School board authority in Wisconsin
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Wisconsin state law makes school boards responsible for governing and managing public school districts in the state. This article details the powers and duties Wisconsin law grants to school boards for governing school districts and the constraints on that authority with regard to certain topics.
Types of legal and contractual constraints on school board authority
This page presents the results from Ballotpedia research on school board authority and constraints on that authority in all 50 states as of 2024. School board authority comes from state constitutions and state statutes and can be interpreted or specified by state regulations or court decisions. In addition to authority over district budgets, the selection of a superintendent, and administrative responsibilities, school boards have varying levels of authority over district policy on other topics depending on the state and district.
There are several sources of legal and contractual constraints on school board policy-making authority which also vary by state or by district.
- State laws commonly restrict or mandate school board policies on certain topics.
- Parents' Bills of Rights, which at least 26 states have in statute to some degree, limit the policies school boards are allowed to pass.
- State rules, guidance, and funding incentives can constrain, mandate, or influence school board policies. These include regulation from state education commissions and superintendents, executive orders from governors, or grant conditions.
- Federal and state court rulings can dictate whether or not school district policies are compatible with state law or federal law.
- The federal government, largely through its Department of Education, can promulgate regulations or guidance that influence district policy or make funding contingent on certain policies.
- Collective bargaining agreements between school districts and teacher unions can create contractual constraints on the policies school boards can pass.
- State school board associations can influence school board policy or, in some cases. enter into contracts with school boards that can limit school board policy.
This page features the following sections:
- Wisconsin law on school boards' authority over district policy. This section features the statutes in Wisconsin law that establish, enable, or define local school district boards.
- Constraints on Wisconsin school boards' authority. This section provides an overview of constraints on the school boards' authority in Wisconsin. It contains information on the constraints by the following topics:
- Collective bargaining agreements
- Parents' bill of rights
- How does Wisconsin compare to other states?
- Noteworthy Events. This section tracks noteworthy events related to school boards' authority in Wisconsin.
School board authority over district policy in Wisconsin
Enabling or authorizing statute for the boards of school districts in Wisconsin
- See also: Enabling statute
Wisconsin Statute § 120.12 gives school boards authority to manage school districts and operate according to state law:[1]
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Wisconsin school boards' powers and duties
Wisconsin public school boards of directors are given 28 specific duties or powers to administer the public schools in Wisconsin. In addition to budget-related and fiscal duties, school property and facilities management, and administrative responsibilities, the specific powers and duties include:
- establishing educational standards and courses of study for pupils in the district
- determining the maximum total base wages expenditure that is subject to collective bargaining with district employees
The list of powers and duties school district boards are charged with appears in Wisconsin Statutes § 120.12 and are as follows:[3]
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Discretionary duties
In addition to duties school boards are required to carry out, Wisconsin state law includes a section of 38 specific powers that school boards have but are not required to exercise. These powers include:
- operating one or more schools that enroll only one sex or provide courses that enroll only one sex, provided that they provide the same opportunity to for the other sex
- allowing the use of school buses owned and operated by the school district to transport persons who are not pupils of the school district
The text of the section with additional powers appears in Wisconsin Statutes § 120.13 and is as follows:[4]
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The school board of a common or union high school district may do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and activities for the benefit of pupils, and including all of the following: (1) SCHOOL GOVERNMENT RULES; SUSPENSION; EXPULSION. (a) Make rules for the organization, gradation and government of the schools of the school district, including rules pertaining to conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum and a favorable academic atmosphere, which shall take effect when approved by a majority of the school board and filed with the school district clerk. Subject to 20 USC 1415 (k), the school board shall adopt a code to govern pupils' classroom conduct beginning in the 1999-2000 school year. The code shall be developed in consultation with a committee of school district residents that consists of parents, pupils, members of the school board, school administrators, teachers, pupil services professionals and other residents of the school district who are appointed to the committee by the school board. The code of classroom conduct may provide different standards of conduct for different schools and may provide additional placement options under s. 118.164 (3). The code shall include all of the following: 1. A specification of what constitutes dangerous, disruptive or unruly behavior or behavior that interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively under s. 118.164 (2). 2. Any grounds in addition to those under subd. 1. for the removal of a pupil from the class under s. 118.164 (2). 3. The procedures for determining the appropriate educational placement of a pupil who has been removed from the class and assigned a placement by the school principal or his or her designee under s. 118.164. 4. A procedure for notifying the parent or guardian of a minor pupil who has been removed from the class under s. 118.164 (2). (b) 1. In addition to rule-making authority granted school boards under par. (a), the school district administrator, or any principal or teacher designated by the school district administrator, may make rules with the consent of the school board. 2. The school district administrator or any principal or teacher designated by the school district administrator may suspend a pupil for not more than 5 school days or, if a notice of expulsion hearing has been sent under par. (c) 4. or (e) 4. or s. 119.25 (2) (c), for not more than a total of 15 consecutive school days for any of the following reasons: a. Noncompliance with rules adopted under subd. 1. or school board rules. b. Knowingly conveying any threat or false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to destroy any school property by means of explosives. c. Conduct by the pupil while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority that endangers the property, health or safety of others. d. Conduct while not at school or while not under the supervision of a school authority that endangers the property, health or safety of others at school or under the supervision of a school authority or endangers the property, health or safety of any employee or school board member of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled. 2m. In subd. 2. c. and d., conduct that endangers a person or property includes making a threat to the health or safety of a person or making a threat to damage property. 3. Prior to any suspension, the pupil shall be advised of the reason for the proposed suspension. The pupil may be suspended if it is determined that the pupil is guilty of noncompliance with a school board rule or a rule adopted under subd. 1., or of the conduct charged, and that the pupil's suspension is reasonably justified. The parent or guardian of a suspended minor pupil shall be given prompt notice of the suspension and the reason for the suspension. 4. The suspended pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian may, within 5 school days following the commencement of the suspension, have a conference with the school district administrator or his or her designee who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the suspended pupil's school. If the school district administrator or his or her designee finds that the pupil was suspended unfairly or unjustly, or that the suspension was inappropriate, given the nature of the alleged offense, or that the pupil suffered undue consequences or penalties as a result of the suspension, reference to the suspension on the pupil's school record shall be expunged. The administrator, or the administrator's designee, shall make a finding within 15 days of the conference. 5. A pupil suspended under this paragraph shall not be denied the opportunity to take any quarterly, semester or grading period examinations or to complete course work missed during the suspension period, as provided in the attendance policy established under s. 118.16 (4) (a). (bm) The school district administrator or any principal or teacher designated by the school district administrator shall suspend a pupil under par. (b) if the school district administrator, principal or teacher determines that the pupil, while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority, possessed a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921 (a) (3). This paragraph does not apply to the possession of a firearm while legally hunting in a school forest if allowed under sub. (38). (c) 1. The school board may expel a pupil from school whenever it finds the pupil guilty of repeated refusal or neglect to obey the rules, or finds that a pupil knowingly conveyed or caused to be conveyed any threat or false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to destroy any school property by means of explosives, or finds that the pupil engaged in conduct while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority which endangered the property, health or safety of others, or finds that a pupil while not at school or while not under the supervision of a school authority engaged in conduct which endangered the property, health or safety of others at school or under the supervision of a school authority or endangered the property, health or safety of any employee or school board member of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled, and is satisfied that the interest of the school demands the pupil's expulsion. In this subdivision, conduct that endangers a person or property includes making a threat to the health or safety of a person or making a threat to damage property. 2. In addition to the grounds for expulsion under subd. 1., the school board may expel from school a pupil who is at least 16 years old if the school board finds that the pupil repeatedly engaged in conduct while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority that disrupted the ability of school authorities to maintain order or an educational atmosphere at school or at an activity supervised by a school authority and that such conduct does not constitute grounds for expulsion under subd. 1., and is satisfied that the interest of the school demands the pupil's expulsion. 2m. The school board shall commence proceedings under subd. 3. and expel a pupil from school for not less than one year whenever it finds that the pupil, while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority, possessed a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921 (a) (3). Annually, the school board shall report to the department the information specified under 20 USC 8921 (d) (1) and (2). This subdivision does not apply to the possession of a firearm while legally hunting in a school forest if allowed under sub. (38). 3. Prior to expelling a pupil, the school board shall hold a hearing. Upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. The pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may be represented at the hearing by counsel. The school board shall keep written minutes of the hearing. Upon the ordering by the school board of the expulsion of a pupil, the school district clerk shall mail a copy of the order to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the expulsion to the state superintendent. If the school board's decision is appealed to the state superintendent, within 60 days after the date on which the state superintendent receives the appeal, the state superintendent shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the school board shall be enforced while the state superintendent reviews the decision. An appeal from the decision of the state superintendent may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court of the county in which the school is located. 