118.125(2)(d)(d) Pupil records shall be made available to persons employed by the school district which the pupil attends who are required by the department under s. 115.28 (7) to hold a license, law enforcement officers who are individually designated by the school board and assigned to the school district, and other school district officials who have been determined by the school board to have legitimate educational interests, including safety interests, in the pupil records. Law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 938.396 (1) (c) 3. shall be made available as provided in s. 118.127. A school board member or an employee of a school district may not be held personally liable for any damages caused by the nondisclosure of any information specified in this paragraph unless the member or employee acted with actual malice in failing to disclose the information. A school district may not be held liable for any damages caused by the nondisclosure of any information specified in this paragraph unless the school district or its agent acted with gross negligence or with reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct in failing to disclose the information. 118.125(2)(e)(e) Upon the written permission of an adult pupil, or the parent or guardian of a minor pupil, the school shall make available to the person named in the permission the pupil’s progress records or such portions of the pupil’s behavioral records as determined by the person authorizing the release. Law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 48.396 (1) or 938.396 (1) (b) 2. or (c) 3. may not be made available under this paragraph unless specifically identified by the adult pupil or by the parent or guardian of a minor pupil in the written permission. 118.125(2)(f)(f) Pupil records shall be provided to a court in response to subpoena by parties to an action for in camera inspection, to be used only for purposes of impeachment of any witness who has testified in the action. The court may turn said records or parts thereof over to parties in the action or their attorneys if said records would be relevant and material to a witness’s credibility or competency. 118.125(2)(g)1.1. The school board may provide any public officer with any information required to be maintained under chs. 115 to 121. 118.125(2)(g)2.2. Upon request by the department, the school board shall provide the department with any information contained in a pupil record that relates to an audit or evaluation of a federal or state-supported program or that is required to determine compliance with requirements under chs. 115 to 121. 118.125(2)(h)(h) Information from a pupil’s immunization records shall be made available to the department of health services to carry out the purposes of s. 252.04. 118.125(2)(hm)(hm) Information from any pupil lead screening records shall be made available to state and local health officials to carry out the purposes of ss. 254.11 to 254.178. 118.125(2)(i)(i) Upon request, the school district clerk or his or her designee shall provide the names of pupils who have withdrawn from the public school prior to graduation under s. 118.15 (1) (c) to the technical college district board in which the public school is located or, for verification of eligibility for public assistance under ch. 49, to the department of health services, the department of children and families, or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23. 118.125(2)(j)1.1. Except as provided under subds. 2. and 3., directory data may be disclosed to any person, if the school has notified the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the categories of information which it has designated as directory data with respect to each pupil, has informed the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of that pupil that he or she has 14 days to inform the school that all or any part of the directory data may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem and has allowed 14 days for the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of that pupil to inform the school that all or any part of the directory data may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem. 118.125(2)(j)2.2. If a school has notified the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem that a pupil’s name and address has been designated as directory data, has informed the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the pupil that he or she has 14 days to inform the school that the pupil’s name and address may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem, has allowed 14 days for the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the pupil to inform the school that the pupil’s name and address may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem and the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem has not so informed the school, the school district clerk or his or her designee, upon request, shall provide a technical college district board with the name and address of each such pupil who is expected to graduate from high school in the current school year. 118.125(2)(j)3.3. If a school has notified the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the information that it has designated as directory data with respect to any pupil, has informed the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the pupil that he or she has 14 days to inform the school that such information may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem, has allowed 14 days for the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem of the pupil to inform the school that such information may not be released without the prior consent of the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem and the parent, legal guardian or guardian ad litem has not so informed the school, the school district clerk or his or her designee, upon request, shall provide any representative of a law enforcement agency, district attorney, city attorney or corporation counsel, county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or a court of record or municipal court with such information relating to any such pupil enrolled in the school district for the purpose of enforcing that pupil’s school attendance, investigating alleged criminal or delinquent activity by the pupil or responding to a health or safety emergency. 