Senate Bill 565 aims to expand anti-discrimination protections for pupils in Wisconsin by extending existing laws to private schools participating in various parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program. The bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It also mandates that private schools develop written policies and procedures to implement these anti-discrimination laws, similar to those required of public schools. Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to impose penalties on private school officials who engage in discriminatory conduct.

Key changes in the bill include the insertion of protections against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression, as well as the requirement for private schools to establish complaint processes for violations of these laws. The bill also clarifies that private schools limiting admission to a single sex cannot deny admission based on a pupil's gender identity. Furthermore, it updates the language regarding compliance and reporting to include both public and private schools, ensuring that all educational institutions adhere to the same standards of non-discrimination.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.019(2d), 118.019, 118.13(1), 118.13, 118.13(2)(a), 118.13(3)(a)3, 118.13(4), 118.20(1), 118.20, 118.40(4)(b)2, 118.40