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.
118.134(3)(b)1.1. In this paragraph, “extenuating circumstances” includes circumstances in which the costs of compliance with an order issued under par. (a) pose an undue financial burden on the school district and circumstances in which the work or the requirements for bidding a contract to complete the work required to bring the school district into compliance with the order issued under par. (a) cannot be completed within 12 months after the issuance of the order.
118.134(3)(b)2.a.a. If, at the hearing under sub. (2) or after a decision and order have been issued under par. (a), the school board presents evidence to the division of hearings and appeals that extenuating circumstances render full compliance with the decision and order within 12 months after the issuance of that decision and order impossible or impracticable, the division of hearings and appeals may issue an order to extend the time within which the school board must terminate its use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., the extension may not exceed 24 months and shall apply only to those portions of the decision and order to which extenuating circumstances apply.
118.134(3)(b)2.b.b. The division of hearings and appeals may extend the time granted to a school board under subd. 2. a. if the school board presents evidence to the division of hearings and appeals that compliance with a portion of the decision and order issued under par. (a) may be accomplished through a regularly scheduled maintenance program and that the cost of compliance with that portion of the decision and order exceeds $5,000. The extension granted under this subd. 2. b. may not exceed 96 months and applies only to that portion of the decision and order with which compliance will be accomplished through the regularly scheduled maintenance program and that costs more than $5,000.
118.134(3)(c)(c) Decisions under this subsection are subject to judicial review under ch. 227. The venue for a proceeding to review a decision under this section is the circuit court in any county in which territory of the school district is located.
118.134(3)(d)(d) No school district is required to comply with a decision and order issued under this subsection before December 21, 2013, to terminate the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name.
118.134(3m)(3m)A pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50 or 118.51 may not file a complaint under sub. (1) in which the pupil objects to the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name by the school board of the nonresident school district.
118.134(3r)(3r)A school district may not be a member of an interscholastic athletic association that prohibits the use of a nickname, logo, mascot, or team name on the basis that the nickname, logo, mascot, or team name is race-based unless the use of the nickname, logo, mascot, or team name violates a decision and order issued under sub. (3) on or after December 21, 2013.
118.134(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the state superintendent shall promulgate rules necessary to implement and administer this section.
118.134(4)(b)(b) The state superintendent may not promulgate a rule that creates a presumption that a nickname, logo, mascot, or team name is race-based or promotes discrimination, pupil harassment, or stereotyping.
118.134(5)(5)Any school board that uses a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name in violation of sub. (3) shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000. Each day of use of the race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name in violation of sub. (3) constitutes a separate violation. The state superintendent may not assess or collect a forfeiture under this subsection for a use that violates a decision and order issued under sub. (3) before December 21, 2013.
118.134 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. PI 45, Wis. adm. code.
118.135118.135Eye examinations and evaluations.
118.135(1)(1)Beginning in the 2002-03 school year, each school board and each charter school shall request each pupil entering kindergarten to provide evidence that the pupil has had his or her eyes examined by an optometrist licensed under ch. 449 or evaluated by a physician licensed under ch. 448.
118.135(2)(2)A pupil who complies with a request under sub. (1) shall provide evidence of an eye examination or evaluation by December 31 following the pupil’s enrollment in kindergarten.
118.135(3)(3)To the extent feasible, the medical examining board and the optometry examining board shall encourage physicians and optometrists, for the purpose of this section, to conduct free eye examinations or evaluations of pupils who are in financial need and do not have insurance coverage for eye examinations or evaluations.
118.135 HistoryHistory: 2001 a. 16; 2011 a. 32; 2017 a. 329.
118.14118.14Age of pupils; phase in of 4-year-old kindergarten.
118.14(1)(1)Except as provided in s. 120.12 (25):
118.14(1)(a)(a) No child may be admitted to a 4-year-old kindergarten unless he or she is 4 years old on or before September 1 in the year that he or she proposes to enter school.
118.14(1)(b)(b) No child may be admitted to a 5-year-old kindergarten unless he or she is 5 years old on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
118.14(1)(c)(c) No child may be admitted to the 1st grade unless he or she is 6 years old, on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
118.14(2)(2)A resident over 20 years of age may be admitted to school when in the judgment of the school board the resident will not interfere with the pupils of school age.
