Compulsory School Attendance, Suspensions, and Expulsions

Wisconsin public schools share responsibility with parents/guardians to follow compulsory attendance laws, and to ensure schools are safe places to learn. This section contains information about compulsory school attendance laws and school board powers pertaining to student suspensions and expulsions. Also, links are provided to additional resources about truancy, suspensions, and expulsions.

DPI consultation and technical assistance in these areas are provided by three means: (1) email and phone consultations on specific issues or concerns related to truancy, suspensions, and expulsions, (2) facilitating research and best practice presentations at state conferences and workshops on field experience with what works to reduce truancy, suspensions, and expulsions, and (3) sharing research and best practice information at peer consultation meetings twice a year, hosted by school districts around the state.

Resources:

2009 DPI Memo on Expulsion and Suspension.

Answers to Frequently Asked Compulsory School Attendance Questions. (2009).

Answers to Frequently Asked School Discipline Questions. (2009).

Alternatives to Expulsion: Case Studies of Wisconsin School Districts. (2009).

Principals' panel: Examples of attendance and discipline practices. (2009).

Five-year-old Kindergarten Attendance and First Grade Admission.

Best Practices Review: Truancy Reduction Efforts. Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau. (2008).

Best Practices in Developing Truancy Reduction Programs. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (2008).

Information for parents of expelled students. My Child's Been Expelled...Now What? (2008) Also available in Spanish.

School district examples: (1) Checklist for expulsion process, (2) letter of expulsion hearing notice, (3) a cover letter to accompany the expulsion order, and (4) an expulsion order. These are only examples, and local boards under guidance of competent counsel should adapt them to their own district policy and practices.

For questions about this information, call the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Helpline at (608)266-8960, or email dpisspw@dpi.wi.gov.

Last updated on 5/3/2011 9:12:25 AM