Chapter 118

118.162(4)(d) (d) The immediate response to be made by school personnel when a truant child is returned to school.

118.162(4)(e) (e) The types of truancy cases to be referred to the district attorney for the filing of information under s. 938.24 or prosecution under s. 118.15 (5) and the time periods within which the district attorney will respond to and take action on the referrals.

118.162(4)(f) (f) Plans and procedures to coordinate the responses to the problems of habitual truants, as defined under s. 118.16 (1) (a), with public and private social services agencies.

118.162(4)(g) (g) Methods to involve the truant child’s parent or guardian in dealing with and solving the child’s truancy problem.

118.162(4m) (4m) At least once every 2 years, each school board shall review and, if appropriate, revise the truancy plan adopted by the school board under sub. (4).

118.162 History History: 1987 a. 285; 1995 a. 77, 201; 1997 a. 239; 2009 a. 302.

118.163 118.163 Municipal truancy and school dropout ordinances.

118.163(1) (1) In this section:

118.163(1)(a) (a) “Dropout” has the meaning given in s. 118.153 (1) (b).

118.163(1)(b) (b) “Habitual truant” has the meaning given in s. 118.16 (1) (a).

118.163(1)(c) (c) “Operating privilege” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (40).

118.163(1)(d) (d) “Truant” means a pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse under ss. 118.15 and 118.16 (4) for part or all of any day on which school is held during a school semester.

118.163(1m) (1m) A county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance prohibiting a person under 18 years of age from being a truant. The ordinance shall provide which of the following dispositions are available to the court:

118.163(1m)(a) (a) An order for the person to attend school.

118.163(1m)(b) (b) A forfeiture of not more than $50 plus costs for a first violation, or a forfeiture of not more than $100 plus costs for any 2nd or subsequent violation committed within 12 months of a previous violation, subject to s. 938.37 and subject to a maximum cumulative forfeiture amount of not more than $500 for all violations committed during a school semester. All or part of the forfeiture plus costs may be assessed against the person, the parents or guardian of the person, or both.

118.163(1m)(c) (c) An order for the person to report to a youth report center after school, in the evening, on weekends, on other nonschool days, or at any other time that the person is not under immediate adult supervision, for participation in the social, behavioral, academic, community service, and other programming of the center as described in s. 938.342 (1d) (c).

118.163(2) (2) A county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance prohibiting a person under 18 years of age from being a habitual truant. The ordinance shall provide which of the following dispositions are available to the court:

118.163(2)(a) (a) Suspension of the person’s operating privilege for not less than 30 days nor more than one year. The court may take possession of any suspended license. If the court takes possession of a license, it shall destroy the license. The court shall forward to the department of transportation a notice stating the reason for and the duration of the suspension.

118.163(2)(b) (b) An order for the person to participate in counseling or a supervised work program or other community service work as described in s. 938.34 (5g). The costs of any such counseling, supervised work program or other community service work may be assessed against the person, the parents or guardian of the person, or both. Any county department of human services or social services, community agency, public agency or nonprofit charitable organization administering a supervised work program or other community service work to which a person is assigned pursuant to an order under this paragraph acting in good faith has immunity from any civil liability in excess of $25,000 for any act or omission by or impacting on that person.

118.163(2)(c) (c) An order for the person to remain at home except during hours in which the person is attending religious worship or a school program, including travel time required to get to and from the school program or place of worship. The order may permit a person to leave his or her home if the person is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

118.163(2)(d) (d) An order for the person to attend an educational program as described in s. 938.34 (7d).

118.163(2)(e) (e) An order for the department of workforce development to revoke, under s. 103.72, a permit under s. 103.70 authorizing the employment of the person.

118.163(2)(f) (f) An order for the person to be placed in a teen court program as described in s. 938.342 (1g) (f).

118.163(2)(g) (g) An order for the person to attend school.

118.163(2)(h) (h) A forfeiture of not more than $500 plus costs, subject to s. 938.37. All or part of the forfeiture plus costs may be assessed against the person, the parents or guardian of the person, or both.

118.163(2)(i) (i) Any other reasonable conditions consistent with this subsection, including a curfew, restrictions as to going to or remaining on specified premises and restrictions on associating with other children or adults.

118.163(2)(j) (j) An order placing the person under formal or informal supervision, as described in s. 938.34 (2), for up to one year.

118.163(2)(k) (k) An order for the person’s parent, guardian or legal custodian to participate in counseling at the parent’s, guardian’s or legal custodian’s own expense or to attend school with the person, or both.

118.163(2)(L) (L) An order for the person to report to a youth report center after school, in the evening, on weekends, on other nonschool days, or at any other time that the person is not under immediate adult supervision, for participation in the social, behavioral, academic, community service, and other programming of the center as described in s. 938.342 (1g) (k).