4. Not less than 5 days' written notice of the hearing under subd. 3. shall be sent to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The notice shall state all of the following: a. The specific grounds, under subd. 1., 2. or 2m., and the particulars of the pupil's alleged conduct upon which the expulsion proceeding is based. b. The time and place of the hearing. c. That the hearing may result in the pupil's expulsion. d. That, upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. e. That the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may be represented at the hearing by counsel. f. That the school board shall keep written minutes of the hearing. g. That if the school board orders the expulsion of the pupil the school district clerk shall mail a copy of the order to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. h. That if the pupil is expelled by the school board the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the school board's decision to the department. i. That if the school board's decision is appealed to the department, within 60 days after the date on which the department receives the appeal, the department shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. j. That the decision of the school board shall be enforced while the department reviews the school board's decision. k. That an appeal from the decision of the department may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court for the county in which the school is located. l. That the state statutes related to pupil expulsion are ss. 119.25 and 120.13 (1). (d) No pupil enrolled in a school district operating under ch. 119 may be suspended or expelled from school for truancy. (e) 1. The school board may adopt a resolution, which is effective only during the school year in which it is adopted, authorizing any of the following to determine pupil expulsion from school under subd. 2. instead of using the procedure under par. (c) 3.: a. An independent hearing panel appointed by the school board. b. An independent hearing officer appointed by the school board. 2. During any school year in which a resolution adopted under subd. 1. is effective, the independent hearing officer or independent hearing panel appointed by the school board: a. May expel a pupil from school whenever the hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under par. (c) 1. or 2. b. Shall commence proceedings under subd. 3. and expel a pupil from school for not less than one year whenever that hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under par. (c) 2m. 3. Prior to expelling a pupil, the hearing officer or panel shall hold a hearing. Upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. The pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, may be represented at the hearing by counsel. The hearing officer or panel shall keep a full record of the hearing. The hearing officer or panel shall inform each party of the right to a complete record of the proceeding. Upon request, the hearing officer or panel shall direct that a transcript of the record be prepared and that a copy of the transcript be given to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. Upon the ordering by the hearing officer or panel of the expulsion of a pupil, the school district shall mail a copy of the order to the school board, the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. Within 30 days after the date on which the order is issued, the school board shall review the expulsion order and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the order. The order of the hearing officer or panel shall be enforced while the school board reviews the order. The expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the school board's decision to the state superintendent. If the school board's decision is appealed to the state superintendent, within 60 days after the date on which the state superintendent receives the appeal, the state superintendent shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the school board shall be enforced while the state superintendent reviews the decision. An appeal from the decision of the state superintendent may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court of the county in which the school is located. This paragraph does not apply to a school district operating under ch. 119. 4. Not less than 5 days' written notice of the hearing under subd. 3. shall be sent to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The notice shall state all of the following: a. The specific grounds, under par. (c) 1., 2. or 2m., and the particulars of the pupil's alleged conduct upon which the expulsion proceeding is based. b. The time and place of the hearing. c. That the hearing may result in the pupil's expulsion. d. That, upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. e. That the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may be represented at the hearing by counsel. f. That the hearing officer or panel shall keep a full record of the hearing and, upon request, the hearing officer or panel shall direct that a transcript of the record be prepared and that a copy of the transcript be given to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. g. That if the hearing officer or panel orders the expulsion of the pupil the school district shall mail a copy of the order to the school board, the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. h. That within 30 days of the issuance of an expulsion order the school board shall review the order and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the order. i. That, if the pupil is expelled by the hearing officer or panel, the order of the hearing officer or panel shall be enforced while the school board reviews the order. j. That, if the pupil's expulsion is approved by the school board, the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the school board's decision to the department. k. That if the school board's decision is appealed to the department, within 60 days after the date on which the department receives the appeal, the department shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. l. That the decision of the school board shall be enforced while the department reviews the school board's decision. m. That an appeal from the decision of the department may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court for the county in which the school is located. n. That the state statutes related to pupil expulsion are ss. 119.25 and 120.13 (1). (f) 1. No school board is required to enroll a pupil during the term of his or her expulsion from another school district. Notwithstanding s. 118.125 (2) and (4), if a pupil who has been expelled from one school district seeks to enroll in another school district during the term of his or her expulsion, upon request the school board of the former school district shall provide the school board of the latter school district with a copy of the expulsion findings and order, a written explanation of the reasons why the pupil was expelled and the length of the term of the expulsion. 2. No school board is required to enroll a pupil during the term of his or her expulsion from a public school in another state if the school board determines the conduct giving rise to the pupil's expulsion would have been grounds for expulsion under par. (c) 1., 2., or 2m. 3. No school board is required to enroll a pupil during the term of his or her expulsion from a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) if the school board determines the conduct giving rise to the pupil's expulsion would have been grounds for expulsion under par. (c) 1., 2., or 2m. If a pupil who has been expelled from a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) seeks to enroll in a school district during the term of his or her expulsion, upon request of the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the governing body of the charter school shall provide the school board of the school district with a copy of the expulsion findings and order, a written explanation of the reasons why the pupil was expelled, and the term of the expulsion. (g) The school board may modify the requirement under pars. (c) 2m. and (e) 2. b. on a case-by-case basis. (h) 1. In this paragraph: ag. "Conditional enrollment" means enrollment of an expelled pupil in a school district other than the school district or out-of-state public school that expelled the pupil before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order issued under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. or by the out-of-state public school. am. "Early reinstatement" means the reinstatement to school of an expelled pupil before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. b. "Early reinstatement condition" means a condition that a pupil is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement or a condition that a pupil is required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. c. "Enrollment condition" means a condition that a pupil is required to meet before he or she may be granted conditional enrollment or a condition that a pupil is required to meet after his or her conditional enrollment but before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order issued under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. or by the out-of-state public school. 2. A school board, or an independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer acting under par. (e), may specify one or more early reinstatement conditions in the expulsion order under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. if the early reinstatement conditions are related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion. Within 15 days after the date on which an expulsion order is issued by an independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer, the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the determination regarding whether an early reinstatement condition specified in the expulsion order is related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion to the school board. The decision of a school board regarding that determination is final and not subject to appeal. 2m. A school board other than the school board or out-of-state public school that expelled a pupil may specify in a written order one or more enrollment conditions instead of or in addition to the early reinstatement conditions, if any, imposed under subd. 2. by the school board, or independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer acting under par. (e), that expelled the pupil or instead of or in addition to any conditions imposed, if any, by the out-of-state public school that expelled the pupil. Any enrollment conditions established under this subdivision shall relate to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion and may not extend the term of expulsion specified in the expulsion order issued under par. (c) 3. or (e) 3. or by the out-of-state public school. The school district clerk of the school district other than the school district from which the pupil was expelled shall mail 2 copies of the order to the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian shall sign and return one copy of the order to the school board other than the school board that expelled the pupil. Within 15 days after the date on which the order under this subdivision is issued, the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the determination regarding whether an enrollment condition specified in the order is related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion to the school board that specified the enrollment condition. The decision of the school board under this subdivision regarding that determination is final and not subject to appeal. 3. If the school district administrator or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school, determines that a pupil has met the early reinstatement conditions that he or she is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement, the school district administrator or designee may grant the pupil early reinstatement. The determination of the school district administrator or designee is final. 3m. If the school district administrator, or his or her designee, of a school district other than the school district or out-of-state public school from which a pupil was expelled determines that the pupil has met the enrollment conditions established in a written order under subd. 2m., the school district administrator or designee may grant the pupil conditional enrollment in a school in the school district. The determination of the school district administrator or designee under this subdivision is final. 4. If a pupil granted early reinstatement under subd. 3. violates an early reinstatement condition that the pupil was required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion, the school district administrator or a principal or teacher designated by the school district administrator may revoke the pupil's early reinstatement. Before revoking the pupil's early reinstatement, the school district administrator or his or her designee shall advise the pupil of the reason for the proposed revocation, including the early reinstatement condition alleged to have been violated, provide the pupil an opportunity to present his or her explanation of the alleged violation, and make a determination that the pupil violated the early reinstatement condition and that revocation of the pupil's early reinstatement is appropriate. If the school district administrator or designee revokes the pupil's early reinstatement, the school district administrator or designee shall give prompt written notice of the revocation and the reason for the revocation, including the early reinstatement condition violated, to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. 