118.125(2)(k)(k) A school board may disclose personally identifiable information from the pupil records of an adult pupil to the parents or guardian of the adult pupil, without the written consent of the adult pupil, if the adult pupil is a dependent of his or her parents or guardian under 26 USC 152, unless the adult pupil has informed the school, in writing, that the information may not be disclosed. 118.125(2)(m)(m) A parent who has been denied periods of physical placement with a child under s. 767.41 (4) does not have the rights of a parent or guardian under pars. (a) to (j) with respect to that child’s pupil records. 118.125(2)(n)(n) For any purpose concerning the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve a pupil, prior to adjudication: 118.125(2)(n)1.1. A school board may disclose pupil records to a city attorney, corporation counsel, agency, as defined in s. 938.78 (1), intake worker under s. 48.067 or 938.067, court of record, municipal court, private school, or another school board if disclosure is pursuant to an interagency agreement and the person to whom the records are disclosed certifies in writing that the records will not be disclosed to any other person except as otherwise authorized by law. For the purpose of providing services to a pupil before adjudication, a school board may disclose pupil records to a tribal school if disclosure is pursuant to an agreement between the school board and the governing body of the tribal school and if the school board determines that enforceable protections are provided by a tribal school policy or tribal law that requires the tribal school official to whom the records are disclosed not to disclose the records to any other person except as permitted under this subsection. 118.125(2)(n)2.2. A school board shall disclose pertinent pupil records to an investigating law enforcement agency or district attorney if the person to whom the records are disclosed certifies in writing that the records concern the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve the pupil, relate to an ongoing investigation or pending delinquency petition, and will not be disclosed to any other person except as otherwise authorized by law. 118.125(2)(p)(p) A school board may disclose pupil records to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of any individual. 118.125(2)(q)(q) On request, a school board may disclose pupil records that are pertinent to addressing a pupil’s educational needs to a caseworker or other representative of the department of children and families, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, or a tribal organization, as defined in 25 USC 450b (L), that is legally responsible for the care and protection of the pupil, if the caseworker or other representative is authorized by that department, county department, or tribal organization to access the pupil’s case plan. A department, county department, or tribal organization that receives pupil records under this paragraph may not further disclose those pupil records or any personally identifiable information contained in those pupil records except as follows: 118.125(2)(q)1.1. To a person who is engaged in addressing the pupil’s educational needs, who is authorized by that department, county department, or tribal organization to receive that disclosure, and to whom that disclosure is authorized under this section or under a substantially similar tribal law. 118.125(2)(q)2.2. Upon request, to any court of this state or of the United States that needs to review those records or that information for the purpose of addressing the educational needs of a pupil who is the subject of a proceeding in that court. 118.125(2)(q)3.3. In response to an order of a court conducting proceedings under s. 48.135, 48.21, 938.135, 938.18, 938.183, or 938.21, proceedings related to a petition under s. 48.13, 48.133, 48.42, 938.12, or 938.13, or dispositional proceedings under subch. VI or VIII of ch. 48 or subch. VI of ch. 938 or in response to a subpoena issued in such a proceeding, to any person who is engaged in addressing the educational needs of the pupil and who is authorized to receive that disclosure under that order or subpoena. Except as provided in 20 USC 1232g (b) (2) (B), a department, county department, or tribal organization that is issued an order or subpoena described in this subdivision shall provide notice of the order or subpoena to the pupil’s parent or guardian before complying with the order or subpoena. 118.125(2m)(2m) Confidentiality of pupil physical health records. 118.125(2m)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), any pupil record that relates to a pupil’s physical health and that is not a pupil physical health record shall be treated as a patient health care record under ss. 146.81 to 146.84. 118.125(3)(3) Maintenance of records. Each school board shall adopt rules in writing specifying the content of pupil records and the time during which pupil records shall be maintained. No behavioral records may be maintained for more than one year after the pupil ceases to be enrolled in the school, unless the pupil specifies in writing that his or her behavioral records may be maintained for a longer period. A pupil’s progress records shall be maintained for at least 5 years after the pupil ceases to be enrolled in the school. A school board may maintain the records on microfilm, on an optical disc, or in electronic format if authorized under s. 19.21 (4) (c), or in such other form as the school board deems appropriate. A school board shall maintain law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 48.396 (1) or 938.396 (1) (b) 2. or (c) 3. separately from a pupil’s other pupil records. Rules adopted under this subsection shall be published by the school board as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. 