118.38 Waivers of laws and rules.
118.43 Achievement guarantee contracts; state aid.
118.45 Tests for alcohol use.
118.51 Full-time open enrollment.
118.52 Part-time open enrollment.
118.55 Youth options program.
Ch. 118 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
115.001.
118.001
118.001
Duties and powers of school boards; construction of statutes. The statutory duties and powers of school boards shall be broadly construed to authorize any school board action that is within the comprehensive meaning of the terms of the duties and powers, if the action is not prohibited by the laws of the federal government or of this state.
118.001 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
118.001 Annotation
This section expresses the legislature's intent to give school boards broader powers and wide discretion in exercising those powers, but does not mean that, when the legislature had previously authorized the board to take particular actions using specified procedures the board has the authority to follow other procedures in taking those particular actions. Madison Metropolitan School District v. Burmaster, 2006 WI App 17,
288 Wis. 2d 771,
709 N.W.2d 73,
05-0875.
118.001 Annotation
The duties and powers under ss. 118.001, 120.12 (14), and 120.13 extend to individual teachers as employees of the school board. It would be absurd to require teachers to obtain special permission from the school board with respect to every detail of their teaching. Summer homework, particularly for an honors class for which students receive additional credit, fits comfortably within the range of what is reasonable and is not unconstitutional. Larson v. Burmaster, 2006 WI App 142,
295 Wis. 2d 333,
720 N.W.2d 134,
05-1433.
118.01
118.01
Educational goals and expectations. 118.01(1)
(1)
Purpose. Public education is a fundamental responsibility of the state. The constitution vests in the state superintendent the supervision of public instruction and directs the legislature to provide for the establishment of district schools. The effective operation of the public schools is dependent upon a common understanding of what public schools should be and do. Establishing such goals and expectations is a necessary and proper complement to the state's financial contribution to education. Each school board should provide curriculum, course requirements and instruction consistent with the goals and expectations established under
sub. (2). Parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the school district share with the state and school board the responsibility for pupils meeting the goals and expectations under
sub. (2).
118.01(2)(a)(a)
Academic skills and knowledge. Since the development of academic skills and knowledge is the most important goal for schools, each school board shall provide an instructional program designed to give pupils:
118.01(2)(a)1.
1. Basic skills, including the ability to read, write, spell, perform basic arithmetical calculations, learn by reading and listening and communicate by writing and speaking.
118.01(2)(a)2.
2. Analytical skills, including the ability to think rationally, solve problems, use various learning methods, gather and analyze information, make critical and independent judgments and argue persuasively.
118.01(2)(a)3.
3. A basic body of knowledge that includes information and concepts in literature, fine arts, mathematics, natural sciences, including knowledge of the elements of agriculture and the conservation of natural resources, and social sciences, including knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of the family as a consumer, cooperative marketing and consumers' cooperatives.
118.01(2)(a)4.
4. The skills and attitudes that will further lifelong intellectual activity and learning.
118.01(2)(a)5.
5. Knowledge in computer science, including problem solving, computer applications and the social impact of computers.
118.01(2)(b)
(b)
Vocational skills. Each school board shall provide an instructional program designed to give pupils:
118.01(2)(b)1.
1. An understanding of the range and nature of available occupations and the required skills and abilities.
118.01(2)(b)2.
2. Preparation to compete for entry level jobs not requiring postsecondary school education.
118.01(2)(b)3.
3. Preparation to enter job-specific vocational training programs.
118.01(2)(c)
(c)
Citizenship. Each school board shall provide an instructional program designed to give pupils:
118.01(2)(c)1.
1. An understanding of the basic workings of all levels of government, including the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
118.01(2)(c)2.
2. A commitment to the basic values of our government, including by appropriate instruction and ceremony the proper reverence and respect for and the history and meaning of the American flag, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. constitution and the constitution and laws of this state.
118.01(2)(c)4.
4. An understanding of the function of organizations in society.
118.01(2)(c)5.
5. Knowledge of the role and importance of biological and physical resources.
118.01(2)(c)7.
7. An appreciation and understanding of different value systems and cultures.
118.01(2)(c)8.
8. At all grade levels, an understanding of human relations, particularly with regard to American Indians, Black Americans and Hispanics.
118.01(2)(d)
(d)
Personal development. Each school board shall provide an instructional program designed to give pupils:
118.01(2)(d)2.
2. Knowledge of the human body and the means to maintain lifelong health, including:
118.01(2)(d)2.a.
a. Knowledge of the theory and practice of physical education, including the development and maintenance of physical fitness;
118.01(2)(d)2.b.
b. Knowledge of the true and comparative vitamin content of food and food and health values of dairy products and their importance for the human diet; and
118.01(2)(d)2.c.
c. Knowledge of physiology and hygiene, sanitation, the effects of controlled substances under
ch. 961 and alcohol upon the human system, symptoms of disease and the proper care of the body. No pupil may be required to take instruction in these subjects if his or her parent files with the teacher a written objection thereto. If a pupil does not take instruction in these subjects as a result of parental objection, the pupil may not be required to be examined in the subjects and may not be penalized in any way for not taking such instruction, but if the subjects receive credit toward graduation, the school board may require the pupil to complete an alternative assignment that is similar to the subjects in the length of time necessary to complete. Instruction in physiology and hygiene shall include instruction on sexually transmitted diseases and shall be offered in every high school.
118.01(2)(d)3.
3. An appreciation of artistic and creative expression and the capacity for self-expression.
118.01(2)(d)5.
5. Knowledge of morality and the individual's responsibility as a social being, including the responsibility and morality of family living and the value of frugality and other basic qualities and principles referred to in
article I, section 22, of the constitution insofar as such qualities and principles affect family and consumer education.
118.01(2)(d)6.
