Wisconsin School Climate Policy

Climate Survey Information.

Guides school districts as to where they can find school climate surveys created by the U.S. Department of Education and how they can be used and why school climate measurement is important. 

https://dpi.wi.gov/slds/climate-survey-information

Who does this protect? Students, staff and administrators

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Wisconsin asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it as well as how this policy will be communicated. The policy states that schools’ model policy should include a definition of bullying but the policy itself doesn’t define the term.

• Wisconsin Statutes 118.46 Policy on bullying.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-46/

 Wisconsin Statutes 118.46 Policy on bullying.

Wisconsin anti-bullying laws do not cover conduct that occurs on off-school property.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-46/

 Wisconsin Statutes 948.51 Hazing.

Defines hazing and states that hazing is prohibited in school.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-948/section-948-51/

 Wisconsin Statutes 118.02 Special observance days.

The Wednesday of the fourth week in September will be Bullying Awareness Day.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-02/

Who does this protect? Students, Teachers

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Wisconsin schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year.

• Wisconsin Statutes 118.07 Health and safety requirements.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-07/

Wisconsin Statutes 948.605 Gun-free school zones.

Students, staff, administrators, and teachers are not allowed to possess weapons or firearms on school property. Any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is in or on the grounds of a school is guilty of a Class I felony.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-948/section-948-605/

Wisconsin Statutes 165.28. Office of school safety.

In conjunction with the department of public instruction, create model practices for school safety. The department of public instruction shall provide any resources or staff requested by the office to create the model practices.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-165/section-165-28/

Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Wisconsin Statutes 115.368 Assistance to schools for protective behaviors programs.

Enable and encourage public, private, and tribal schools to develop protective behaviors programs and anti-offender behavior programs designed to assist minors and their parents or guardians in recognizing, avoiding, preventing, and halting physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations that may be harmful to minors.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-368/

Wisconsin Statutes 118.42 Low-performing school districts and schools; state superintendent interventions.

If the state superintendent determines that a school district has needed improvement for 4 consecutive school years one thing the school board can do is implement for all pupils a system of academic and behavioral supports and early interventions, including diagnostic assessments, instruction in core academic subjects, different instructional strategies for different pupils, and strategies to improve reading and mathematics instruction and promote positive behavior.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-42/

 Wisconsin Statutes 115.365 Assistance to schools for suicide prevention programs.

The department will provide consultation and technical assistance to public, private, and tribal schools for the development and implementation of suicide prevention programs and the coordination of those programs with the suicide prevention and intervention programs of other state and local agencies, with the help of the department of health services and the department of children and families.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-365/

Who does this protect? Students and staff, students of Indigenous identities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Wisconsin provides students with disabilities the accommodations and resources they need to have an appropriate education.

• Wisconsin Statutes 118.35 Programs for gifted and talented pupils.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-35/

• Wisconsin Statutes 115.777 Special education referrals.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-777/

• Wisconsin Statutes 115.782 Evaluations.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-782/

• Wisconsin Statutes 115.787 Individualized education programs.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-787/

Wisconsin Statutes 118.42 Low-performing school districts and schools; state superintendent interventions.

If the state superintendent determines that a school district has needed improvement for 4 consecutive school years schools boards can; 

• Employ a standard, consistent, research-based curriculum that is aligned with the state’s model academic standards, as determined by the state superintendent, and across grades in all schools.
• Provide additional learning time to address the academic needs of pupils who are struggling academically, including pupils whose proficiency in English is limited. The additional learning time may include an extended school day, an extended school year, summer school, or intersession courses.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-42/

 Wisconsin Statutes 115.97 Bilingual-bicultural education programs are required.

A pupil shall be eligible for a bilingual-bicultural education program only until he or she can perform ordinary classwork in English. The bilingual-bicultural education program shall be designed to provide intensive instruction to meet this objective.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-97/

Who does this protect? Students, students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Wisconsin Statutes 118.134 Race-based nicknames, logos, mascots, and team names.

