As a parent of a K-12 student in Wisconsin, you want your child's school experience to prepare them for life beyond. As our kids mature from elementary through middle school and then into high school, they will likely make mistakes, have errors in judgment, etc. But whether your child is enrolled in a huge school district like Milwaukee Public Schools, a midsize system like the School District of Janesville, or a small-town school system like the School District of Reedsburg, what your child does off-campus could impact their academic journey.
In Wisconsin, schools sometimes connect actions outside of school to consequences within the educational setting. For example, if your child posted something controversial on social media or was accused of starting a fight at a weekend event, the school officials may show interest in their non-academic behavior. This could result in disciplinary actions like suspensions, detentions, or other academic sanctions. Regrettably, because these disciplinary actions often happen swiftly and unexpectedly, parents are frequently caught off guard and unsure how to respond. They are uncertain about how to safeguard their children and ensure that their school is abiding both by their own rules and the rule of law.
This is where the Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm can help. Even seemingly harmless disciplinary actions at the K-12 level can have life-changing implications, which is why our team offers nationwide assistance to parents of school children, including throughout Wisconsin. Contact our team at 888-535-3686 or via our online form, and we can help steer your child and family towards a positive resolution.
Can the School Discipline My Child for Something They Did Off-Campus?
The answer to this question is complicated. In the vast majority of cases, K-12 schools have a Student Handbook or Code of Conduct that dictates how students should behave on campus or at school-sponsored events. Their jurisdiction may also technically extend to school buses, field trips, or any other off-campus event associated with the school. But when it comes to exercising jurisdiction off-campus, schools are often vague about their policies. In rare instances, a private school might publish policies for off-campus expectations, but even this is the exception rather than the rule. This sets up the strong possibility that a school could overstep its authority by disciplining a student for off-campus behavior.
The scope of a school's authority over off-campus incidents remains a controversial topic. Legal intervention might occasionally be required if a student's rights are infringed upon during the disciplinary process. Yet, since schools typically prefer to avoid legal complications, adept negotiation can frequently help resolve disputes with the school.
The Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm has an established record of supporting students accused of misconduct. We understand the nuances of school regulations, student rights, and due process procedures within schools throughout Wisconsin. Our approach involves assisting parents as they navigate the disciplinary process with their children and employing skilled negotiations, assuring that the child's rights are not violated in the process.
Understanding Off-Campus Misconduct and School Reactions in Wisconsin Schools
Your student could potentially engage in a wide range of off-campus behaviors that would generate unwanted interest from their school. However, they generally fall into three broad categories.
Misconduct Unrelated to the School
These are actions that many students would assume have nothing to do with their school, and, therefore, they are exempt from school scrutiny. Examples might include car theft, causing damage to property off-campus, or vandalizing buildings or parks off-campus. If a student is involved in such an act, even though it happens off campus, they might risk being suspended from school if the school attempts to claim jurisdiction. The school might justify this by correlating vandalism to the student's character and concluding that the student's actions poorly reflect the values of the educational community as a whole.
Misconduct Tangential to the School
These are actions that might not directly pertain to school activities, especially if they don't occur on campus, but might conflict with a school's behavioral policies. Examples might include derogatory or racially offensive social media posts or any public or archived communication that belittles a marginalized group.
Misconduct Directly Affecting the School or School Community
If your school believes your child's misconduct has a direct connection to the school, its staff, or its students, your school might feel compelled to take action even if that behavior did not physically take place on school property. A prime example is digital misconduct. Students who partake in activities such as threatening teachers via anonymous emails, cyberbullying classmates, or defaming the school on social media can face consequences.
In each of these situations, it's evident that schools might feel obligated to intervene and propose disciplinary measures that might seem inappropriate or excessive. Furthermore, school procedures might not always appear fair. Needless to say, the discipline that a student undergoes, particularly if it's a suspension or expulsion, can have far-reaching effects that impact their entire future. For that reason alone, it's crucial to take these matters seriously, take steps to ensure the school doesn't exceed its legal authority, and most importantly, find a resolution that helps the child's future rather than hindering it.
Disciplinary Procedures in Wisconsin Schools
The processes and criteria for disciplinary action in Wisconsin elementary, middle, and high schools can differ widely from district to district. The written disciplinary policies for Racine Unified School District, for example, won't be the same as for the Madison Metropolitan School District or the Green Bay Area Public School District. If your student faces discipline due to activities off campus, the disciplinary actions may differ depending on the individual circumstance. Here's a look at how various Wisconsin schools might choose to address off-campus misconduct, largely based on the severity of the alleged misbehavior.
