2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1594/1
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2023 SENATE BILL 429
September 8, 2023 - Introduced by Senators STROEBEL, KNODL, HUTTON, NASS and
TAYLOR, cosponsored by Representatives BINSFELD, MYERS, BALDEH,
BRANDTJEN, CABRERA, DONOVAN and SCHMIDT. Referred to Committee on
Education.
1 AN ACT to amend 118.045 (1), 118.045 (2) (a) and (b) and 118.045 (3); and to
2 create 118.045 (1m) of the statutes; relating to: the commencement of the
3 school term for public schools.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, public schools are prohibited from starting fall classes until
September 1. However, current law allows the Department of Public Instruction to
grant a school board request for an exception to this prohibition if DPI determines
there are extraordinary reasons for granting the request.
Under this bill, beginning in the 2024-25 school year, public schools are
prohibited from starting fall classes until the Monday before Labor Day.
Additionally, under the bill, if a public school starts fall classes before Labor Day, the
public school must be closed on the Friday before Labor Day. Additionally, in the
exceptions to the start date prohibition provided under current law, the bill changes
September 1 to the Monday before Labor Day.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
4 SECTION 1. 118.045 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
 2023 - 2024 Legislature -2- LRB-1594/1
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SENATE BILL 429 SECTION 1
1 118.045 (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), beginning in the year 2000
2 2024-25 school year, no public school may commence the school term until
3 September 1 the Monday preceding Labor Day.
4 SECTION 2. 118.045 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
5 118.045 (1m) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), beginning in the 2024-25
6 school year, if a public school commences the school term before Labor Day, the public
7 school may not be open for pupil instruction on the Friday preceding Labor Day.
8 SECTION 3. 118.045 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
9 118.045 (2) (a) Holding athletic contests or practices before September 1 the
10 Monday preceding Labor Day.
11 (b) Scheduling in-service days or work days before September 1 the Monday
12 preceding Labor Day.
13 SECTION 4. 118.045 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
14 118.045 (3) A school board may commence the school term before September
15 1 the Monday preceding Labor Day in any school year if the school board requests
16 the department to allow it to commence the school term before September 1 the
17 Monday preceding Labor Day and the school board includes reasons with its request.
18 The department may grant a request only if it determines that there are
19 extraordinary reasons for granting it. The department shall promulgate rules to
20 implement and administer this subsection.
21 (END)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.045(1), 118.045, 118.045(3)