claims. For example, if a district's claim equals 0.5 percent of the total claims, the district shall receive 0.5 percent of any residual balance. Residual balance payments shall be paid in June.

Summary of Pupil Transportation (PI-1547) FY25

Guides individuals entering the 'Regular School'; 'Summer/Interim' and 'Vocational Programs' data into the portal.

Transportation Aid Worksheet

Includes Regular, Summer/Interim, and Vocational.

Transportation Data Reporting FAQs

Provides information related to 13 questions common to pupil transportation reporting.

Pupil Transportation Homepage

Provides general information on pupil transportation beyond transportation aid.

Transportation Aid Payments

Reimbursement Rates

School districts that furnish transportation to and from public and nonpublic schools are entitled to receive state aid at the following rates:

Distance in Miles Regular Year Summer/Interim
Less Than 2 Miles (hazardous area) $15/pupil --
Over 2-5 miles $35/pupil $10/pupil
Over 5 up to 8 $55/pupil $20/pupil
Over 8 up to 12 $110/pupil $20/pupil
Over 12 $400/pupil* $20/pupil

Distances are measured from the pupil's residence to the school attended, following the shortest commonly traveled route. Pupil transportation aid for the current year is based on the number of children transported during the prior school year.

*Reimbursement rate for the 12+ miles category was raised to $400 per member per 2023 Act 19 (2023-25 biennial budget).

Who Receives Assistance

School districts can receive this aid. Pupil transportation aid is based on student ridership in the previous year. School districts report ridership in the School Finance Reporting Portal. (Public View Submitted District Data - portal access)

Very few districts provide transportation to pupils enrolled full-time, at the district's expense, in a vocational education or occupational preparation program at a technical college, or who participate in a 66.0301 vocational program per s. 121.54(5), Wis. Stats.  Please contact the School Financial Services team with any related questions.

Amount of Funds Available

The statewide dollar amount for pupil transportation aid is appropriated by the legislature. Aid eligibility for each district is determined based on riders from the previous year multiplied by the flat amount per pupil in each distance category. The WUFAR chart of accounts requires that this revenue be recorded in Fund 10, Source 612. Payment date is the last Monday of January. The State of Wisconsin Pupil Transportation aid allocation for 2023-24 and 2024-25 continues to be $24,000,000 annually.

Independent Charter Schools

Pupil Transportation (PI-1547) for Independent Charter Schools guides school staff in collecting and entering pupil ridership data.

For questions about this information, contact Kathy Fry (608) 224-5343, dpifin@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9114