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Special Needs Scholarship Program

More about this notice: State law requires school districts to notify families each year about the Wisconsin Special Needs Scholarship Program. This requirement is outlined in Wisconsin Statute 115.7915. The law requires districts to inform parents and guardians of students with disabilities that the State of Wisconsin offers a scholarship program that may allow eligible students to attend a participating private school. The Appleton Area School District shares this notice to comply with state law and to ensure families are aware of information provided by the state. Eligibility requirements, participation, and scholarship decisions are determined by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Notice of Special Needs Scholarship Program for 2025-26

This notice serves to inform parents and guardians of students with disabilities that the State of Wisconsin has established the Special Needs Scholarship Program. Under this scholarship program, a child with a disability may be eligible to receive a scholarship from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that allows the child to attend a private school that is participating in the scholarship program.  

A parent or guardian who is interested in the Special Needs Scholarship Program should independently verify the participating private schools and the specific terms, eligibility criteria, and application procedures of the scholarship program with the DPI. To be eligible for a scholarship, the child must be a resident of the state and have an individualized education program (IEP) or services plan in effect.  

Parents and guardians of students new to the Special Needs Scholarship Program may apply to the program beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2065. Eligible students who currently participate in the Special Needs Scholarship Program will not have to reapply or submit annual applications to be eligible for a scholarship.  

Act 55 of 2015 made changes to open enrollment specific to students with disabilities. Nonresident districts previously billed resident districts for the basic open enrollment amount plus any actual, additional costs noticed to resident districts through a cost estimate.

Beginning with the 2016-17 open enrollment school year, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will make an aid transfer of $12,000 for all open-enrolled students with disabilities (full-time, full year) in the same manner as they do for students without disabilities. The amount will be prorated based on the status of the student and/or number of days of attendance. Nonresident districts may no longer charge resident districts for any actual, additional costs for students with disabilities.

In addition, Act 55 of 2015 created the Special Needs Scholarship Program, which allows a student with a disability who meets certain eligibility requirements to receive a scholarship from the DPI to attend participating private schools.