6. Knowledge of the prevention of accidents and promotion of safety on the public highways, including instruction on the relationship between highway safety and the use of alcohol and controlled substances under
ch. 961.
118.01(2)(d)7.
7. The skills needed to make sound decisions, knowledge of the conditions which may cause and the signs of suicidal tendencies, knowledge of the relationship between youth suicide and the use of alcohol and controlled substances under
ch. 961 and knowledge of the available community youth suicide prevention and intervention services. Instruction shall be designed to help prevent suicides by pupils by promoting the positive emotional development of pupils.
118.01(2)(d)8.
8. Knowledge of effective means by which pupils may recognize, avoid, prevent and halt physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations which may be harmful to pupils, including child abuse, sexual abuse and child enticement. Instruction shall be designed to help pupils develop positive psychological, emotional and problem-solving responses to such situations and avoid relying on negative, fearful or solely reactive methods of dealing with such situations. Instruction shall include information on available school and community prevention and intervention assistance or services and shall be provided to pupils in elementary schools.
118.015
118.015
Reading instruction. 118.015(1)(1)
Purpose and intent. It is the purpose and intent of this section to provide for a developmental reading program for pupils at all grade levels.
118.015(2)
(2) Employment of reading specialists. Each school district shall employ a reading specialist certified by the department to develop and coordinate a comprehensive reading curriculum in grades kindergarten to 12. At the discretion of the state superintendent, a school district may contract with other school districts or cooperative educational service agencies to employ a certified reading specialist on a cooperative basis.
118.015(3)
(3) Duties of reading specialist. The reading specialist shall:
118.015(3)(a)
(a) Develop and implement a reading curriculum in grades kindergarten to 12.
118.015(3)(b)
(b) Act as a resource person to classroom teachers to implement the reading curriculum.
118.015(3)(c)
(c) Work with administrators to support and implement the reading curriculum.
118.015(3)(d)
(d) Conduct an annual evaluation of the reading curriculum.
118.015(3)(e)
(e) Coordinate the reading curriculum with other reading programs and other support services within the school district.
118.015(4)
(4) School board duties. The school board shall:
118.015(4)(a)
(a) Develop a program of reading goals for the district for grades kindergarten to 12.
118.015(4)(b)
(b) Make an assessment of existing reading needs in grades kindergarten to 12 in the district based on the reading goals established under
par. (a).
118.015(4)(c)
(c) Make an annual evaluation of the reading curriculum of the school district.
118.017
118.017
Foreign language instruction. 118.017(1)
(1) All instruction shall be in the English language, except:
118.017(1)(a)
(a) Those programs established under
subch. VII of ch. 115 where instruction shall be in the English language and in the non-English language of the bilingual-bicultural education program.
118.017(1)(b)
(b) The school board may cause any foreign language to be taught to pupils who desire it.
118.017(1)(c)
(c) The school board may cause any course to be taught in a foreign language if the purpose is to facilitate the instruction of English speaking pupils in that language.
118.017(2)
(2) A school board may grant foreign language credit to a pupil who has satisfactorily completed a high school course in American sign language.
118.017 History
History: 1983 a. 412 ss.
4,
5; Stats. 1983 s. 118.017;
1989 a. 280.
118.019
118.019
Human growth and development instruction. 118.019(1)(1)
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage all school boards to make available to pupils instruction in topics related to human growth and development in order to promote accurate and comprehensive knowledge in this area and responsible decision making and to support and enhance the efforts of parents to provide moral guidance to their children.
118.019(2)
(2) Subjects. A school board may provide an instructional program in human growth and development in grades kindergarten to 12. If provided, the program shall offer information and instruction appropriate to each grade level and the age and level of maturity of the pupils. Except as provided in
sub. (2m), the program may include instruction in any of the following areas:
118.019(2)(a)
(a) Self-esteem, responsible decision making and personal responsibility.
118.019(2)(e)
(e) Human sexuality; reproduction; family planning, as defined in
s. 253.07 (1) (a), including natural family planning; human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; prenatal development; childbirth; adoption; available prenatal and postnatal support; and male and female responsibility.
118.019(2m)(a)(a) If a school board provides instruction in any of the areas under
sub. (2) (e), the school board shall ensure that instruction in marriage and parental responsibility is provided in the same course, during the same school year, as the area under
sub. (2) (e).
118.019(2m)(b)
(b) The school board shall ensure that instruction related to the areas under
sub. (2) (e) does all of the following:
118.019(2m)(b)1.
1. Presents abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried pupils.
118.019(2m)(b)2.
2. Emphasizes that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
118.019(3)
(3) Distribution of curriculum to parents. Each school board that provides an instructional program in human growth and development shall annually provide the parents of each pupil enrolled in the school district with an outline of the human growth and development curriculum used in the pupil's grade level and information regarding how the parent may inspect the complete curriculum and instructional materials. The school board shall make the complete human growth and development curriculum and all instructional materials available upon request for inspection at any time, including prior to their use in the classroom.
118.019(4)
(4) Exemption for individual pupils. No pupil may be required to take instruction in human growth and development or in the specific subjects under
sub. (2) if the pupil's parent files with the teacher or school principal a written request that the pupil be exempted.
118.019(5)
(5) Advisory committee. In any school district that offers a human growth and development curriculum, the school board shall appoint an advisory committee composed of parents, teachers, school administrators, pupils, health care professionals, members of the clergy and other residents of the school district. The advisory committee shall develop the human growth and development curriculum and advise the school board on the design, review and implementation of the advisory committee's human growth and development curriculum. The advisory committee shall review the curriculum at least every 3 years.
118.02
118.02
Special observance days. On the following days when school is held or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on a school day immediately preceding or following the respective day, the day shall be appropriately observed:
