Wisconsin Education News

August 17, 2026

A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin.


2026 - 2027 Suicide Prevention Annual Model Notice Notification

The DPI Model Notice of Suicide Prevention Resource for 2026 - 2027 is now available. Wis. Stat. § 115.365(3) requires that “Each school board and the governing body of each private school annually shall inform their professional staff of the resources available from the department and other sources regarding suicide prevention.” It also requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to create a model notice for schools. This notice is available for download on DPI’s Suicide Prevention Laws and Model Notice webpage. The link will create a PowerPoint download that can be customized for your district and community population. Please share this model notice with all your staff members; anyone who works with students must be able to recognize suicide warning signs and know how to respond quickly. Since this model notice is not covered by copyright, you can easily customize it by including resources from your school, local mental health providers, county mental health services, crisis services, or local chapters of Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA). You may also put the notice on your district letterhead, make copies, or forward at will.

Safety, trust among Waunakee SRO's main objectives

Sometimes, when a student within the Waunakee school district is dealing with an issue, they turn to Officer Tanner Weber rather than a school counselor.

Wisconsin school cellphone ban takes effect as districts prepare for new school year

Wisconsin public school districts were required to comply with a new state law limiting cellphone use in schools beginning July 1, and local districts say the policy is already showing results.

Evansville school board approves referendum question, Whitewater defers action

The Evansville Community School District will send its four-year, $21.2 million referendum question to the Nov. 3 ballot.

Counselors at Wisconsin Rapids high school Friday following fatal crash that killed 16-year-old student

School district counselors and psychologists will be at Lincoln High School on Friday to support students grieving the death of a 16-year-old classmate killed in a two-vehicle crash.

KASD poll results reviewed

During the Kiel Area School District School Board meeting on July 21, Jeff Mangan, senior client executive with Nexus Solutions, and Peter Leatherman of Morris Leatherman reviewed polling results, staff survey results and a general communication plan.

BOE: No referendum this fall

There will be no attempt at an operational referendum this fall for School District of Monroe taxpayers, and chances for the question to be asked next spring — the lone opportunity in 2027 — are low as well. School board members held a lengthy discussion in the latter half of their regular meeting this past Monday, Aug. 10.

District survey results see decrease in scores

A survey of parents, students, and staff in the School District of New London conducted in the spring of this year saw the scores decrease for most of the items in the survey, but only slight decreases.

Growing more than school readiness

The back-to-school season isn't just for school-age children. For many families with preschoolers, late summer is a time to evaluate early learning programs and consider which experiences will best support their child's growth during some of the most important years of development.

Bringing dairy to Wisconsin classrooms

As dairy farmers, we all have a role in helping the next generation understand where their food comes from. Every conversation, classroom visit, and educational resource helps build trust in Wisconsin dairy. Through Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW), we're helping educators bring Wisconsin dairy into classrooms with free resources for students from kindergarten through high school.

District receives $20,000 grant

The School District of Clintonville has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the ThedaCare Medical Center-New London Quasi Endowment Fund to support the Clintonville Schools Strength and Conditioning Program.

School board weighs new student safety and AI policies

The Manawa Board of Education reviewed changes to student safety protocols and artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines during a meeting last week.

Oconto Unified to consider asking voters for extra $900K per year

The Oconto Unified School District will consider asking district residents in the Nov. 3 election to approve an extra $900,000 per year for five years.