Wisconsin school mapping law

Who has to submit school maps in Wisconsin?

A school board shall submit a copy of the most recent blueprints or interactive critical mapping data for each school building and facility in the district to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction and to the Office of School Safety. A private school's governing body shall submit the same for the private school and all of its facilities. Every school board and private school governing body must have a school safety plan in effect. The state Department of Justice (DOJ) says these submission requirements apply to all schools, whether or not they applied for grant money.

What counts as mapping data?

The law uses a definition of interactive critical mapping data from the grant statute. It means interactive representations of a specific location that are verifiable, digital, shareable and shown in real time. DOJ describes critical incident mapping as a digital blueprint of a school that law enforcement can open on cell phones or other devices during a critical incident.

Who receives the maps?

The submission provision names two recipients: each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, and the Office of School Safety. DOJ says all school safety submissions to the Office of School Safety are now made through SharePoint. The Office of School Safety must work with schools and the Department of Administration to compile blueprints or interactive critical mapping data. The Office of School Safety must keep all blueprints and data confidential unless a law enforcement agency requests access.

How often are maps updated?

Schools submit blueprints or mapping data when a school safety plan is created and at each review of the plan. School boards and private schools must review and approve the school safety plan at least once every 3 years after it goes into effect.

What were the original deadlines?

Under 2017 Wisconsin Act 143, school boards had to provide blueprints of each school building and facility to local law enforcement and the Office of School Safety by July 1, 2018. The same act required operators of independent charter schools to provide blueprints of their buildings by July 1, 2018, as a one-time initial submission.

Is there state funding for school mapping?

DOJ shall award grants to school boards and private schools to help them submit interactive critical mapping data. Grant applications come from district administrators or private school governing bodies working jointly with local law enforcement. Grant money must be used for site-specific interactive critical mapping data that improves security and first responders' awareness of the scene. Grant-funded mapping data must work with the platforms used by local, state and federal public safety officials and may not require public safety officials, school districts or private schools to buy additional software. It must include location details that help first responders, such as building numbers, floors, suite designations and room numbers. DOJ must report each year to the Joint Committee on Finance co-chairs on the grants awarded and how the money was spent. The grants are paid from a continuing school safety appropriation, which the 2025-27 schedule lists at $0 in new money for both 2025-26 and 2026-27. 2021 Wisconsin Act 109 let the Joint Committee on Finance add up to $2,000,000 in the 2021-23 biennium for the mapping grants.

How does the mapping grant work?

The Act 109 digital mapping grant is open to K-12 public, private, charter and tribal schools in Wisconsin. Applicants may request up to $5,000 per building, and no local match is required. DOJ removed the $200,000 per-applicant cap on January 31, 2025. The project period runs July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2028, after DOJ extended the end date on March 20, 2026. DOJ gave priority in the first 14 days of the application period to schools that had never submitted maps or blueprints. A project is complete only after the school files all program and fiscal reports and verifies its compliance with the submission law. DOJ reports it has awarded Act 109 digital mapping grants to 397 Wisconsin schools and districts; the first round, announced November 30, 2022, covered 96. General school safety grants may also pay for costs needed to meet the blueprint and mapping submission law. A general school safety grant application must include blueprints or mapping data, or a certification that those already submitted are current. School boards, independent charter school operators, private schools and tribal schools may apply for general school safety grants.

What recent bills changed the law?

2021 Wisconsin Act 109 concerned grants to schools to provide critical incident mapping data to law enforcement. 2023 Wisconsin Act 199 defined critical mapping data for school safety plans. No 2025 Wisconsin Act changed the blueprint and mapping duty. 2025 AB 298 and its companion SB 303 would have funded mapping grants for technical college boards; both failed to pass on March 23, 2026.