A school district resident may object to the use of a race-based nickname, logo, mascot, or team name by the school board of that school district by filing a complaint containing several signatures of school district electors equal to at least 10 percent of the school district’s membership.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-134/

 Wisconsin Statutes 118.13 Pupil discrimination prohibited.

No person may be denied admission to any public school or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-13/

 Wisconsin Statutes 115.72 Establishment of programs.

Any school district enrolling American Indian pupils, or alternative school, may establish, voluntarily, an American Indian language and culture education program. The program will be designed to address the needs and cultural heritage of American Indian students, and develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-72/

Who does this protect? Students and parents of all racial and ethnic identities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Wisconsin Statutes 115.368 Assistance to schools for protective behaviors programs.

Develop and conduct protective behaviors training programs for the professional staff in schools. The programs will address;

• How to assist a minor and his or her parent or guardian in recognizing, avoiding, preventing, and halting physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations that may be harmful to the minor.
• How to help minors to develop positive psychological, emotional, and problem-solving responses to such situations, and to avoid relying on negative, fearful, or solely reactive methods of dealing with such situations.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-368/

Wisconsin Statutes 115.365 Assistance to schools for suicide prevention programs.

The department will develop and conduct training programs in suicide prevention for the professional staff, addressing: 

• How to assist minors in positive emotional development which will help prevent suicidal tendencies.
• The detection, by minors, school staff, and parents, of conditions that indicate suicidal tendencies.
• The proper action to take when there is reason to believe that a minor has suicidal tendencies or is contemplating suicide.
• The coordination of school suicide prevention programs and activities with the suicide prevention and intervention programs and activities of other state and local agencies.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-365/

Wisconsin Statutes 115.28 General duties.

Establishes a mental health training support program under which the department provides training on all of the following evidence-based strategies related to addressing mental health issues in schools to school district staff and instructional staff of charter schools. The training program addresses trauma-sensitive schools, youth mental health first aid, screening, brief intervention, and referral to a treatment program.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-28/

Who does this protect? Staff, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Wisconsin Statutes 115.368 Assistance to schools for protective behaviors programs.

Enable and encourage public, private, and tribal schools to develop protective behaviors programs and anti-offender behavior programs designed to assist minors and their parents or guardians in recognizing, avoiding, preventing, and halting physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations that may be harmful to minors.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-115/section-115-368/

Wisconsin Statutes 118.42 Low-performing school districts and schools; state superintendent interventions.

If the state superintendent determines that a school district has needed improvement for 4 consecutive school years one thing the school board can do is implement for all pupils a system of academic and behavioral supports and early interventions, including diagnostic assessments, instruction in core academic subjects, different instructional strategies for different pupils, and strategies to improve reading and mathematics instruction and promote positive behavior.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-42/

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

There is no current policy surrounding School Connectedness in Wisconsin. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

Wisconsin schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year.

• Wisconsin Statutes 118.07 Health and safety requirements.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-07/

Wisconsin Statutes 948.605 Gun-free school zones.

Students, staff, administrators, and teachers are not allowed to possess weapons or firearms on school property. Any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is in or on the grounds of a school is guilty of a Class I felony.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-948/section-948-605/

Wisconsin Statutes 165.28. Office of school safety.

In conjunction with the department of public instruction, create model practices for school safety. The department of public instruction shall provide any resources or staff requested by the office to create the model practices.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-165/section-165-28/

Who does this protect? Students, staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Wisconsin Statutes 118.13 Pupil discrimination prohibited.

No person may be denied admission to any public school or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.

https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-118/section-118-13/

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Digital Citizenship ITL Standard Content Strand.

Districts are also highly encouraged to provide professional development for educators for securing student data, safe computing practices, district policies and handbook agreements, classroom behavior management for digitally enabled learning environments, cyberbullying policies, and prevention, responsible online behaviors for learning activities, appropriate social media behaviors if tools are leveraged for learning and appropriate communication strategies for parents via digital communications.  Schools have the local flexibility to determine staffing responsibilities as well as a scope and sequence of information and technology literacy activities and programming.

https://dpi.wi.gov/internet-safety/digital-citizenshippbis

Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Wisconsin. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in Wisconsin. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School