118.14(3)(3)
118.14(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a school board establishes a 4-year-old kindergarten program, the program shall be available to all pupils eligible for the program under sub. (1) (a) or s. 120.12 (25).
118.14(3)(b)(b) A school board that was operating a 4-year-old kindergarten program in the 2007-08 school year that did not comply with par. (a) shall make a 4-year-old kindergarten program available to all pupils eligible for the program under sub. (1) (a) or s. 120.12 (25) by the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.
118.14 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 418, 429; 1983 a. 36; 1985 a. 29; 1997 a. 240; 2007 a. 226; s. 35.17 correction in (3) (a).
118.145118.145Admission to high school.
118.145(1)(1)The school board of a district operating high school grades shall determine the minimum standards for admission to high school.
118.145(2)(2)A certificate or diploma or other written evidence issued by a school board showing that the pupil has completed the course of study in the elementary grades of the school district in which the pupil resides shall entitle the pupil to admission to high school. Such certificate or diploma or a certified copy thereof or a certified copy of a list of graduates shall be filed with the school district clerk of the school district operating the high school.
118.145(3)(3)If the superintendent of a private school or of a tribal school files with the department the course of study for elementary grades prescribed by such school and if such course of study is substantially equivalent to the course of study prepared for elementary grades by the department, a certificate or diploma or other written evidence issued by the superintendent of the private school or tribal school showing that the pupil has completed such course of study shall entitle the pupil to admission to a public high school. The certificate or diploma or a certified copy thereof or a certified copy of a list of graduates shall be filed with the school district clerk of the school district operating the high school.
118.145(4)(4)The school board of a school district operating high school grades shall allow a pupil enrolled in a private school or a pupil enrolled in a tribal school, who has met the standards for admission to high school under sub. (1), to take up to 2 courses during each school semester if the pupil resides in the school district in which the public school is located and if the school board determines that there is sufficient space in the classroom.
118.15118.15Compulsory school attendance.
118.15(1)(1)
118.15(1)(a)(a) Except as provided under pars. (b) to (d) and (g) and sub. (4), unless the child is excused under sub. (3) or has graduated from high school, any person having under control a child who is between the ages of 6 and 18 years shall cause the child to attend school regularly during the full period and hours, religious holidays excepted, that the public, private, or tribal school in which the child should be enrolled is in session until the end of the school term, quarter or semester of the school year in which the child becomes 18 years of age.
118.15(1)(am)(am) Except as provided under par. (d), unless the child is excused under sub. (3), any person having under his or her control a child who is enrolled in 5-year-old kindergarten shall cause the child to attend school regularly, religious holidays excepted, during the full period and hours that kindergarten is in session at the public or private school in which the child is enrolled until the end of the school term.
118.15(1)(b)(b) Upon the child’s request of the school board and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian, any child who is 16 years of age or over and a child at risk, as defined in s. 118.153 (1) (a), may attend, in lieu of high school or on a part-time basis, a technical college if the child and his or her parent or guardian agree, in writing, that the child will participate in a program leading to the child’s high school graduation. The district board of the technical college district in which the child resides shall admit the child. Every technical college district board shall offer day class programs satisfactory to meet the requirements of this paragraph and s. 118.33 (3m) as a condition to the receipt of any state aid.
118.15(1)(c)1.1. Upon the child’s request and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian, any child who is 16 years of age may be excused by the school board from regular school attendance if the child and his or her parent or guardian agree, in writing, that the child will participate in a program or curriculum modification under par. (d) leading to the child’s high school graduation.
118.15(1)(c)2.2. Upon the child’s request and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian, any child who is 17 years of age or over may be excused by the school board from regular school attendance if the child and his or her parent or guardian agree, in writing, that the child will participate in a program or curriculum modification under par. (d) leading to the child’s high school graduation or leading to a high school equivalency diploma under s. 115.29 (4).