4m. If a pupil granted conditional enrollment under subd. 3m. violates an enrollment condition that the pupil was required to meet after his or her conditional enrollment but before the expiration of the term of expulsion, the school district administrator of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled, or a principal or teacher designated by the school district administrator, may revoke the pupil's conditional enrollment. Before revoking the pupil's conditional enrollment, the school district administrator or his or her designee shall advise the pupil of the reason for the proposed revocation, including the enrollment condition alleged to have been violated, provide the pupil an opportunity to present his or her explanation of the alleged violation, and make a determination that the pupil violated the enrollment condition and that revocation of the pupil's conditional enrollment is appropriate. If the school district administrator or designee revokes the pupil's conditional enrollment, the school district administrator or designee shall give prompt written notice of the revocation and the reason for the revocation, including the enrollment condition violated, to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. 5. Except as provided in subd. 6., if a pupil's early reinstatement is revoked under subd. 4., the pupil's expulsion shall continue to the expiration of the term of the expulsion specified in the expulsion order unless the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian and the school board, independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer agree, in writing, to modify the expulsion order. 5m. Except as provided in subd. 6m., if a pupil's conditional enrollment is revoked under subd. 4m., the pupil's expulsion shall continue to the expiration of the term of the expulsion specified in the expulsion order unless the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian and the school board that expelled the pupil, or the independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer, or the out-of-state public school, agree, in writing, to modify the expulsion order. 6. Within 5 school days after the revocation of a pupil's early reinstatement under subd. 4., the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may request a conference with the school district administrator or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school. If a conference is requested, it shall be held within 5 school days following the request. If, after the conference, the school district administrator or his or her designee finds that the pupil did not violate an early reinstatement condition or that the revocation was inappropriate, the pupil shall be reinstated to school under the same reinstatement conditions as in the expulsion order and the early reinstatement revocation shall be expunged from the pupil's record. If the school district administrator or his or her designee finds that the pupil violated an early reinstatement condition and that the revocation was appropriate, he or she shall mail separate copies of the decision to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The decision of the school district administrator or his or her designee is final. 6m. Within 5 school days after the revocation of a pupil's conditional enrollment under subd. 4m., the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may request a conference with the administrator of the school district in which the pupil is enrolled, or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator, or teacher in the pupil's school. If a conference is requested, it shall be held within 5 school days following the request. If, after the conference, the school district administrator or his or her designee finds that the pupil did not violate an enrollment condition or that the revocation was inappropriate, the pupil shall be enrolled in school under the same enrollment conditions as in the order issued under subd. 2m. and the conditional enrollment revocation shall be expunged from the pupil's record. If the school district administrator or his or her designee finds that the pupil violated an enrollment condition and that the revocation was appropriate, he or she shall mail separate copies of the decision to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The decision of the school district administrator or his or her designee is final. (2) INSURANCE. (a) Provide for accident insurance covering pupils in the school district. Such insurance shall not be paid from school district funds unless the expenditure is authorized by an annual meeting. (b) Provide health care benefits on a self-insured basis to the employees of the school district if the school district has at least 100 employees. In addition, a school district may jointly provide health care benefits on a self-insured basis under s. 66.0137 (4m). (c) Any self-insurance plan under par. (b) or s. 66.0137 (4m) that covers less than 1,000 employees shall include excess or stop-loss reinsurance obtained through an insurer authorized to do business in this state, for the purpose of covering all eligible claims incurred during the term of the policy or contract. (d) The commissioner of insurance may prescribe detailed requirements for reinsurance under par. (c) by rule or by order. The commissioner of insurance may promulgate rules governing self-insurance plans under pars. (b) to (g) to ensure that they comply with all applicable provisions of chs. 600 to 647. (e) All personally identifiable medical and claims records relating to any self-insurance plan under par. (b) or s. 66.0137 (4m) shall be kept confidential by the administrator of the self-insurance plan and shall be exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 19.36 (1). This paragraph does not prohibit the release of personally identifiable records to school district personnel, to the extent that performance of their duties requires access to the records, but only with the prior written informed consent of the insured. (g) Every self-insured plan under par. (b) shall comply with ss. 49.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 632.722, 632.729, 632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3), 632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.861, 632.867, 632.87 (4) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4). (3) AGREEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL UNITS. Enter into agreements, including leases for a term not exceeding 50 years, with a school board, technical college district board, city, village, town, county or the state or any department or agency thereof for the purchase, operation and maintenance of land, buildings and equipment for educational purposes, including, without limitation because of enumeration, contracts for the construction or repair of school driveways, roadways and parking areas or for the operation of any school program authorized by law. (4) ON-FARM TRAINING TO VETERANS. Provide institutional on-farm training to veterans who are eligible for the training under any act of congress. (5) BOOKS, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT. Purchase or otherwise acquire necessary books and stationery, equipment, school apparatus and materials for the use of the schools of the school district and purchase any school books which in its judgment are needed by pupils whose parents are not able to furnish such books. (6) FEDERAL AID. Apply for, receive and expend moneys made available to it by any act of congress for educational programs, school property and facilities, research, school food service and other school district programs. (7) EXCHANGE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. Exchange any teacher or administrator employed by the school board for a teacher or administrator employed by a school board in another state or country or employed by a college or university, the state, a technical college district board or a cooperative educational service agency. No exchange may be for a longer period than one year. A teacher or administrator of this state exchanged under this subsection shall be deemed to have taught during the period in the school district by which the teacher or administrator is employed and shall be assessed, for the benefit of the public employee trust fund, the full amount which would have been assessed against the teacher or administrator had the teacher or administrator actually taught in the school district. (8) FUNDS FOR REWARDS. Establish a reward, not exceeding $500, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who damage or destroy school property or who injure any person while at school or under the supervision of a school authority. (9) ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. Contract with or employ architects and engineers for the preparation of plans and specifications for school buildings, structures and other improvements to school district property and for all other related services. (9m) LEGAL SERVICES. Retain an attorney or attorneys to represent the board or school district in any action or proceeding brought for or against the board or district and provide for any other legal service for the welfare of the school district. (10) SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE. Furnish school meals to pupils and pay for the meals out of school district funds. The school board may charge pupils and employees for the cost of school meals. (11) NURSES AND DENTISTS. Employ qualified public health nurses, school nurses, registered nurses and licensed dentists who shall cooperate with the local board of health, as defined in s. 250.01 (3), and the department of health services. (12) HISTORICAL RECORDS. Under s. 44.09 (1), transfer title to any school records to the state historical society which are no longer needed for the proper administration of the school district and which the society determines are of permanent historical interest. (13) PREKINDERGARTEN CLASSES. Establish and maintain classes for children less than 4 years of age under such regulations as it prescribes. The school board may accept and receive federal funds for such purpose and expend such funds in conformity with the purposes and requirements thereof. The school board may charge a reasonable fee for attendance at such classes but may waive the fee or any portion thereof to any person who is unable to make payment. (14) CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. (a) Establish and provide or contract for the provision of child care programs for children. The school board may receive federal or state funds for this purpose. The school board may charge a fee for all or part of the cost of the service for participation in a child care program established under this subsection. Costs associated with a child care program under this subsection may not be included in shared costs under s. 121.07 (6). Child care programs established under this subsection shall meet the standards for licensed child care centers established by the department of children and families. Pursuant to ss. 48.66 (1) (a), 48.73, and 48.74, the department of children and families may visit and inspect the premises of, inspect the records of, and investigate and prosecute any alleged violations occurring at any child care program established or contracted for under this subsection that receives payment under s. 49.155 for the child care provided. If a school board proposes to contract for the provision of a child care program under this subsection or if on July 1, 1996, a school board is a party to a contract for the provision of a child care program under this subsection, the school board shall refer the proposed contractor to the department of children and families for the criminal history and child abuse record search required under s. 48.686. (b) 1. If a person subject to a background check under s. 48.686 (2) who operates, works at, or resides at a child care program contracted for under par. (a), is convicted or adjudicated delinquent for committing a serious crime, as defined under s. 48.686 (1) (c), the school board shall rescind the contract for the child care program immediately upon providing written notice of the rescission and the grounds for the rescission and an explanation of the process for appealing the rescission. 2. If a person subject to a background check under s. 48.686 (2) who operates, works at, or resides at a child care program contracted for under par. (a) is the subject of a pending criminal charge or delinquency petition alleging that the person has committed a serious crime, as defined in s. 48.686 (1) (c), the school board shall immediately suspend the contract for the child care program until the school board obtains information regarding the final disposition of the charge or delinquency petition indicating that the person is not ineligible to operate, work at, or reside at a child care program under this subsection. (15) SPECIAL HIGH SCHOOL COURSES. In a union high school district or a common school district operating elementary and high school grades, establish and maintain courses in industrial arts, home economics, agriculture, commercial subjects and such other courses as the school board determines. (16) SCHOOL BOARD ORGANIZATION; FEE. Pay the membership fee in an organization of school boards in this state and the actual and necessary expenses of its representatives incurred in attending meetings of such organization. (17) TEMPORARY USE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY. Grant the temporary use of school grounds, buildings, facilities, or equipment, upon such conditions, including fees not to exceed actual costs, as determined by the school board, to any responsible person for any lawful nonschool purpose if such use does not interfere with use for school purposes or school-related functions. For purposes of s. 895.523, "actual costs" means reasonable costs for maintenance, security, supervision of participants who are minors, if applicable, and cleaning. Fees received under this subsection shall be paid into the school district treasury and accounted for as prescribed under s. 115.28 (13). The user shall be primarily liable, and, except as provided in s. 895.523, the school board secondarily liable, for any damage to property and for any expense incurred in consequence of any use of school grounds, buildings, facilities, or equipment under this subsection. (18) PROPERTY FOR ECOLOGICAL, AGRICULTURAL OR VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTION. Subject to the authority of the annual or special meeting to approve the acquisition of real property, acquire real or personal property for ecological, agricultural or vocational instruction, experimentation or other school-related purposes. (18m) RENEWABLE RESOURCE FACILITIES. Construct or acquire, borrow funds to construct or acquire, own, operate, and maintain a renewable resource facility, and use the energy generated by the facility for school district facilities or sell the energy generated by the facility at wholesale, if the school board's share of the installed capacity of the facility does not exceed 5 megawatts and the school board incorporates information about the facility in its curriculum. In this subsection, "renewable resource" has the meaning given in s. 196.374 (1) (j). (19) COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. Establish and maintain community education, training, recreational, cultural or athletic programs and services, outside the regular curricular and extracurricular programs for pupils, under such terms and conditions as the school board prescribes. The school board may establish and collect fees to cover all or part of the costs of such programs and services. The school board may not expend moneys on ineligible costs, as defined by the department by rule. Costs associated with such programs and services shall not be included in the school district's shared cost under s. 121.07 (6). (19m) SALE OF PROPERTY. Sell any property belonging to and not needed by the school district. If a school site or other lands are to be abandoned which were acquired or are held upon condition that they revert to the prior owner when no longer used for school purposes, the school board shall sell any school buildings thereon or move them to another site within 8 months after the school buildings cease to be used for school purposes or the site ceases to be maintained as a school district playground or park. (20) OPTIONS TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY. Solicit and obtain one or more options to purchase real property and, upon approval of the annual or special meeting, exercise such option. (21) LECTURES. Provide free lectures on educational subjects in school buildings, public library buildings or other suitable places, and provide for the further education of the adult residents of the school district. The school board may purchase books, stationery, charts and other things necessary to conduct such lectures and may designate a person to manage such lectures. (22) CABLE TELEVISION AND DATA PROCESSING SERVICES. Enter into leases for a term not exceeding 20 years for acquisition of cable television or data processing services and facilities for educational purposes. (23) BONDS FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. Require an officer or employee of the board to give security in such form and amount as the board determines, and may require at any time additional bonds and sureties of any officer or employee. (24) CONTRACTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL UNITS. Participate and enter into contracts with school boards and other governmental units as provided under s. 120.25. (25) LEASE SCHOOL PROPERTY. In addition to any other authority, lease school sites, buildings, and equipment not needed for school purposes to any person for any lawful use at a reasonable rental if approved at an annual or special school district meeting. (26) CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE EDUCATION SERVICES. Upon the approval of the state superintendent, contract with private education services for pupils who need concurrent education and treatment services, the educational portion of which is not available in the schools in which the pupils are enrolled. Private education services provided under this subsection may not include religious or sectarian teachings or instruction. (26m) CONTRACTS WITH COUNTY CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION BOARDS. Contract with a county children with disabilities education board for special education services. The costs of such services shall be included in the school district's shared cost under s. 121.07 (6). This subsection applies beginning on the effective date of a resolution adopted under s. 115.817 (9) (c). (26r) CONTRACTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES. Contract with the department of health services for services under s. 46.043. (27) TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS WHO ARE NOT PUPILS. (a) Subject to par. (b), the school board may use or allow the use of school buses owned and operated by the school district to transport persons who are not pupils of the school district. School buses may be used by persons who are not pupils of the school district during school hours if such use does not interfere with the transportation of pupils of the school district. The school board shall charge a fee for use of the school buses under this subsection. The fee shall be an amount equal to the actual cost of transportation under this subsection, including but not limited to costs for depreciation, maintenance, insurance, fuel and compensation of vehicle operators. If the school board denies a written request for use of the school buses, the school board shall provide the requester a written statement of the basis for the denial within 14 days after the denial. (b) No school bus may be used to provide transportation under this subsection unless the vehicle is insured by a policy providing property damage coverage and bodily injury liability coverage for such transportation in the amounts specified in s. 121.53 (1). (27m) TRANSPORTATION OF INDIGENT PUPILS. Provide transportation to and from school for indigent pupils who reside in the school district and who are not required to be transported under s. 121.54. In this subsection, "indigent pupils" means pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for free lunches or reduced-price lunches under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) or who are members of a Wisconsin works group, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (s), with a member who is participating in Wisconsin works under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) or any combination thereof, as determined by the school board. If a school board determines to provide transportation under this subsection, there shall be reasonable uniformity in the transportation furnished such pupils whether they attend public or private schools. The cost of transporting pupils under this subsection may not be included in the school district's shared cost under s. 121.07 (6) (a). (28) RECORDS CUSTODIAN. On behalf of any school district authority as defined in s. 19.32 (1), including the school board, school district officers and any subunit of the school board or school district, designate one or more persons to be legal custodians of records. (29) BORROWING. Borrow money and issue municipal obligations, as provided in chs. 24 and 67. (30) HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. May award 0.5 high school credit to a pupil who successfully completes while in the high school grades a course of instruction under the hunter education program or bow hunter education program under s. 29.591 or the trapper education program under s. 29.597. A school board may award credit to a pupil under this subsection for completion of only one program. (31) SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS. Upon the adoption of a resolution to do so and approval of the resolution by the governing bodies of all of the cities, villages and towns located in whole or in part within the school district, provide for the appointment of adult school crossing guards for the protection of persons who are crossing a highway in the vicinity of a school. The school crossing guards shall wear insignia or uniforms which designate them as school crossing guards and shall be equipped with signals or signs to direct traffic to stop at school crossings. (32) SCHOOL BOARD ORIENTATION. Provide for the orientation and continuing education of school board members and persons who have been elected to the school board but have not yet taken office in the general duties and responsibilities of the school board and the school district, and pay for the actual and necessary expenses incurred. (33) SPENDING AUTHORITY. During the period between July 1 and the final adoption of a budget by the school board after the budget hearing under s. 65.90, spend money as needed to meet the immediate expenses of operating and maintaining the public instruction in the school district. (34) STREET TRADE AND MINOR EMPLOYMENT PERMIT OFFICER. Act as permit officer if designated under ss. 103.245 (1) (a) and 103.695 (1) (a). (35) PRESENCE IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS. (a) A school board may adopt rules applicable to persons who enter or remain in a building operated by the school board, including requirements that such persons identify themselves and sign in when entering or remaining in the building or any specified portion of the building and designating time periods during which such persons may enter or remain in the building or any portion of the building. (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., any person entering or remaining in a building or portion of a building in violation of the school board's rules is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000. Any person entering or remaining in a building or portion of a building in violation of the school board's rules under circumstances tending to create or provoke a breach of the peace may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to pupils, parents of pupils, school district employees or officials or agents of a certified or recognized representative of school district employees who are included in a collective bargaining unit. (36) PREKINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AGREEMENTS. Enter into an agreement with a licensed public or private nonsectarian child care center to lease space for prekindergarten or kindergarten programs offered by the school district or to place school district employees in child care centers to provide instruction in prekindergarten or kindergarten programs offered by the school district. (37) AWARDING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS TO VETERANS. (a) Notwithstanding s. 118.33 (1) and (1m), award a high school diploma to a person who meets all of the following requirements: 1. Is at least 65 years old, or is at least 55 years old and has a service-connected disability. 2. Attended high school in the school district or attended high school in this state and resides in the school district. 3. Left high school before receiving a high school diploma to join the U.S. armed forces during a war period under s. 45.01 (13). 4. Served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces. (b) Notwithstanding s. 118.33 (1m), award a high school diploma to a person who received a high school equivalency diploma under s. 115.29 (4) after serving on active duty under honorable conditions if the person meets the conditions of par. (a) 1. to 3. (c) Award, upon request, a high school diploma to a person who has died, but who, before dying, satisfied the conditions of par. (a) 2. to 4. (37m) SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS AND COURSES. Operate one or more schools that enroll only one sex or provide one or more courses that enroll only one sex if the school board makes available to the opposite sex, under the same policies and criteria of admission, schools or courses that are comparable to each such school or course. (38) HUNTING IN SCHOOL FORESTS. Allow hunting in its school forest, as defined in s. 26.39 (1) (a), except that the board may not allow hunting for a wild animal when there is not an open season for that animal on land adjacent to the school forest. This subsection does not affect the authority of the department of natural resources to remove a wild animal under s. 29.885 (2) (a). Wis. Stat. § 120.13[2] |
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Constraints on Wisconsin school boards' authority
This section tracks constraints on school boards specific to Wisconsin as of September 2024. It features constraints on school boards' authority from state law, collective bargaining agreements, and Parents' Bills of Rights.
