Waukesha School District
Step 1 of 10
Collect 50 Signatures (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

24

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Wisconsin is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Waukesha, WI 53186 Waukesha County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 8.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 39.5% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 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.

Share With Others Click to Copy Click to share
Schools in the District (28)
School Grades Period
Banting Elementary
Bethesda Elementary
Butler Middle
Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin
Eachieve Elementary
Hadfield Elementary
Hawthorne Elementary
Heyer Elementary
Hillcrest Elementary
Horning Middle
Les Paul Middle
Lowell Elementary
Meadowbrook Elementary
North High
Prairie Elementary
Riverview School
Rose Glen Elementary
South High
Summit View Elementary
Waukesha Academy Of Health Professions
Waukesha East Alternative School
Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy
Waukesha Stem Academy
Waukesha Transition Academy
West High
White Rock Campus
White Rock School
Whittier Elementary
18 schools not shown
Show/Hide All Schools
Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
24
January 6, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
23
December 5, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
October 11, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
21
October 4, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
20
September 14, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
19
January 18, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
18
December 31, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
16
October 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
15
July 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
14
April 4, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
March 29, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
March 25, 2024
 
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



Respect Public Schools
Contact Info
keithc@respectpublicschools.com
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2026
Paid for by Keith Comer