February 21, 2018 - Introduced by Senator Craig, cosponsored by Representatives
Thiesfeldt, Kremer, Quinn, Weatherston, Sanfelippo, Jacque, Kuglitsch,
Duchow, Skowronski, Horlacher, Allen, Tusler, Brandtjen, Petersen,
Schraa and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Education.
SB821,1,9 1An Act to renumber and amend 115.38 (1) (b) 2., 118.125 (3), 118.164 (3) (a)
24. and 118.21 (1); to amend 118.125 (3) (title), 118.127, 118.60 (7) (b) 7. b.,
3119.23 (7) (b) 7. b., 938.396 (1) (c) 3. (intro.), 938.396 (1) (c) 3. a., 938.396 (1) (c)
43. c., 938.396 (1) (c) 3. d., 938.396 (1) (c) 4. and 938.396 (1) (d); and to create
5115.28 (54t), 118.125 (1) (bc), 118.125 (1m), 118.125 (2) (dm), 118.125 (3) (b) 2.,
6118.1255, 118.164 (3) (am) 2., 118.21 (1) (b), 118.40 (4) (ar) 3., 118.60 (1) (ae),
7118.60 (7) (b) 4m., 118.60 (7) (b) 5m., 118.60 (7) (b) 7m., 119.16 (16), 119.23 (1)
8(aem), 119.23 (7) (b) 4m., 119.23 (7) (b) 5m., 119.23 (7) (b) 7m., 120.12 (24m) and
9120.12 (29) of the statutes; relating to: rights of and protections for teachers.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Notice of teacher rights and protections
This bill creates and modifies certain rights and protections for teachers and
requires the Department of Public Instruction to include on its Internet site a
summary of the laws governing these rights and protections, which include the
following:
1. The right of a teacher to remove a pupil from a classroom under certain
circumstances for the remainder of the school day.

2. The right of a teacher to utilize a grievance procedure to address workplace
safety concerns.
3. The right of a teacher to use reasonable and necessary force under certain
circumstances.
4. The right of a school district employee or teacher to receive assistance and
leave benefits if the teacher is injured as a result of a physical assault or violent crime
while performing work duties.
5. The right of a teacher to terminate his or her contract without penalty if the
teacher is a victim of a physical assault or violent crime while performing work
duties.
6. Civil immunity provided to a teacher under state and federal laws for certain
discretionary acts.
7. The right of a teacher to review, upon request, the behavioral records of a
pupil enrolled in the teacher's class when the teacher has a legitimate educational
interest, including a safety interest, in doing so.
Records and reporting
The bill requires each school board and independent charter school to maintain
pupil behavioral records until the pupil has graduated from high school. If the pupil
is no longer enrolled in a school in the school district and if the school district has not
received a request to transfer the pupil's records to another school, the school district
must retain the records until the pupil attains the age of 21. Current law prohibits
a school board from maintaining such records for more than one year.
The bill also requires private schools participating in the Milwaukee, Racine,
or statewide parental choice program to maintain behavioral records for each pupil
while the pupil attends the private school for the same period of time as is required
of public schools. Current law requires such private schools to maintain a pupil's
progress records while the pupil attends the private school and for at least five years
after the pupil ceases to attend the school. The bill requires a private school that is
not participating in a parental choice program to maintain pupil behavioral records
only if the private school has adopted a policy governing the maintenance of pupil
progress records and, with one exception, for the same length of time the private
school maintains the progress records. The private school is not required to maintain
a pupil's behavioral records once the pupil has graduated from the private school.
If a private school maintains behavioral records, the private school must keep the
information confidential in the same manner as is required of a public school official
who maintains behavioral records.
The bill also requires DPI to include additional information about suspensions
and expulsions in the school district report it creates for each school district,
including the number of physical assaults by pupils on teachers and other school
district employees, on other pupils, and on adults not employed by the school district.

For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB821,1 1Section 1. 115.28 (54t) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,3,72 115.28 (54t) Notice of teacher rights and protections. Include on the
3department's Internet site a summary of laws governing the rights and protections
4afforded to a public school teacher under state and federal law. The state
5superintendent shall include in the summary all of the following, and shall annually
6provide electronic notice to each school board of the summary described in this
7subsection:
SB821,3,98 (a) The right of a teacher, under s. 118.164 (2), to remove a pupil from the
9classroom under certain circumstances.
SB821,3,1210 (b) The right of a teacher to utilize the grievance procedure, established by the
11school board as required under s. 66.0509 (1m) (a), to address a workplace safety
12concern.
SB821,3,1413 (c) The right of a teacher, under s. 118.31 (3), to use reasonable and necessary
14force under certain circumstances.
SB821,3,1815 (d) The right of a school district employee or teacher, under s. 120.12 (24m), and
16of a charter school employee or teacher, under s. 118.40 (4) (ar) 3., to receive
17assistance and leave benefits if the employee or teacher is injured as a result of a
18physical assault or violent crime while performing work duties.
SB821,3,2119 (e) The right of a teacher, under s. 118.21 (1) (b) or 119.16 (16), to terminate his
20or her contract without penalty if the teacher is a victim of a physical assault or
21violent crime while performing work duties.
SB821,4,2
1(f) Civil immunity provided to a teacher by s. 893.80 (4) and by 20 USC 7941
2to 7948.
SB821,4,53 (g) The right of a teacher, under s. 118.125 (2) (dm), to review the behavioral
4records of a pupil enrolled in the teacher's class if the teacher has a legitimate
5educational interest, including a safety interest, in reviewing the records.
SB821,4,66 (h) Any other information the department considers relevant.
SB821,2 7Section 2. 115.38 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 115.38 (1) (b) 2. (intro.)
8and amended to read:
SB821,4,109 115.38 (1) (b) 2. (intro.) The following information about suspensions and
10expulsions:
SB821,4,11 11a. The numbers of suspensions and expulsions ; the.
SB821,4,17 12b. The reasons for which pupils are suspended or expelled, reported according
13to categories specified by the state superintendent; , and including all of the following
14categories: physical assaults on teachers; physical assaults on other school district
15employees; physical assaults on students; and physical assaults on adults not
16employed by
the school district. In this subd. 1. b., “physical assault” has the
17meaning given in s. 118.21 (1) (b) 1.
SB821,4,20 18c. The length of time for which pupils are expelled, reported according to
19categories specified by the state superintendent; whether, including the categories
20specified under subd. 2. b.
SB821,4,21 21d. Whether pupils return to school after their expulsion; the.
SB821,4,24 22e. The educational programs and services, if any, provided to pupils during
23their expulsions, reported according to categories specified by the state
24superintendent;, including the categories specified under subd. 2. b.
SB821,4,25 25f. The schools attended by pupils who are suspended or expelled; and the.
SB821,5,2
1g. The grade, sex, and ethnicity of pupils who are suspended or expelled and
2whether the pupils are children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5).
SB821,3 3Section 3. 118.125 (1) (bc) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,5,54 118.125 (1) (bc) “Governing board” means the governing board of a charter
5school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).
SB821,4 6Section 4. 118.125 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,5,97 118.125 (1m) Public records laws applicable to independent charter
8schools.
The duties and responsibilities imposed under this section on school boards
9and upon a school district clerk or designee apply to a governing board.
SB821,5 10Section 5. 118.125 (2) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,5,1911 118.125 (2) (dm) 1. The school district clerk or his or her designee shall, upon
12request, make available to a person employed by the school district that the pupil
13attends and required by the department under s. 115.28 (7) to hold a license the
14behavioral records of a pupil who is enrolled in the person's class if the person has
15a legitimate educational interest, including a safety interest, in reviewing the
16records. A school district may not be held liable for any damages caused by the
17nondisclosure of any information specified in this subdivision unless the school
18district or its agent acted with gross negligence or with reckless, wanton, or
19intentional misconduct in failing to disclose the information.
SB821,6,520 2. A governing board or a designee of the governing board shall, upon request,
21make available to an instructional staff member employed by the charter school that
22the pupil attends the behavioral records of a pupil who is enrolled in the instructional
23staff member's class if the instructional staff member has a legitimate educational
24interest, including a safety interest, in reviewing the records. In this subdivision,
25“instructional staff” has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the

1department under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 2. The governing board may not be held liable for
2any damages caused by the nondisclosure of any information specified in this
3subdivision unless the governing board or its agent acted with gross negligence or
4with reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct in failing to disclose the
5information.
SB821,6,166 3. The governing body of a private school or a designee of the governing body
7that maintains behavioral records of pupils attending the private school as provided
8under s. 118.1255 or as required under ss. 118.60 (7) (b) 4m. and 119.23 (7) (b) 4m.
9shall, upon request, make available to a teacher employed by the private school that
10the pupil attends the behavioral records of a pupil who is enrolled in the teacher's
11class if the teacher has a legitimate educational interest, including a safety interest,
12in reviewing the records. The governing body of a private school may not be held
13liable for any damages caused by the nondisclosure of any information specified in
14this subdivision unless the governing body or its agent acted with gross negligence
15or with reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct in failing to disclose the
16information.
SB821,6 17Section 6. 118.125 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821,6,1918 118.125 (3) (title) Maintenance of records by a school board or independent
19charter school
.
SB821,7 20Section 7. 118.125 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 118.125 (3) (a) and
21amended to read:
SB821,6,2522 118.125 (3) (a) Each school board and governing board shall adopt rules in
23writing specifying the content of pupil records and the time during which pupil
24records shall be maintained. No A school board or governing board shall publish
25rules adopted under this subsection as a class 1 notice under ch. 985.
SB821,7,6
1(b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a school board or governing board shall
2maintain
behavioral records may be maintained for more than one year after of a
3pupil for as long as
the pupil ceases to be remains enrolled in a school in the school ,
4unless
district or in the charter school and until the pupil specifies in writing that
5his or her behavioral records may be maintained for a longer period
has graduated
6from high school in the school district or at the charter school
.
SB821,7,8 7(c) A pupil's progress records shall be maintained for at least 5 years after the
8pupil ceases to be enrolled in a school in the school district or in the charter school.
SB821,7,11 9(d) A school board or governing board may maintain the pupil records on
10microfilm, on an optical disc, or in electronic format if authorized under s. 19.21 (4)
11(c), or in such other form as the school board or governing board deems appropriate.
SB821,7,15 12(e) A school board or governing board shall maintain law enforcement officers'
13records obtained under s. 48.396 (1) or 938.396 (1) (b) 2. or (c) 3. separately from a
14pupil's other pupil records. Rules adopted under this subsection shall be published
15by the school board as a class 1 notice under ch. 985.
SB821,8 16Section 8. 118.125 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,7,1817 118.125 (3) (b) 2. A school board or governing board shall maintain behavioral
18records of a pupil until the pupil has attained the age of 21 if all of the following apply:
SB821,7,2019 a. The pupil was enrolled in but is not currently enrolled in a school in the school
20district or in the charter school.
SB821,7,2221 b. The pupil has not graduated from a school in the school district or from the
22charter school.
SB821,7,2523 c. Neither the pupil nor the pupil's parent or guardian nor another school or
24school district nor a court has submitted to the school board or governing board the
25written notice described in sub. (4).
SB821,9
1Section 9. 118.1255 of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,8,2 2118.1255 Maintenance of records by a private school. (1) In this section:
SB821,8,33 (a) “Behavioral records” has the meaning given in s. 118.125 (1) (a).
SB821,8,44 (b) “Progress records” has the meaning given in s. 118.125 (1) (c).
SB821,8,13 5(2) (a) Subject to ss. 118.60 (7) (b) 4., 4m., 7., and 7m. and 119.23 (7) (b) 4., 4m.,
67., and 7m., and except as provided in par. (b), if the governing body of a private school
7has adopted a policy governing the maintenance of progress records of a pupil who
8attends the private school, the governing body shall maintain behavioral records of
9a pupil for the same duration of time that the governing body is required by that
10policy to maintain the progress records of the pupil. A private school official who
11maintains behavioral records under this subsection shall keep the information in
12those records confidential in the same manner as is required of a public school official
13under s. 118.125.
SB821,8,1514 (b) The governing body of a private school is not required to maintain the
15behavioral records for a pupil once the pupil has graduated from the private school.
SB821,10 16Section 10. 118.127 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821,9,14 17118.127 Law enforcement agency information. A school district, charter
18school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x),
private school, or tribal school may
19disclose information from law enforcement officers' records obtained under s.
20938.396 (1) (c) 3. only to persons employed by the school district who are required by
21the department under s. 115.28 (7) to hold a license, to persons employed by the
22private school or tribal school as teachers, to persons employed by the charter school
23as instructional staff,
and to other school district, private school, charter school, or
24tribal school officials who have been determined by the school board , governing board
25of the charter school,
or governing body of the private school or tribal school to have

1legitimate educational interests, including safety interests, in that information. In
2addition, if that information relates to a pupil of the school district, charter school,
3private school, or tribal school, the school district, charter school, private school, or
4tribal school may also disclose that information to those employees of the school
5district, charter school, private school, or tribal school who have been designated by
6the school board, governing board of the charter school, or governing body of the
7private school or tribal school to receive that information for the purpose of providing
8treatment programs for pupils enrolled in the school district, charter school, private
9school, or tribal school. A school district may not use law enforcement officers'
10records obtained under s. 938.396 (1) (c) 3. as the sole basis for expelling or
11suspending a pupil or as the sole basis for taking any other disciplinary action
12against a pupil, but may use law enforcement officers' records obtained under s.
13938.396 (1) (c) 3. as the sole basis for taking action against a pupil under the school
14district's athletic code.