Constraint on Wisconsin school boards' authority by topic
This section features constraints on Wisconsin school boards' authority on policies related to the following topics:
Curriculum requirements
Wisconsin requires the following specific topics to be included in each district's curriculum, among others:[5]
- Citizenship
- Personal development
- An understanding of human relations, particularly with regard to American Indians, Black Americans, Hispanics, Hmong Americans, and Asian Americans
Curriculum restrictions
Ballotpedia could not identify any curricular content prohibited by state statutes, regulations, case law, or collective bargaining agreements, though state law does prohibit the three-cueing reading instruction method.[6]
Book bans, removals, and restrictions
Wisconsin school boards have the authority to remove books from school libraries. State law authorizes school boards to furnish books for curricular use and school libraries; many districts in the state have removed books from their school libraries.[8][4]
Case law:
The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed local school boards' authority to remove school books in Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico in 1982 but held that school library books are distinct from curricular books, which school boards have more authority to regulate. The ruling held that school boards are charged with inculcating community values and may make curricular decisions accordingly. In Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp. in 1980, the Supreme Court held that school boards had discretionary power over curriculum, textbooks, and other educational matters but could not impose religious creeds or "permanently the student’s ability to investigate matters that arise in the natural course of intellectual inquiry,” according to the opinion.[9][10][11]
Parental notification
Wisconsin requires parental notification in the following circumstances, among others:
- Their student is removed from the classroom[4]
- Their student is assessed for reading readiness or special needs intervention[13]
- Their student is habitually absent from school[14]
Case law: The United States Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v. Taylor on June 27, 2025, that Montgomery County Board of Education's introduction of LGBTQ+ related storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt outs, placed an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.[15]
Discipline
Wisconsin is one of 47 states that gives school boards authority over district disciplinary policy.
The text of Wisconsin Statutes § 120.13 is as follows:[16]
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The school board of a common or union high school district may do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and activities for the benefit of pupils, and including all of the following: (1) SCHOOL GOVERNMENT RULES; SUSPENSION; EXPULSION. (a) Make rules for the organization, gradation and government of the schools of the school district, including rules pertaining to conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum and a favorable academic atmosphere, which shall take effect when approved by a majority of the school board and filed with the school district clerk. Subject to 20 USC 1415 (k), the school board shall adopt a code to govern pupils' classroom conduct beginning in the 1999-2000 school year. The code shall be developed in consultation with a committee of school district residents that consists of parents, pupils, members of the school board, school administrators, teachers, pupil services professionals and other residents of the school district who are appointed to the committee by the school board. The code of classroom conduct may provide different standards of conduct for different schools and may provide additional placement options under s. 118.164 (3). The code shall include all of the following:
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School board elections
- See also: Rules governing school board election dates and timing in Wisconsin, How does Wisconsin compare to other states on school board authority over election timing?
Wisconsin is one of 42 states in which school boards do not have authority over the timing of school board elections because state or municipal laws determine school board election dates.
Click here to read about the laws governing school board elections in Wisconsin.
Public school choice and open enrollment
- See also: School choice in Wisconsin
Wisconsin state law requires school boards to allow students from outside their districts to apply to attend their schools. State law allows school boards to create criteria for accepting and rejecting such applications, though it includes permissible criteria that school boards must follow. The text of Wisconsin Statutes § 118.51 is as follows:[18]
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(2) APPLICABILITY. Except as provided in s. 118.50 (6), a pupil may attend a public school, including a charter school, prekindergarten, 4-year-old kindergarten, or early childhood or school-operated child care program, in a nonresident school district under this section, except that a pupil may attend a prekindergarten, 4-year-old kindergarten, or early childhood or school-operated child care program in a nonresident school district only if the pupil's resident school district offers the same type of program that the pupil wishes to attend and the pupil is eligible to attend that program in his or her resident school district. (3) APPLICATION PROCEDURES. Except as provided under sub. (3m), the following procedures govern pupil applications to attend a public school in a nonresident school district under this section: (a)Submission and acceptance or rejection. 1. The parent of a pupil who wishes to attend a public school in a nonresident school district under this section shall submit an application, on a form provided by the department under sub. (15) (a), to the school board of the nonresident school district that the pupil wishes to attend, not earlier than the first Monday in February and not later than the last weekday in April of the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the pupil wishes to attend. Except as provided in subd. 1d., applications may be submitted to no more than 3 nonresident school boards in any school year. The nonresident school board shall send a copy of the application to the pupil's resident school board and the department by the end of the first weekday following the last weekday in April. The application may include a request to attend a specific school or program offered by the nonresident school district. 1d. For purposes of determining whether applications have been submitted to more than 3 nonresident school boards, the department may not count an application submitted to a nonresident school board for a pupil to attend a virtual charter school. 1m. By the first Friday following the first Monday in May, the resident school board shall send to the nonresident school district a copy of the individualized education program developed under s. 115.787 (2) for a child with a disability whose parent submitted an application under subd. 1. 2. A nonresident school board may not act on any application received under subd. 1. before May 1. If a nonresident school board receives more applications for a particular grade or program than there are spaces available in the grade or program, the nonresident school board shall determine which pupils to accept, including pupils accepted from a waiting list under sub. (5) (d), on a random basis, after giving preference to pupils and to siblings of pupils who are already attending the nonresident school district and, if the nonresident school district is a union high school district, to pupils who are attending an underlying elementary school district of the nonresident school district under this section. If a nonresident school board determines that space is not otherwise available for open enrollment pupils in the grade or program to which an individual has applied, the school board may nevertheless accept a pupil or the sibling of a pupil who is already attending the nonresident school district and, if the nonresident school district is a union high school district, a pupil who is attending an underlying elementary school district of the nonresident school district under this section. 3. Except as provided under sub. (5) (d) 1., on or before the first Friday following the first Monday in June following receipt of the application, the nonresident school board shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether it has accepted the application. If the nonresident school board has accepted the applicant, the school board shall identify the specific school or program that the applicant may attend in the following school year. If the nonresident school board rejects an application, it shall include in the notice the reason for the rejection. 4. On or before the 2nd Friday following the first Monday in June following receipt of a copy of the application, if a resident school board denies a pupil's enrollment in a nonresident school district, the resident school board shall notify the applicant and the nonresident school board, in writing, that the application has been denied and include in the notice the reason for the denial. 6. Except as provided in sub. (5) (d) 2., if an application is accepted, on or before the last Friday in June following receipt of a notice of acceptance, or within 10 days of receiving a notice of acceptance if a pupil is selected from a waiting list under sub. (5) (d), the pupil's parent shall notify the nonresident school board of the pupil's intent to attend school in that school district in the following school year. (b)Notice to resident school district. Annually by July 7, each nonresident school board that has accepted a pupil under this section for attendance in the following school year shall report the name of the pupil to the pupil's resident school board. (c)Subsequent reapplication; when required. 1. If a pupil's parent notifies a nonresident school board, under par. (a) 6., that the pupil intends to attend school in that school district in the following school year, the pupil may attend that school district in the following school year and may continue to attend that school district in succeeding school years without reapplying, except that the nonresident school board may require that the pupil reapply, no more than once, when the pupil enters middle school, junior high school or high school. 2. If at any time a pupil who is attending school in a nonresident school district under this section wishes to attend school in a different nonresident school district under this section, the pupil's parent shall follow the application procedures under par. (a). (3m) ALTERNATIVE APPLICATION PROCEDURES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the parent of a pupil who wishes to attend a public school in a nonresident school district under this section may, in lieu of applying under sub. (3), submit an application under this subsection, on a form provided by the department under sub. (15) (a), to the school board of the nonresident school district that the pupil wants to attend if the pupil satisfies at least one of the criteria under par. (b). Applications may be submitted to no more than 3 nonresident school boards in any school year. For purposes of determining whether applications have been submitted to more than 3 nonresident school boards, the department may not count an application submitted to a nonresident school board for a pupil to attend a virtual charter school. (b) The parent of a pupil may apply under this subsection only if the pupil meets one of the following criteria, and shall describe the criteria that the pupil meets in the application: 1. The resident school board determines that the pupil has been the victim of a violent criminal offense, as defined by the department by rule. An application made on the basis of this criteria is not valid unless the nonresident school board receives the application within 30 days after the determination of the resident school board. 