118.125(4)(4) Transfer of records. No later than the next working day, a school district, a private school participating in the program under s. 118.60 or in the program under s. 119.23, and the governing body of a private school that, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 3., or 119.9002 (3) (c), is responsible for the operation and general management of a school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119 shall transfer to another school, including a private or tribal school, or school district all pupil records relating to a specific pupil if the transferring school district or private school has received written notice from the pupil if he or she is an adult or his or her parent or guardian if the pupil is a minor that the pupil intends to enroll in the other school or school district or written notice from the other school or school district that the pupil has enrolled or from a court that the pupil has been placed in a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), or a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g). In this subsection, “school” and “school district” include any juvenile correctional facility, secured residential care center for children and youth, adult correctional institution, mental health institute, or center for the developmentally disabled that provides an educational program for its residents instead of or in addition to that which is provided by public, private, and tribal schools. 118.125(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), nothing in this section prohibits a school district from using a pupil’s records in connection with the suspension or expulsion of the pupil or the use of such records by a multidisciplinary team under ch. 115. 118.125(5)(b)(b) Law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 48.396 (1) or 938.396 (1) (b) 2. or (c) 3. and records of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 or of a municipal court obtained under s. 938.396 (2g) (m) may not be used by a school district as the sole basis for expelling or suspending a pupil or as the sole basis for taking any other disciplinary action against a pupil, but may be used as the sole basis for taking action against a pupil under the school district’s athletic code. 118.125(6)(6) Application to existing records. Any records existing on June 9, 1974 need not be revised for the purpose of deleting information from pupil records to comply with this section. 118.125(7)(7) Disclosure of law enforcement unit records. A school board shall treat law enforcement unit records of juveniles in the same manner as a law enforcement agency is required to treat law enforcement officers’ records of juveniles under s. 938.396 (1) (a). 118.125 HistoryHistory: 1973 c. 254; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 205; 1981 c. 20, 273; 1983 a. 189; 1985 a. 218; 1987 a. 27, 70, 206, 285, 337, 355; 1987 a. 399 s. 491r; 1987 a. 403 ss. 123, 124, 256; 1989 a. 31, 168; 1989 a. 201 s. 36; 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 39, 189; 1993 a. 27, 172, 334, 377, 385, 399, 450, 491; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3939, 3940, 9126 (19), 9130 (4), 9145 (1); 1995 a. 77, 173, 225, 352; 1997 a. 3, 27, 205, 237, 239; 1999 a. 9, 149; 2003 a. 82, 292; 2005 a. 344, 434; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2007 a. 20 ss. 2712, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 11, 28, 209, 302, 309; 2011 a. 32, 105, 260; 2015 a. 55, 161, 196; 2017 a. 251; 2019 a. 109. 118.125 AnnotationA public school student’s interim grades are pupil records specifically exempted from disclosure under this section. A failure to specifically state reasons for denying an open records request for records that are specifically exempted from disclosure does not compel disclosure of those records. State ex rel. Blum v. Board of Education, 209 Wis. 2d 377, 565 N.W.2d 140 (Ct. App. 1997), 96-0758. 118.125 AnnotationA court need not wait until trial to disclose pupil records under sub. (2) (f) and may instead base its decision on the review of deposition testimony. Sub. (2) (f) refers to an action, which is a much broader term than trial. A witness who has been deposed has testified in the action. S.P.A. v. Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co., 2011 WI App 31, 332 Wis. 2d 134, 796 N.W.2d 874, 09-1881. 118.125 AnnotationA court may not disclose confidential records under sub. (2) (f) merely because they are relevant to a plaintiff’s claim. The court’s gatekeeper role is to protect the privacy of the pupil whose records are sought, releasing only those records that may concern a specific witness’s credibility or competency. S.P.A. v. Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co., 2011 WI App 31, 332 Wis. 2d 134, 796 N.W.2d 874, 09-1881. 118.125 AnnotationWhen neither defense counsel nor the school was familiar with the requirements of sub. (2) (f) and neither wholly complied with the statute during discovery when the school faxed the records directly to defense counsel upon defense counsel’s request for records rather than provide them to the court for in camera inspection, the trial court was not correct to prohibit the defense from using the records. The trial court should have, upon receipt of the documents, conducted the in camera inspection required by the statute, while requiring the parties to keep the documents confidential. State v. Echols, 2013 WI App 58, 348 Wis. 2d 81, 831 N.W.2d 768, 12-0422. 118.125 AnnotationPupil information that local education agencies are required to release to the Department of Public Instruction under the reporting provisions of former ch. 89, laws of 1973, may be provided, with or without permission, without violation of the state or federal confidentiality statutes. 65 Atty. Gen. 1.
