Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Walker signs school mascots bill

By: Associated Press//December 19, 2013//

Walker signs school mascots bill

By: Associated Press//December 19, 2013//

Listen to this article

By TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill making it harder to force public schools to drop American Indian nicknames.

The Republican bill changes a 2010 state law that required Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction to hold a hearing on a school’s race-based nickname if it received even one complaint.

The new bill requires people with a complaint to submit a petition with signatures equal to 10 percent of the school district’s student population to trigger a review. They must prove the nickname is discriminatory at a hearing. The Department of Administration, which is under the governor’s control, decides whether to drop the name.

The law will go into effect Saturday.

Polls

What kind of stories do you want to read more of?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Legal News

See All Legal News

WLJ People

Sea all WLJ People

Opinion Digests