118.163(2m) (2m) 

118.163(2m)(a) (a) A county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance permitting a court to suspend the operating privilege of a person who is at least 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age and is a dropout. The ordinance shall provide that the court may suspend the person’s operating privilege until the person reaches the age of 18. The court may take possession of any suspended license. If the court takes possession of a license, it shall destroy the license. The court shall forward to the department of transportation a notice stating the reason for and the duration of the suspension.

118.163(2m)(b) (b) A court may order a school district to provide to the court a list of all persons who are known to the school district to be dropouts and who reside within the county in which the circuit court is located or the municipality in which the municipal court is located. Upon request, the department of transportation shall assist the court to determine which dropouts have operating privileges.

118.163(3) (3) An ordinance enacted by a county under sub. (1m), (2) or (2m) is applicable and may be enforced in that part of any city or village located in the county and in any town located in the county regardless of whether the city, village or town has enacted an ordinance under sub. (1m), (2) or (2m).

118.163(4) (4) A person who is under 17 years of age on the date of disposition is subject to s. 938.342.

118.163 History History: 1987 a. 285; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 363; 1995 a. 27 s. 9130 (4); 1995 a. 77, 352; 1997 a. 3, 35, 239; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 103.

118.163 Annotation A circuit court judge hearing a municipal truancy case is acting as a juvenile court, and the case is governed by ch. 938. The court lacks statutory authority to order sanctions if the court never enters written dispositional orders that could serve as a basis for sanctions. Under s. 938.355 (6m) (ag), a court may sanction a juvenile who has been adjudicated truant if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the juvenile violated a condition of a dispositional order. Section 938.355 (2) (b) states that the dispositional order shall be in writing. A court’s minutes sheet is not a court order. A court order must be signed by a judge. State v. Dylan S., 2012 WI App 25, 339 Wis. 2d 442, 813 N.W.2d 229, 11-1338.

118.164 118.164 Removal of pupils from the class.

118.164(1) (1) In this section, “teacher” means a person holding a license or permit issued by the state superintendent whose employment by a school district requires that he or she hold that license or permit.

118.164(2) (2) Subject to 20 USC 1415 (k) and beginning August 1, 1999, a teacher may remove a pupil from the teacher’s class if the pupil violates the code of classroom conduct adopted under s. 120.13 (1) (a) or is dangerous, unruly or disruptive or exhibits behavior that interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively, as specified in the code of classroom conduct. The teacher shall send the pupil to the school principal or his or her designee and notify the school principal or his or her designee immediately of the reasons for the removal. In addition, the teacher shall provide to the principal or his or her designee within 24 hours after the pupil’s removal from the class a written explanation of the reasons for the removal.

118.164(3) (3) 

118.164(3)(a) (a) The school principal or his or her designee shall place the pupil in one of the following:

118.164(3)(a)1. 1. An alternative education program, as defined in s. 115.28 (7) (e) 1.

118.164(3)(a)2. 2. Another class in the school or another appropriate place in the school, as determined by the school principal or his or her designee.

118.164(3)(a)3. 3. Another instructional setting.

118.164(3)(a)4. 4. The class from which the pupil was removed if, after weighing the interests of the removed pupil, the other pupils in the class and the teacher, the school principal or his or her designee determines that readmission to the class is the best or only alternative.

118.164(3)(b) (b) This subsection does not prohibit the teacher who removed the pupil from the class or the school board, school district administrator, school principal or their designees from disciplining the pupil.

118.164 History History: 1997 a. 335.

118.165 118.165 Private schools.

118.165(1) (1) An institution is a private school if its educational program meets all of the following criteria:

118.165(1)(a) (a) The primary purpose of the program is to provide private or religious-based education.

118.165(1)(b) (b) The program is privately controlled.

118.165(1)(c) (c) The program provides at least 875 hours of instruction each school year.

118.165(1)(d) (d) The program provides a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health. This subsection does not require the program to include in its curriculum any concept, topic or practice in conflict with the program’s religious doctrines or to exclude from its curriculum any concept, topic or practice consistent with the program’s religious doctrines.

118.165(1)(e) (e) The program is not operated or instituted for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory school attendance requirement under s. 118.15 (1) (a) and (am).

118.165(1)(f) (f) The pupils in the institution’s educational program, in the ordinary course of events, return annually to the homes of their parents or guardians for not less than 2 months of summer vacation, or the institution is licensed as a child welfare agency under s. 48.60 (1).

118.165(2) (2) An institution may request the state superintendent to approve the institution’s educational program as a private school. The state superintendent shall base his or her approval solely on the criteria under sub. (1).