118.125 Annotation“Pupil records” are “public records” under s. 19.32 (2) but are subject to special statutes that limit access and direct maximum and minimum periods of maintenance before destruction. 72 Atty. Gen. 169. 118.125 AnnotationAccess to Student Records in Wisconsin: A Comparative Analysis of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and Wisconsin Statute Section 118.125. Schmidt Splain. 1976 WLR 975.
118.126118.126 Privileged communications. 118.126(1)(1) A school psychologist, counselor, social worker and nurse, and any teacher or administrator designated by the school board who engages in alcohol or drug abuse program activities, shall keep confidential information received from a pupil that the pupil or another pupil is using or is experiencing problems resulting from the use of alcohol or other drugs unless: 118.126(1)(a)(a) The pupil using or experiencing problems resulting from the use of alcohol or other drugs consents in writing to disclosure of the information; 118.126(1)(b)(b) The school psychologist, counselor, social worker, nurse, teacher or administrator has reason to believe that there is serious and imminent danger to the health, safety or life of any person and that disclosure of the information to another person will alleviate the serious and imminent danger. No more information than is required to alleviate the serious and imminent danger may be disclosed; or 118.126(2)(2) A school psychologist, counselor, social worker, or nurse, or any teacher or administrator designated by the school board who engages in alcohol or drug abuse program activities, who in good faith discloses or fails to disclose information under sub. (1) is immune from civil liability for such acts or omissions. This subsection does not apply to information required to be reported under s. 48.981 or 175.32. 118.127118.127 Law enforcement agency information. A school district, private school, or tribal school may disclose information from law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 938.396 (1) (c) 3. only to persons employed by the school district who are required by the department under s. 115.28 (7) to hold a license, to persons employed by the private school or tribal school as teachers, and to other school district, private school, or tribal school officials who have been determined by the school board or governing body of the private school or tribal school to have legitimate educational interests, including safety interests, in that information. In addition, if that information relates to a pupil of the school district, private school, or tribal school, the school district, private school, or tribal school may also disclose that information to those employees of the school district, private school, or tribal school who have been designated by the school board or governing body of the private school or tribal school to receive that information for the purpose of providing treatment programs for pupils enrolled in the school district, private school, or tribal school. A school district may not use law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 938.396 (1) (c) 3. as the sole basis for expelling or suspending a pupil or as the sole basis for taking any other disciplinary action against a pupil, but may use law enforcement officers’ records obtained under s. 938.396 (1) (c) 3. as the sole basis for taking action against a pupil under the school district’s athletic code. 118.13118.13 Pupil discrimination prohibited. 118.13(1)(1) Except as provided in s. 120.13 (37m), no person may be denied admission to any public school or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. 118.13(2)(a)(a) Each school board shall develop written policies and procedures to implement this section and submit them to the state superintendent as a part of its 1986 annual report under s. 120.18. The policies and procedures shall provide for receiving and investigating complaints by residents of the school district regarding possible violations of this section, for making determinations as to whether this section has been violated and for ensuring compliance with this section. 118.13(2)(b)(b) Any person who receives a negative determination under par. (a) may appeal the determination to the state superintendent. 118.13(3)(a)1.1. Decide appeals made to him or her under sub. (2) (b). Decisions of the state superintendent under this subdivision are subject to judicial review under ch. 227. 118.13(3)(a)2.2. Promulgate rules necessary to implement and administer this section. 118.13(3)(a)3.3. Include in the department’s biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) information on the status of school district compliance with this section and school district progress toward providing reasonable equality of educational opportunity for all pupils in this state. 118.13(3)(b)1.1. Periodically review school district programs, activities and services to determine whether the school boards are complying with this section. 118.13(3)(b)2.2. Assist school boards to comply with this section by providing information and technical assistance upon request. 118.13(4)(4) Any public school official, employee or teacher who intentionally engages in conduct which discriminates against a person or causes a person to be denied rights, benefits or privileges, in violation of sub. (1), may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000. 118.13 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. PI 9, Wis. adm. code. 118.13 AnnotationWhen a school board pursued purposefully segregative practices with current, systemwide impact, systemwide remedy was appropriate. Columbus Board of Education v. Penick, 443 U.S. 449, 99 S. Ct. 2941, 61 L. Ed. 2d 666 (1979). 