Board of Education v. Sinclair

We conclude that public schools may sell or charge fees for the use of books and items of a similar nature when authorized by statute without violating art. X, sec. 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution.

We are persuaded that when the framers of our constitution used the phrase “free and without charge for tuition to all children . . . ,” the word “free” meant without cost for physical facilities and equipment; “without charge for tuition” meant there should be no fee charged for instruction; 2 and “to all children . . .” meant such schools were equally available to all children within the district.

I…