Commencement of School Term

Prepared by Policy and Budget Team
Department of Public Instruction
September, 2001

2001 Wisconsin Act 16 (2001-03 biennial budget bill) eliminated the provision which allowed a school district to commence its school term before September 1 in any year that it held a public hearing and adopted a resolution to do so. Act 16 provides that a school district may only commence its school term before September 1 if the school board makes a request (including the reason) to the DPI. The DPI may only grant a request if it determines that there are extraordinary reasons for granting it. The DPI is required to promulgate rules to implement and administer this provision.

The following is the statutory language relating to the program:

s. 118.045 Commencement of school term. (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), beginning in the year 2000, no public school may commence the school term until September 1.

(2) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a school board from doing any of the following:

(a)Holding athletic contests or practices before September 1.
(b)Scheduling in-service days or work days before September 1.
(c)Holding school year-round.

(3) A school board may commence the school term before September 1 in any school year the school board requests the department to allow it to commence the school term before September 1 and the school board includes reasons with its request. The department may grant a request only if it determines that there are extraordinary reasons for granting it. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection.

For questions about this information, contact Karen J. Nowakowski (608) 266-8687

Last updated on 2/22/2008 1:02:25 PM