Education (K-12 and Higher Education)

This information memorandum discusses state-funded financial aid programs only. Other financial aid may be available from the federal government, individual higher educational institutions, or private organizations.

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) consists of 16 districts that are governed by the WTCS Board as a whole and individually by the respective technical college district board. The 48 campuses of the WTCS offer a variety of associate degrees, diplomas and certificates, as well as programs that provide specialized education or opportunities for liberal arts degrees in conjunction with four-year colleges.

Wisconsin has over 20 private, nonprofit, accredited degree-granting colleges and universities, a majority of which are members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU). WAICU acts as the official representative of its member institutions and has a statutorily reserved seat on certain state boards. Though the state does not directly fund any WAICU institutions, many state-funded scholarships, grants, and programs may be used by students attending private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Besides these specified board seats and state-funded aid to students, WAICU institutions operate entirely independent of the state. 

This issue brief provides a general overview of a public school board’s responsibility to provide pupil transportation to and from public schools.