- If the alleged misconduct of your student is entirely unrelated to the school, the school may handle the misconduct from an educational perspective. For example, if a student is accused of shoplifting or attending an unsupervised late-night party, the school may respond by offering counseling, workshops, or educational materials. In these cases, the school may initiate a conversation with the student to understand the reasons behind their behavior or explain why certain parties are not suitable for grade school students. The main goal is to help students understand the consequences of their actions and prevent them from making harmful decisions in the future.
- If your student's supposed behavior is indirectly linked to the school, the school may handle the misconduct more sternly. For instance, the school may intervene if they learn that a student's off-campus online chatter is offensive. To maintain a respectful school environment, which can be influenced by students' broader social media activity, the school may suggest counseling on the lenient end or impose suspensions on the more severe side.
- If your student's off-campus behavior directly impacts other members of the school community, it may trigger a severe disciplinary reaction. For example, if your student threatens another student or is involved in a physical altercation, they could face a long-term suspension or even expulsion.
You might be tempted to assume that any disciplinary action your child's school takes against them will be minor and should be taken likely, as though "these things happen." The repercussions can extend well beyond your student's K-12 experience. Unlike the legal system, which has safeguards in place to ensure fairness, school disciplinary actions can be swift, may not always involve a comprehensive investigation, and might even deny your student an opportunity to defend themselves. If you and your student anticipate disciplinary action, it is crucial to seek the services of the Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm immediately.
How K-12 School Disciplinary Actions in Wisconsin Can Impact Your Child
A disciplinary incident doesn't end with the student serving their punishment and returning to school as if nothing happened. School discipline can have immediate, short-term, and even long-term repercussions for your child.
The immediate impacts of school discipline begin shortly after a school identifies the misconduct. In fact, if a student is involved in a dangerous activity, the school may take action incredibly quickly — within days or even hours. This is particularly true if your school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, drugs, or other similar types of misconduct (which many schools do).
The short-term effects of school discipline may become evident in the weeks or months following a suspension. For instance, academic setbacks can occur as students miss tests, assignments, or important coursework. Restricted participation in extracurricular activities during suspensions also deprives students of community-building and holistic development opportunities. Resuming normal activities after a break may be daunting, and catching up with peers could be challenging for your child.
The long-term implications of school discipline can haunt your child for years to come. Colleges and universities carefully review applicants' histories, including disciplinary records. If admissions officers discover your student's disciplinary history, it could harm their chances of attending their dream school. Additionally, scholarships that make education affordable often require impeccable academic and behavioral records--so a disciplinary record could also jeopardize that funding.
To ensure that your child doesn't experience any of these unwarranted repercussions linked to discipline related to off-campus misconduct, the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you establish a dialogue with your school, understand when to take further action, and more to safeguard your child's reputation and future.
Navigating Your Child Through School Disciplinary Procedures in Wisconsin
Supporting your child through disciplinary proceedings in their Wisconsin K-12 school is a daunting task, to say the least.
The stakes are monumental; the plethora of paperwork and meetings can be intimidating, and both you and your student will likely experience significant stress. This is where the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm steps in. Our team can help you understand the applicable rules and policies, as well as your child's rights. These policies are typically published in a Student Handbook that the school makes available either online or in paper form. We'll review these policies and make sure you know what the school can and cannot do. We'll also help you gather pertinent information regarding the school's investigation into misconduct and prepare you for discussions with school administrators.
In addition, our team will:
- Evaluate your student's alleged problematic off-campus behavior and the ramifications for their future;
- Establish communication channels with your school to enable negotiations at the early stages of your student's disciplinary process;
- Provide assistance with any appeals, if necessary, to bolster your chances of success;
- Offer advice and representation throughout the entire disciplinary journey to help your child evade the long-term consequences of school discipline; and
- In rare cases, if negotiations fail and the school has obviously exceeded its authority, assist with litigation to protect your child's rights.
Safeguard Your Child's Future with Help from the Lento Law Firm
Dealing with school discipline can be tricky, especially when schools start punishing students for things that happen outside of school. If you think your child is being unfairly punished for something they did off-campus, it's time to get help from the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. Whether your child attends school in Kenosha, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, or Manitowoc, underestimating the impact of school discipline can have severe repercussions for your child both now and down the road.
Our team will ensure that you're not alone in your quest to safeguard your child's education, reputation, and future. We're here to help you take proactive measures, stay informed, and protect your family's rights during this challenging period. Contact us today at 888-535-3686 to learn more, or complete this brief online form to provide us with more details about your case.