118.165 History History: 1983 a. 512; 1989 a. 336; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 41.

118.167 118.167 Private school determination by state superintendent. If an association that regulates or accredits private educational institutions in this state submits an affidavit to the state superintendent attesting that the institution meets or exceeds all of the criteria under s. 118.165 and the state superintendent finds that the institution does meet or exceed all of the criteria under s. 118.165, the state superintendent shall determine that the institution is a private school. If at any time the state superintendent finds that an institution determined to be a private school under this section no longer meets the criteria under s. 118.165, the state superintendent may withdraw the determination.

118.167 History History: 1983 a. 512; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27.

118.169 118.169 Pupil identification.

118.169(1) (1) Identification numbers. A school board, and the governing body of a private school, may assign to each pupil enrolled in the school district or private school a unique identification number. The school board or governing body may not assign to any pupil an identification number that is identical to or incorporates the pupil’s social security number. This subsection does not prohibit a school board or governing body from requiring a pupil to disclose the pupil’s social security number, nor from using a pupil’s social security number if the use is required by a federal or state agency or private organization in order for the school district or private school to participate in a particular program.

118.169(2) (2) Identification cards.

118.169(2)(a) (a) If a school board or operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) issues identification cards to pupils, the school board or operator shall include on each identification card issued to a pupil the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or one of its affiliate crisis centers or, if the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ceases operations, another national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to individuals in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The school board or operator may also include on the identification card any of the following information:

118.169(2)(a)1. 1. A statement that the text-based emotional support service of the Crisis Text Line may be accessed by texting HOPELINE to 741741 or, if applicable, by specifying any successor method.

118.169(2)(a)2. 2. Instructions for contacting a text-based state or national organization, other than the organization described under subd. 1., that provides free support to individuals in crisis 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

118.169(2)(a)3. 3. The telephone number for a local suicide prevention hotline.

118.169(2)(b) (b) A school board or operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) may include the information described under par. (a) on pupil identification cards by printing the information on, or by affixing a sticker that contains the information to, the identification cards.

118.169 History History: 1997 a. 128; 2019 a. 116.

118.17 118.17 Indigent children. The principal or teacher in charge of any public school shall report to the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 for the county wherein the school is situated the name and address of any child in the school whose parent, guardian or other person having control, charge or custody of the child is without sufficient means to furnish the child with food or clothing necessary to enable the child to attend school.

118.17 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 27.

118.17 Cross-reference Cross-reference: Section 120.12 (11) provides for free books and school supplies for indigent children.

118.175 118.175 Pupils without parents or guardians; report required.

118.175(1) (1) This section does not apply to a pupil who has a legal custodian, as defined in s. 48.02 (11) or 938.02 (11), or who is cared for by a kinship care provider, as defined in s. 48.57 (3m) (a) 2.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date sub. (1) reads:

Effective date text (1) This section does not apply to a pupil who has a legal custodian, as defined in s. 48.02 (11) or 938.02 (11), or who is cared for by a kinship care relative, as defined in s. 48.57 (3m) (a) 2.

118.175(2) (2) If a pupil is a child who is without a parent or guardian, any school teacher, school administrator, school counselor or school social worker who knows that the child is without a parent or guardian shall report that fact as soon as possible to the county department under s. 46.22 or 46.23 or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, to the department of health services.

118.175 History History: 1999 a. 9, 133; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2023 a. 119.

118.18 118.18 Teacher reports. Every teacher shall record the names, ages and studies of all pupils under his or her charge and their daily attendance and such other facts or matters relating to the school as the state superintendent or school board requires.

118.18 History History: 1979 c. 301; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

118.19 118.19 Teacher certificates and licenses; administrator and pupil services professional licenses.

118.19(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (1b) and (1c) and s. 118.40 (8) (b) 1. and 2., any person seeking to teach in a public school, including a charter school, or in a school or institution operated by a county or the state shall first procure a license or permit from the department.

118.19(1b) (1b) An individual may teach an online course in a subject and level in a public school, including a charter school, without a license or permit from the department if the individual holds a valid license or permit to teach the subject and level in the state from which the online course is provided.

118.19(1c) (1c) 

118.19(1c)(a) (a) In this subsection, “institution of higher education” means an institution or college campus within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college under ch. 38, or any private, nonprofit postsecondary institution that is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

118.19(1c)(b) (b) A faculty member of an institution of higher education may teach in a public high school, including a charter school that operates only high school grades, without a license or permit from the department if the faculty member satisfies all of the following:

118.19(1c)(b)1. 1. The faculty member is in good standing with the institution of higher education at which he or she is a member of the faculty.

118.19(1c)(b)2. 2. The faculty member possesses a bachelor’s degree.

118.19(1c)(b)3. 3. The department conducts a background investigation of the faculty member and the results of the background investigation would not make the faculty member ineligible for a teaching license under sub. (4) or (10).

118.19(1m) (1m)