SB 431

This bill requires that, if a school board contracts with a parent or guardian to

transport a pupil to and from school, the contract must compensate the parent or

guardian a total amount for all pupils residing in the household who attend the same

school, rather than a per pupil amount.

Under current law, a school board is generally required to provide

transportation to a public or private school pupil residing in the school district two

miles or more from the pupil's school. Currently, a school board may meet its

transportation obligation using a variety of methods, including by contract with the

parent or guardian of the public or private school pupil. Current law also provides

that, if the cost of transporting a private school pupil is more than 1.5 times a school

district's average cost per pupil for bus transportation in the previous year (average

cost), and the school district contracts with the pupil's parent or guardian to

transport the pupil, the contract must provide for an annual payment for each pupil

of not less than the greater of the following amounts (minimum contract amount):

1) $5 multiplied by the distance in miles between the pupil's residence and the pupil's

private school; and 2) the school district's average cost. Current law also provides

that, if the school district is Milwaukee Public Schools, the board of school directors

of MPS may pay the minimum contract amount for all pupils who reside in the same

household and attend the same private school, rather than paying the minimum

contract amount for each pupil in the household.

The bill provides that, for a contract between a school board and a parent or

guardian to transport a pupil, the amount of compensation must be a single amount

for all pupils residing in the household who attend the same school, rather than a per

pupil amount. That requirement applies to transportation contracts for both public

and private school pupils, and the requirement applies to the minimum contract

amount applicable to the transportation of a private school pupil that costs more

than 1.5 times a school district's average cost.