2. The pupil is or has been a homeless pupil in the current or immediately preceding school year. In this subdivision, "homeless pupil" means an individual who is included in the category of homeless children and youths, as defined in 42 USC 11434a (2). 3. The pupil has been the victim of repeated bullying or harassment and all of the following apply: a. The pupil's parent has reported the bullying or harassment to the resident school board. b. Despite action taken under subd. 3. a., the repeated bullying and harassment continues. 4. The place of residence of the pupil's parent or guardian and of the pupil has changed as a result of military orders. An application made on the basis of this criteria is not valid unless the nonresident school board receives the application no later than 30 days after the date on which the military orders changing the place of residence were issued. 5. The pupil moved into this state. An application made on the basis of this criteria is not valid unless the nonresident school board receives the application no later than 30 days after moving into this state. 6. The place of residence of the pupil has changed as a result of a court order or custody agreement or because the pupil was placed in a foster home or with a person other than the pupil's parent, or removed from a foster home or from the home of a person other than the pupil's parent. An application made on the basis of this criteria is not valid unless the nonresident school board receives the application no later than 30 days after the pupil's change in residence. 7. The parent of the pupil, the resident school board, and the nonresident school board agree that attending school in the nonresident school district is in the best interests of the pupil. 8. The parent of the pupil and the nonresident school board agree that attending school in the nonresident school district is in the best interests of the pupil. If the resident school board notifies the parent of the pupil who applies under this subdivision that the pupil may not attend the nonresident school district, the parent may appeal the resident school district's decision to the department and must explain in the appeal why the pupil applied to attend school in the nonresident school district. The resident school district must respond to the appeal and provide an explanation for rejecting the pupil's transfer into the nonresident school district. If the department determines that the resident school district's decision to deny the pupil's transfer into the nonresident school district is not in the best interests of the pupil, the department shall notify the resident and nonresident school districts and the pupil's parent that the pupil may attend the nonresident school district. The department's determination under this subdivision is final. (c) If a nonresident school board receives an application under par. (a), the nonresident school board shall immediately forward a copy of the application to the resident school board, and shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether it has accepted the application no later than 20 days after receiving the application. If the nonresident school board has accepted the application, the nonresident school board shall identify the specific school or program that the pupil may attend. (d) A resident school district may notify an applicant under par. (a) that the pupil may not attend a school or program in the nonresident school district only if the resident school district determines that the criteria relied on by the applicant under par. (b) does not apply to the pupil. (e) If an application is accepted by the nonresident school board under par. (c), the pupil may immediately begin attending the school or program in the nonresident school district and shall begin attending the school or program no later than the 15th day following receipt by the parent of the pupil of the notice of acceptance under par. (c). If the pupil has not enrolled in or attended school in the nonresident school district by the day specified in this paragraph, the nonresident school district may notify the pupil's parent, in writing, that the pupil is no longer authorized to attend the school or program in the nonresident school district. (4) ADOPTION OF POLICIES AND CRITERIA. (a) By February 1, 1998, each school board shall adopt a resolution specifying all of the following: 1. Its reapplication requirements, if any, under sub. (3) (c) 1. 2. Its acceptance and rejection criteria under sub. (5) (a) and (b). 3. A statement of the preference required under sub. (3) (a) 2. 5. If the school district is eligible for aid under subch. VI of ch. 121, the limitation on transfers into or out of the school district imposed by the school board under sub. (7). 6. Whether it will provide transportation under s. 121.54 (10) for some or all of the pupils who reside in the school district and attend school in a nonresident school district under this section or for some or all of the pupils who reside in other school districts and attend its schools under this section, and the means, under s. 121.55, by which it will provide such transportation. (b) If the school board revises its criteria or policies under par. (a), it shall do so by resolution. (5) NONRESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA. (a)Permissible criteria. Except as provided in sub. (3) (a) 2., the criteria for accepting and rejecting applications from nonresident pupils under subs. (3) (a) and (3m) (a) may include only the following: 1. The availability of space in the schools, programs, classes, or grades within the nonresident school district. The nonresident school board shall determine the number of regular education and special education spaces available within the school district in the January meeting of the school board, except that for the 2011-12 school year the board shall determine the number of regular education and special education spaces available within the school district in the February meeting of the school board. In determining the availability of space, the nonresident school board may consider criteria such as class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios, or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board and may include in its count of occupied spaces all of the following: a. Pupils attending the school district for whom tuition is paid under s. 121.78 (1) (a). b. Pupils and siblings of pupils who have applied under sub. (3) (a) or (3m) (a) and are already attending the nonresident school district. c. If the nonresident school district is a union high school district, pupils who have applied under sub. (3) (a) or (3m) (a) and are currently attending an underlying elementary school district of the nonresident school district under this section. 2. Whether the pupil has been expelled from school by any school district during the current or 2 preceding school years for any of the following reasons or whether a disciplinary proceeding involving the pupil, which is based on any of the following reasons, is pending: a. Conveying or causing to be conveyed any threat or false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to destroy any school property by means of explosives. b. Engaging in conduct while at school or while under supervision of a school authority that endangered the health, safety or property of others. c. Engaging in conduct while not at school or while not under the supervision of a school authority that endangered the health, safety or property of others at school or under the supervision of a school authority or of any employee of the school district or member of the school board. d. Possessing a dangerous weapon, as defined in s. 939.22 (10), while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority. 3. Whether the nonresident school board determined that the pupil was habitually truant from the nonresident school district during any semester of attendance at the nonresident school district in the current or previous school year. 4. Whether the special education or related services described in the child's individualized education program under s. 115.787 (2) are available in the nonresident school district or whether there is space available to provide the special education or related services identified in the child's individualized education program, including any class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board. 6. Whether the child has been referred to his or her resident school board under s. 115.777 (1) or identified by his or her resident school board under s. 115.77 (1m) (a) but not yet evaluated by an individualized education program team appointed by his or her resident school board under s. 115.78 (1). (b)Rejection after initial acceptance. The criteria under par. (a) may provide that, notwithstanding the nonresident school board's acceptance of an application under sub. (3) (a) 3., at any time prior to the beginning of the school year in which the pupil will first attend school in the school district under this section, the school board may notify the pupil that he or she may not attend school in the school district if the school board determines that any of the criteria under par. (a) 2. are met. (d)Waiting list. 1. The school board of a nonresident school district may create a waiting list of pupils whose applications were rejected under sub. (3) (a) 3. The nonresident school board may accept pupils from a waiting list created under this paragraph until the 3rd Thursday in September but only if the pupil will be in attendance at the school or program in the nonresident school district on the 3rd Friday in September. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (a) 6., if a pupil is accepted from a waiting list created under this paragraph after the start of the school term, the parent shall immediately notify the resident school district of the pupil's intent to attend school in the nonresident school district for the current school term. 2. A pupil accepted from a waiting list created under this paragraph may attend the school or program in the nonresident school district even if the pupil has attended a school or program in the pupil's resident school district in the current school term, but not if the pupil has attended a school or program in a nonresident school district in the current school term. 3. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this paragraph. (7) RACIAL BALANCE. The school board of a school district that receives applications for transfer into the school district under subch. VI of ch. 121 and this section may not accept applications made under this section until it has accepted or rejected all applications made under subch. VI of ch. 121. (8) DISCIPLINARY RECORDS. Notwithstanding s. 118.125, for an application submitted under sub. (3) (a), by the first Friday following the first Monday in May, and within 10 days of receiving a copy of an application under sub. (3m) (c), the resident school board shall provide to the nonresident school board to which a pupil has applied under this section a copy of any expulsion findings and orders pertaining to the pupil, a copy of records of any pending disciplinary proceeding involving the pupil, a written explanation of the reasons for the expulsion or pending disciplinary proceeding and the length of the term of the expulsion or the possible outcomes of the pending disciplinary proceeding. (9) APPEAL OF REJECTION. If the nonresident school board rejects an application under sub. (3) (a) or (7), the resident school board prohibits a pupil from attending public school in a nonresident school district under sub. (3m) (d) or the nonresident school board prohibits a pupil from attending public school in the nonresident school district under sub. (11), the pupil's parent may appeal the decision to the department within 30 days after the decision. If the nonresident school board provides notice that the special education or related service is not available under sub. (12) (b), the pupil's parent may appeal the required transfer to the department within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The department shall affirm the school board's decision unless the department finds that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. (10) PUPIL ASSIGNMENT. A nonresident school board may assign pupils accepted to attend public school in the school district under this section to a school or program within the school district. The school board may give preference in attendance at a school, program, class or grade to residents of the school district who live outside the school's attendance area. (11) HABITUAL TRUANCY. Notwithstanding subs. (3) (c) and (13), if a nonresident school board determines that a pupil attending the nonresident school district under this section is habitually truant from the nonresident school district during either semester in the current school year, the nonresident school board may prohibit the pupil from attending the nonresident school district under this section in the succeeding semester or school year. (12) NONRESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL COSTS; SPECIAL EDUCATION OR RELATED SERVICES. (a) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, at the end of a school year in which a child with a disability who attends a nonresident school district under this section and receives special education or related services under subch. V of ch. 115 in the nonresident school district, the nonresident school board may submit to the department a financial statement that shows the actual costs the nonresident school board incurred to provide a free appropriate public education to the child during that school year. The department shall provide the resident school board with a copy of any financial statement it receives under this paragraph. (b) If the individualized education program for a pupil, developed or revised under s. 115.787 after a child begins attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section, requires special education or related services that are not available in the nonresident school district or if there is no space available to provide the special education or related services identified in the child's individualized education program, including any class size limits, pupil-teacher ratios or enrollment projections established by the nonresident school board, the nonresident school board may notify the child's parent and the child's resident school board that the special education or related service is not available in the nonresident school district. If such notice is provided, the child shall be transferred to his or her resident school district, which shall provide an educational placement for the child under s. 115.79 (1) (b). (13) RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF NONRESIDENT PUPILS. Except as provided in s. 118.134 (3m), a pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under this section has all of the rights and privileges of pupils residing in that school district and is subject to the same rules and regulations as pupils residing in that school district. (13m) PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS. A pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under this section shall be considered a resident of the nonresident school district for the purposes of participating in programs of a cooperative educational service agency or a county children with disabilities education board. (14) TRANSPORTATION. (a)Responsibility. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the parent of a pupil attending public school in a nonresident school district under this section is responsible for transporting the pupil to and from school in the nonresident school district attended by the pupil. 2. If the pupil is a child with a disability and transportation of the pupil is required in the individualized education program developed for the child under s. 115.787 (2) or is required under s. 121.54 (3), the nonresident school district shall provide such transportation for the child. (b)Low-income assistance. The parent of a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) and who will be attending public school in a nonresident school district in the following school year under this section may apply to the department, on the form prepared under sub. (15) (a), for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the parent for the transportation of the pupil to and from the pupil's residence and the school that the pupil will be attending. The department shall determine the reimbursement amount and shall pay the amount from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cy). The reimbursement amount may not exceed the actual transportation costs incurred by the parent or 3 times the statewide average per pupil transportation costs, whichever is less. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cy) in any one year is insufficient to pay the full amount of approved claims under this paragraph, payments shall be prorated among the parents entitled thereto. By the 2nd Friday following the first Monday in May following receipt of the parent's application under sub. (3) (a), the department shall provide to each parent requesting reimbursement under this paragraph an estimate of the amount of reimbursement that the parent will receive if the pupil attends public school in the nonresident school district in the following school year. [2] |
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Charter schools
- See also: Charter schools in Wisconsin, How does Wisconsin compare to other states on school board authority over charter schools?
Wisconsin is one of 36 states that grant school boards at least some authority over whether charter schools are issued in their district.
Wisconsin school boards are authorized to accept or deny charter school applications in their district. Wisconsin school boards and specific employees of the University of Wisconsin System are the two statutorially authorized charter school authorizers.[20]
| “ |
"(3m) Authorizing entity duties. A school board, an entity under sub. (2r) (b), and the director under sub. (2x) shall do all of the following: (a) Solicit and evaluate charter school applications. (b) When contracting for the establishment of a charter school under this section, consider the principles and standards for quality charter schools established by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. (c) Give preference in awarding contracts for the operation of charter schools other than the charter school established under a contract with the director under sub. (2x) (cm) to those charter schools that serve children at risk, as defined in s. 118.153 (1) (a). (d) Approve only high-quality charter school applications that meet identified educational needs and promote a diversity of educational choices. (e) In accordance with the terms of each charter school contract, monitor the performance and compliance with this section of each charter school with which it contracts. (f) Annually, submit to the state superintendent and to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that includes all of the following: 1. An identification of each charter school operating under contract with it, each charter school that operated under a contract with it but had its contract nonrenewed or revoked or that closed, and each charter school under contract with it that has not yet begun to operate. 2. The academic and financial performance of each charter school operated under contract with it. 3. The operating costs the school board, entity under sub. (2r) (b), or director under sub. (2x) incurred under pars. (a) to (e), detailed in an audited financial statement prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 4. The services the school board, entity under sub. (2r) (b), or director under sub. (2x) provided to the charter schools under contract with it and an itemized accounting of the cost of the services."[2] |
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Cellphone bans
Wisconsin is one of 27 states with state laws or executive orders prohibiting or limiting cell phones in classrooms and/or schools, including through requiring school boards to pass certain policies. Governor Tony Evers (D) signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2 on October 31, 2025, requiring school districts to adopt policies that prohibit the use of cellphones, tablets, computers, or gaming devices not issued by the school during the K-12 school day. The law required school districts to adopt such policies by July 1, 2026.[21]
Collective bargaining agreements
Teacher union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can constrain school board authority. Teacher CBAs are agreements between a school district and a teachers’ union to establish rights and other contract details for public school employees. CBAs do not have the force of law, but are contractually binding for a set period of time. Within the time set out in the agreement, the school board must comply with the stipulations that were agreed to in the contract. In this way, CBAs can constrain school board authority by giving teachers authority over curriculum, prohibiting school boards from banning books, and establishing certain student or parental rights. They can also determine rights and protections for educators, and conditions for students (such as required recess periods or the amount of standardized testing), among other provisions.
CBAs vary greatly within and across states in size, topics covered, and constraints they put on school boards. Not all states allow teachers to bargain collectively. As of January 2022, 35 states and the District of Columbia guaranteed K-12 teachers some right to bargain collectively, and six states prohibited public-sector employee collective bargaining by law, which includes public school teachers. The other nine states have no statewide bargaining framework, but local jurisdictions within these states can grant bargaining rights if they choose.[22][23]
Wisconsin school boards are authorized to engage in collective bargaining agreements with school employees, which can constrain their authority over certain district policies.
Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost struck down provisions from a bill titled Act 10 that removed certain collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin school employees on December 2, 2024, restoring collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin school employees by overturning restrictions on wage negotiations and benefits.[24]
Parents' bill of rights
Wisconsin is one of 24 states that does not have a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights.
How does Wisconsin compare to other states?
This section compares Wisconsin's school board authority and constraints with those of other states on select topics. These topics include authority over discipline policy, school board election timing, charter schools, cellphone use policy, as well as constraints on school boards' authority from Parents' Bills of Rights.
Book bans, removals, and restrictions
Twenty-two (22) states have no laws regulating the curation of school library books. Twenty-eight (28) states, however, have passed laws restricting school board authority over school library book curation. These laws typically fall into one of the following categories:
- Twelve states require school boards to develop a policy for the removal of books, including creating a way for the public to challenge school library books.
