WILL V. DPI

Case Name: WILL v. DPI

Type of Case: Individual Liberties

Court: Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Case Number: 2026CV006150

Filed On: June 30, 2026

Current Status: WILL has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to step in and compel the Department of Public Instruction to immediately release records regarding denied educator licenses.

WILL filed a lawsuit asking a judge to compel the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to immediately release records regarding denied educator licenses.

Background

In August 2025, WILL submitted a public records request to DPI seeking information about applicants denied educator licenses since 2018 for incomplete program requirements. After an extended silence, DPI located 1,381 denied applications but imposed a substantial fee for manual review work. When the request was refined, the agency doubled the fee. After an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the matter in June 2026, litigation became necessary.

The lawsuit challenges whether Wisconsin’s Open Records Law permits these charges. WILL argues that manually reviewing and screenshotting each denied application are not actual, necessary, and direct costs DPI may impose. WILL seeks court-ordered production of the records and statutory remedies.

Lawyers

Lauren Greuel, Associate Counsel

CASE DOCUMENTS

• Complaint, June 2026