SB821,11 15Section 11. 118.164 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 118.164 (3) (am)
161. and amended to read:
SB821,9,2317 118.164 (3) (am) 1. The school principal or his or her designee may return the
18pupil to the
class from which the pupil was removed if, except as provided in subd.
192., the pupil has remained out of the teacher's classroom for the remainder of the day
20on which the pupil was removed from the classroom and if
, after weighing the
21interests of the removed pupil, the other pupils in the class, and the teacher, the
22school principal or his or her designee determines that readmission to the class is the
23best or only alternative.
SB821,12 24Section 12. 118.164 (3) (am) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,10,2
1118.164 (3) (am) 2. The teacher of the pupil may waive the requirement that
2the pupil remain out of the teacher's classroom for the remainder of the day.
SB821,13 3Section 13. 118.21 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 118.21 (1) (a) and
4amended to read:
SB821,10,115 118.21 (1) (a) The school board shall contract in writing with qualified teachers.
6The school board shall file a contract, with a copy of the teacher's authority to teach
7attached, shall be filed with the school district clerk. Such contract, in addition to
8fixing the teacher's wage, may provide for compensating the teacher for necessary
9travel expense. A teaching contract with any person not legally authorized to teach
10the named subject or at the named school shall be void. All teaching contracts shall
11terminate if, and when, the authority to teach terminates.
SB821,14 12Section 14. 118.21 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,10,1713 118.21 (1) (b) 1. In this paragraph, “physical assault” means the knowing or
14intentional touching of another person, by the use of any body part or object, with the
15intent to cause physical harm. “Physical assault” does not include the reasonable
16and necessary use of force for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of others
17under s. 939.48.
SB821,11,318 2. Beginning on the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the
19school board shall include in each contract under this section a provision authorizing
20the teacher to terminate his or her contract without penalty, including the penalty
21of the payment of liquidated damages, if the teacher is the victim of a physical assault
22or of a violent crime, as defined in s. 939.632 (1) (e), while the teacher is on school
23premises, at or in transit to a school-sponsored activity, or otherwise engaged in
24official duties on behalf of the school district. The provision required under this
25subdivision shall specify that a teacher may terminate his or her contract as provided

1under this subdivision only if the teacher provides the school board with a law
2enforcement report documenting the physical assault or violent crime within 2
3months of the incident covered in the report.
SB821,15 4Section 15. 118.40 (4) (ar) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,12,25 118.40 (4) (ar) 3. Ensure that a charter school employee or teacher who is
6injured as a result of physical assault, as defined in s. 118.21 (1) (b) 1., or of a violent
7crime, as defined in s. 939.632 (1) (e), upon the person of the employee or teacher
8while the employee or teacher is in the performance of any duties as a charter school
9employee or teacher is provided with a reasonable paid leave of absence from
10employment with the governing board without a loss of leave benefits. Where
11inpatient care involving an overnight stay is required, a reasonable paid leave of
12absence is the longer of one workweek or the duration of the employee's or teacher's
13inpatient care. Where inpatient care involving an overnight stay is not required but
14medical treatment is needed, a reasonable paid leave of absence is the duration of
15time necessary to receive medical treatment or, if a health care provider certifies in
16writing that the employee or teacher is unable to return to work due to the injury,
17the duration of time specified by the health care provider. The governing board is
18entitled to the right of subrogation for reimbursement to the extent that an employee
19or teacher who sustains injuries while the employee or teacher is in the performance
20of his or her duties may recover the reimbursed items in an action or claim in tort
21against any 3rd party. A repayment made under this subdivision shall be limited to
22the total sum credited to the injured employee or teacher as damages for pay and
23fringe benefits actually received in the settlement of any claim caused by the
24negligence of the 3rd party. The governing board shall designate an employee to

1provide assistance to the charter school employee or teacher with insurance and
2benefits questions related to a leave of absence taken under this subdivision.
SB821,16 3Section 16. 118.60 (1) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,12,44 118.60 (1) (ae) “Behavioral records” has the meaning given in s. 118.125 (1) (a).
SB821,17 5Section 17. 118.60 (7) (b) 4m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB821,12,96 118.60 (7) (b) 4m. a. Except as provided in subd. 4m. b., maintain behavioral
7records for each pupil attending the private school under this section while the pupil
8attends the school under the program under this section and until the pupil has
9graduated from high school.
SB821,12,1510 b. Maintain behavioral records of a pupil until the pupil has attained the age
11of 21 if all of the following apply: the pupil was enrolled in but is not currently
12enrolled in the private school under this section; the pupil has not graduated from
13the private school; neither the pupil nor the pupil's parent or guardian nor a school
14or school district nor a court has submitted to the governing body of the private school
15the written notice described in s. 118.125 (4).
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