118.15(1)(c)3.3. Prior to a child’s admission to a program leading to the child’s high school graduation or a high school equivalency program under par. (b) or subd. 1. or 2., the child, his or her parent or guardian, the school board and a representative of the high school equivalency program or program leading to the child’s high school graduation shall enter into a written agreement. The written agreement shall state the services to be provided, the time period needed to complete the high school equivalency program or program leading to the child’s high school graduation and how the performance of the pupil will be monitored. The agreement shall be monitored by the school board on a regular basis, but in no case shall the agreement be monitored less frequently than once per semester. If the school board determines that a child is not complying with the agreement, the school board shall notify the child, his or her parent or guardian and the high school equivalency program or program leading to the child’s high school graduation that the agreement may be modified or suspended in 30 days.
118.15(1)(cm)1.1. Upon the child’s request and with the approval of the child’s parent or guardian, any child who is 17 years of age or over shall be excused by the school board from regular school attendance if the child began a program leading to a high school equivalency diploma in a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g), a juvenile detention facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10r), or a juvenile portion of a county jail, and the child and his or her parent or guardian agree under subd. 2. that the child will continue to participate in such a program. For purposes of this subdivision, a child is considered to have begun a program leading to a high school equivalency diploma if the child has received a passing score on a minimum of one of the 5 content area tests given under the general educational development test or has demonstrated under a course of study meeting the standards established under s. 115.29 (4) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency to high school graduation a level of proficiency in a minimum of one of the 5 content areas specified in s. 118.33 (1) (a) 1. that is equivalent to the level of proficiency that he or she would have attained if he or she had satisfied the requirements under s. 118.33 (1) (a) 1.
118.15(1)(cm)2.2. Prior to the admission of a child under subd. 1. to a program leading to a high school equivalency diploma, the child, his or her parent or guardian, the school board and a representative of the agency providing the program shall enter into a written agreement. The agreement shall specify that the child is excused from regular school attendance while he or she is enrolled in the program and making progress toward completion of the program, or successfully completes the program. If the agency providing the program determines that the child is not making progress toward completion of the program, the agency shall notify the child and his or her parent or guardian that the agreement may be suspended within 30 days. If the agency suspends the agreement, the agency shall notify the child, his or her parent or guardian and the school board.
118.15(1)(cm)3.3. If the program that the child wishes to attend is provided by a technical college district, the technical college district board shall admit the child.
118.15(1)(cm)4.4. A child attending a program under this paragraph shall not be included in membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5).
118.15(1)(cm)5.5. The state superintendent shall grant a high school equivalency diploma to a child under this paragraph who completes the general educational development test with a passing score, as determined by the state superintendent, and completes the additional requirements determined by the state superintendent under s. 115.29 (4).
118.15(1)(d)(d) Any child’s parent or guardian, or the child if the parent or guardian is notified, may request the school board, in writing, to provide the child with program or curriculum modifications, including but not limited to:
118.15(1)(d)1.1. Modifications within the child’s current academic program.
118.15(1)(d)2.2. A school work training or work study program.
118.15(1)(d)3.3. Enrollment in any alternative public school or program located in the school district in which the child resides.
118.15(1)(d)4.4. Enrollment in any nonsectarian private school or program, or tribal school, located in the school district in which the child resides, which complies with the requirements of 42 USC 2000d. Enrollment of a child under this subdivision shall be pursuant to a contractual agreement under s. 121.78 (5) that provides for the payment of the child’s tuition by the school district.
118.15(1)(d)5.5. Homebound study, including nonsectarian correspondence courses or other courses of study approved by the school board or nonsectarian tutoring provided by the school in which the child is enrolled.
118.15(1)(d)6.6. Enrollment in any public educational program located outside the school district in which the child resides. Enrollment of a child under this subdivision may be pursuant to a contractual agreement between school districts.
118.15(1)(dm)(dm) The school board shall render its decision, in writing, within 90 days of a request under par. (d), except that if the request relates to a child who has been evaluated by an individualized education program team under s. 115.782 and has not been recommended for special education, the school board shall render its decision within 30 days of the request. If the school board denies the request, the school board shall give its reasons for the denial.
118.15(1)(e)(e) Any decision made by a school board or a designee of the school board in response to a request for program or curriculum modifications under par. (d) shall be reviewed by the school board upon request of the child’s parent or guardian. The school board shall render its determination upon review in writing, if the child’s parent or guardian so requests.
118.15(1)(f)(f) At the beginning of each school term, the school board shall notify the pupils enrolled in the school district and their parents or guardians of the substance of pars. (d), (dm) and (e).