- Ten states prohibit school boards from removing books on the grounds that they represent specific ideologies or perspectives.
- Six states prohibit books if they contain specific material, including sexual content or anything deemed harmful to minors.
- Five states require school boards to establish local boards to review challenges to library books.
- Two states require school boards to allow parents to view a catalogue of books.
Some states have adopted multiple types of these policies.
Discipline
- School boards in 47 states have authority over disciplinary policy in their district.
- School boards in two states have authority over disciplinary policy for specific circumstances, such as suspension, expulsion, or bullying.
- Individual schools in one state create their own disciplinary policy.
School board elections
School boards' authority over the timing of school board elections varies by state.
- School boards in 42 states do not have authority over election timing;
- School boards in five states can choose from limited options when to hold school board elections;
- School boards in two states can choose from a date range when to hold school board elections;
- The school board in Hawaii is not elected.
The map below shows the types of authority school boards in the states have to determine the timing of school board elections.
Charter schools
- See also: Charter schools in the United States
Some school boards in the U.S. are authorized to approve or deny applications for charter schools in their district, while state boards of education hold the authority in other states. In some states, school boards can authorize charter schools, but there are other entities besides school boards that can also authorize charter schools or to which a school board decision can be appealed.
- 10 states do not authorize school boards to make decisions on whether to approve new charter schools in their districts.
- 36 states do authorize school boards to approve new charter schools in their districts, deny approval to new charter schools, or both.
- 3 states do not have laws governing charter school authorization.
- 1 state allows school districts to apply to the state board of education to be a charter school district.
State cellphone laws
In most states, school boards or superintendents often set policies on cellphones in public schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), around 76% of schools said they banned the non-academic use of cellphones or smartphones during school hours during the 2021-22 school year, down from 91% in 2010.[25]
Beginning with Florida in 2023, some states enacted laws or policies to regulate student cellphone usage in public schools. Twenty-seven (27) states had statewide laws or policies restricting cellphone use in K-12 classrooms or schools as of June 2025. Four states had requirements for all school district boards to adopt a policy on cellphones but without specific requirements for those policies. Five other states had policies encouraging school districts to establish restrictions on cellphone use in the classroom.
Parents' Bill of Rights
- See also: Parents' Bill of Rights in education
If state law explicitly provides certain rights to parents, it can constrain the policy-making authority of school boards. These sections of statute are often referred to within statute and are categorized here as Parents' Bills of Rights. In some states, they are education-specific, regarding the rights a parent has to be involved in their child's public education. Common examples include notification requirements, opt-out rights, and records access. Other Parents' Bills of Rights are more general, commonly affording parents a right to direct the upbringing of their child.
- 26 states have enacted a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights
- 24 states have not enacted a Parents' Bill of Rights.
Noteworthy events
- Wisconsin adopts K-12 cellphone ban (2025): Governor Tony Evers (D) signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2 on October 31, 2025, requiring school districts to adopt policies that prohibit the use of cellphones, tablets, computers, or gaming devices not issued by the school during the K-12 school day. The law required school districts to adopt such policies by July 1, 2026.[26]
- Wisconsin bill includes Hmong Americans and Asian Americans in social studies curriculum (2024): Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed AB 232 into law on April 1, 2024, which directed school boards to include Hmong Americans and Asian Americans in their social studies curriculums. The law previously required schools to "give pupils an understanding of human relations, particularly with regard to American Indians, Black Americans, and Hispanics," and AB232 added Hmong Americans and Asian Americans to the list. Wisconsin had the third largest population of Hmong Americans in the United States, as of April 2024.[27][28]
- Wisconsin Assembly passes legislation that facilitates parental access to educational materials (2024): Governor Tony Evers (D) vetoed Assembly Bill (B) 510 on March 29, 2024, after the Wisconsin State Assembly passed it on January 18, 2024. The bill proposed establishing 16 specific rights for parents relating to their child's religion, medical care, and education. Educational aspects of the bill encompassed the right to select the child's school, determine their school-related identity, review educational materials, receive timely notification of potentially sensitive subjects, and be informed about controversial topics, including those pertaining to gender, race, and sexuality. The bill failed to pass over Evers' veto.[29]
- Wisconsin State Legislature introduces bill to create civics curriculum standards (2024): Republican representatives introduced AB 898 on January 4, 2024, to the Wisconsin State Assembly that proposed requiring the state Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to create a civics curriculum that aimed to foster an "understanding of pupils' rights and responsibilities as residents of this state" and "incur a sense civic pride," according to the text of the bill. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly released a statement arguing that the bill would not improve the civics curriculum in place, that the bill lacked definitions of civics-related terms, and that the bill overrode local control of content standards and curriculum. AB 898 failed to pass the Wisconsin State Senate on April 15, 2024.[30][31][32][33]
- Wisconsin bill proposes making curriculum publicly available (2023): Republican lawmakers introduced a bill in the Wisconsin State Legislature on November 8, 2023, in an effort to require school districts to make curriculum publicly available to parents and school district residents. AB 638 proposed allowing any Wisconsin resident within a school district’s limits to review curricula. It also proposed requiring schools to adhere to a 14-day timeline for releasing instructional materials upon request. State Senator Daniel Knodl (R), a co-sponsor of the bill, argued that it would create transparency in education in the state. A public hearing on the bill was held on January 4, 2024. The bill failed the state senate on April 15, 2024.[34][35]
- Mellen School District votes to prohibit race from being discussed during American history lessons (2022): The Mellen School Board in Wisconsin voted on April 20, 2022, to adopt a new policy to prohibit race from being discussed in American history lessons. The board adopted the policy language following survey responses from parents. The decision followed a vote in March that barred subjects such as critical race theory, religion, sexual orientation, privilege, empathy, and political orientation from being taught in classrooms.[36]
See also
- Local school board authority across the 50 states
- K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
- State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools
- Rules governing school board election dates and timing
- Charter schools
- School choice
- Parents' Bill of Rights in education
- Ballotpedia:Index of Contents
- Support our work
Footnotes
- ↑ Casetext, "Wis. Stat. § 120.12 - School board duties," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Casetext, "Section 120.12 - School board duties," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Casetext, "Section 120.13 - School board powers," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Casetext, "Section 118.01 - Educational goals and expectations," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Parents disappointed in implementation of new Wisconsin reading law, accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ The White House, "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," accessed March 14, 2025
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "These books have been banned or restricted at Wisconsin school libraries," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Education Law Center, Pennsylvania, "Challenging book bans: What can you do," September 18, 2024
- ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)," September 18, 2024
- ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp., 631 F.2d 1300 (7th Cir. 1980)," October 11, 2024
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax," accessed January 28, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislation, "118.016(4)(a) - Parental Notification," accessed March 4, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Safe Supporting Learning Environments, "Wisconsin School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Parental Notification," accessed March 4, 2025
- ↑ The United States Supreme Court, "Mahmoud et al. v. Taylor et al." accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Casetext, "Section 120.13 - School board powers" accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ The White House, "Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies," April 30, 2025
- ↑ Casetext, "Wis. Stat. § 118.51 - Full-time open enrollment," accessed March 4, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Unsafe School Choice Option - Non-Regulatory Guidance," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ Casetext, "Section 118.40 - Charter schools," accessed February 28, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "2025 WISCONSIN ACT 42," accessed November 3, 2025
- ↑ National Education Association, "Collective Bargaining: What it is and How it Works", accessed October 3, 2024.
- ↑ National Education Association, "The Benefits of Collective Bargaining in Education", accessed October 3, 2024
- ↑ PBS, "Wisconsin unions score major win with court ruling restoring collective bargaining rights," accessed March 4, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Percentage of public schools with various safety and security measures: Selected school years, 1999-2000 through 2021-22," accessed August 8, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "2025 WISCONSIN ACT 42," accessed November 3, 2025
- ↑ WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, "New legislation protects AAPI and Hmong American history in Wisconsin public school curriculums," April 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 232," April 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 510," January 18, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Civics education bill focuses on patriotism," January 22, 2024.
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 898," January 22, 2024.
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "Department of Public Instruction Testimony 2023 Assembly Bill 898," January 22, 2024.
- ↑ Legiscan, "Wisconsin House Bill 898," Jan 22, 2024.
- ↑ WORT Eighty Nine-Nine FM, "'Curriculum Transparency' Bill Proposed In Wisconsin State Assembly," January 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 638," accessed January 5, 2024
- ↑ Ashland Daily Press, "Mellen schools ban critical race theory - again" April 23, 2022