118.13 AnnotationFor a school system that was a dual system when Brown I, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was decided in 1954, the measure of the school board’s post-Brown I conduct under its unsatisfied duty to liquidate the dual system was the effectiveness, not the purpose, of its actions to desegregate the system. Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman, 443 U.S. 526, 99 S. Ct. 2971, 61 L. Ed. 2d 720 (1979). 118.13 AnnotationIt is impermissible for a school district to rely upon an individual student’s race in assigning that student to a particular school so that the racial balance at the school falls within a predetermined range based on the racial composition of the school district as a whole. Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, 551 U.S. 701, 127 S. Ct. 2738, 168 L. Ed. 2d 508 (2007). 118.133118.133 Participation in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities. 118.133(1)(a)(a) A school board shall permit a pupil who resides in the school district and is enrolled in a home-based private educational program to participate in interscholastic athletics in the school district on the same basis and to the same extent that it permits pupils enrolled in the school district to participate. 118.133(1)(b)(b) Upon request, the home-based educational program in which the pupil is enrolled shall provide the school board with a written statement that the pupil meets the school board’s requirements for participation in interscholastic athletics based on age and academic and disciplinary records. No person may provide a false statement under this paragraph. The school board may not question the accuracy or validity of the statement or request additional information. 118.133(2)(2) Extracurricular activities. A school board shall permit a pupil who resides in the school district and is enrolled in a home-based private educational program to participate in extracurricular activities in the school district on the same basis and to the same extent that it permits pupils enrolled in the school district to participate. 118.133(3)(3) Participation fees. A school board may charge a pupil who participates in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities as permitted under this section participation fees, including fees for uniforms, equipment, and musical instruments, on the same basis and to the same extent that it charges these fees to a pupil who is enrolled in the school district. 118.133 HistoryHistory: 2015 a. 55. 118.134118.134 Race-based nicknames, logos, mascots, and team names. 118.134(1)(1) Notwithstanding s. 118.13 and except as provided in sub. (3m), a school district resident may object to the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name by the school board of that school district by filing a complaint containing a number of signatures of school district electors equal to at least 10 percent of the school district’s membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), with the state superintendent. A signature on a complaint is valid only if the signature is obtained within the 120-day period before the complaint is filed with the state superintendent. The state superintendent shall do all of the following: 118.134(1)(a)(a) Notify the school board of the receipt of the complaint and direct the school board to submit, if applicable, any of the information under sub. (1m) (a). 118.134(1)(b)(b) Except as provided in sub. (1m), refer the complaint to the division of hearings and appeals for a contested case hearing. The division of hearings and appeals shall schedule a hearing on the referred complaint with reasonable promptness. 118.134(1m)(a)(a) The state superintendent may determine that no contested case hearing is necessary if, no later than 10 days after being notified of the receipt of the complaint, the school board submits evidence to the state superintendent that demonstrates all of the following: 118.134(1m)(a)2.2. A federally recognized American Indian tribe that has historical ties to this state has entered into an agreement with the school board under which the tribe grants approval to the school board to refer to, depict, or portray the tribe or American Indians, in general, in a specific nickname, logo, or mascot or to use the name of the tribe or American Indians, in general, as a team name in the specific manner used by the school board. 118.134(1m)(a)3.3. The use of the nickname, logo, mascot, or team name that has been approved by a tribe under subd. 2. is the use to which the school district resident objects in the complaint filed under sub. (1). 118.134(1m)(b)(b) If the state superintendent determines that a contested case hearing is not necessary, the state superintendent shall notify the school district resident who filed the complaint under sub. (1) and the school board of his or her decision in writing. A decision under this paragraph is subject to judicial review under ch. 227. 118.134(2)(2) At the hearing, the school district resident who filed the complaint under sub. (1) has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name promotes discrimination, pupil harassment, or stereotyping, as defined by the state superintendent by rule. 118.134(3)(a)(a) The division of hearings and appeals shall issue a decision and order within 45 days after the hearing. If the division of hearings and appeals finds that the use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name does not promote discrimination, pupil harassment, or stereotyping, the division of hearings and appeals shall dismiss the complaint. Except as provided in pars. (b) and (d), if the division of hearings and appeals finds that the use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name promotes discrimination, pupil harassment, or stereotyping, the division of hearings and appeals shall order the school board to terminate its use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name within 12 months after issuance of the order.
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