118.15(1)(g)(g) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person having under control a child who is enrolled in a virtual charter school.
118.15(2)(2)
118.15(2)(a)(a) If the determination is made under sub. (1) (b) for a child to attend a technical college, the district board governing the technical college shall establish appropriate vocational and technical courses in accordance with s. 118.33 (3m) and the school board shall pay the technical college district board an amount calculated as follows:
118.15(2)(a)1.1. Divide the number of credit hours of instruction scheduled by the technical college district for the pupil by 30.
118.15(2)(a)2.2. Multiply the quotient under subd. 1. by the statewide average instructional cost for general education programs in the technical college system in the previous school year, as determined by the technical college system board.
118.15(2)(a)3.3. Multiply the quotient under subd. 1. by any additional costs associated with direct student support services, as determined jointly by the state superintendent and the state director of the technical college system.
118.15(2)(a)4.4. Add the product under subd. 2. to the product under subd. 3.
118.15(2)(c)(c) Pupils attending a technical college under this subsection may receive general education subjects at the technical college. Payments by the school district under par. (a) shall be deemed costs of operation and maintenance.
118.15(2)(d)(d) Transportation, or board and lodging under s. 121.57 (1) (a), for pupils attending a technical college under this subsection shall be provided by the school district, and state aids shall be paid therefor, on the same basis as is transportation for pupils attending high school.
118.15(3)(3)This section does not apply to:
118.15(3)(a)(a) Any child who is excused by the school board because the child is temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition to attend a school program but who can be expected to return to a school program upon termination or abatement of the illness or condition. The school attendance officer may request the parent or guardian of the child to obtain a written statement from a licensed physician, naturopathic doctor, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, psychologist, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, as defined in s. 255.06 (1) (d), or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber or Christian Science practitioner living and residing in this state, who is listed in the Christian Science Journal, as sufficient proof of the physical or mental condition of the child. An excuse under this paragraph shall be in writing and shall state the time period for which it is valid, not to exceed 30 days.
118.15(3)(b)(b) Any child excused by the school board in accordance with the school board’s written attendance policy under s. 118.16 (4) and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian. The child’s truancy, discipline or school achievement problems or disabilities as described in s. 115.76 (5) may not be used as the reason for an excuse under this paragraph. The excuse shall be in writing and shall state the time period for which it is effective, not to extend beyond the end of the current school year.
118.15(3)(c)(c) Any child excused in writing by his or her parent or guardian before the absence. The school board shall require a child excused under this paragraph to complete any course work missed during the absence. A child may not be excused for more than 10 days in a school year under this paragraph.
118.15(3)(d)(d) Any child excused in writing by his or her parent or guardian and by the principal of the school that the child attends, or by the administrator of the home-based private educational program in which the child is enrolled, for the purpose of serving as an election official under s. 7.30 (2) (am). Except as provided in s. 7.30 (2) (am), a principal or administrator may not excuse a child under this paragraph unless the child has at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent. The principal or administrator shall allow the child to take examinations and complete course work missed during the child’s absences under this paragraph. The principal or administrator shall promptly notify the municipal clerk or the board of election commissioners of the municipality that appointed the child as an election official if the child ceases to be enrolled in school or in a home-based private educational program or if the child no longer has at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent.
118.15(4)(4)Instruction in a home-based private educational program that meets all of the criteria under s. 118.165 (1) may be substituted for attendance at a public or private school.
118.15(4m)(4m)No school board, board of control of a cooperative educational service agency or county children with disabilities education board, or person employed by a school board, cooperative educational service agency or county children with disabilities education board, may in any manner compel a pregnant girl to withdraw from her educational program.
118.15(5)(5)
118.15(5)(a)1.1. Except as provided under par. (b) or if a person has been found guilty of a misdemeanor under s. 948.45, whoever violates this section may be penalized as follows, if evidence has been provided by the school attendance officer that the activities under s. 118.16 (5) have been completed or were not required to be completed as provided in s. 118.16 (5m):
118.15(5)(a)1.a.a. For the first offense, by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days or both.
118.15(5)(a)1.b.b. For a 2nd or subsequent offense, by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both.
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2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on January 1, 2025. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after January 1, 2025, are designated by NOTES. (Published 1-1-25)