Baraboo School District
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State Law

Wisconsin is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Baraboo, WI 53913 Sauk County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 12.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 22.4% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Wisconsin State Law

Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

118.155 Released time for religious instruction.

(1) Any school board shall, without approval of the state superintendent, permit pupils with written permission of a parent or guardian to be absent from school at least 60 minutes but not more than 180 minutes per week to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. The supervisor of such religious instruction shall report monthly, to the principal of the school regularly attended, the names of the pupils who attended such weekly religious instruction. The school board may deny the privilege of released time to pupils who absent themselves from such religious instruction after requesting the privilege. The time period, or periods, allotted for the pupil to be absent from school for the purpose of religious instruction shall be determined by the school board.
(2) Any transportation to religious instruction or from religious instruction to the public school shall be the responsibility of the parents or of the organization sponsoring the religious instruction.
(3) The school district shall be released from all liability for a pupil who is absent from school in accordance with sub. (1).

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (9)
School Grades Period
Al Behrman Elementary
Baraboo Early Learning Cooperative
Baraboo High
Belc--Renewal Head Start
East Elementary
Jack Young Middle
North Freedom Elementary
West Elementary-Kindergarten Center
Willson Elementary
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
December 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
August 7, 2025
Step 1
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5
July 3, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
4
September 27, 2024
Step 1
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3
September 10, 2024
Step 1
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1
April 26, 2024
Step 0
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0
March 17, 2024
 
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