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Parent/Guardian

Parent/Guardian: WISEdata

This data element stores information in WISEdata about a student's parent or guardian. This data element includes several individual pieces of data collected by schools and districts, including the parent or guardian's name, address, and other contact information. Refer to the table below for optional and required components of this data element. Parent is defined by federal guidance, Title 34 §300.03

Please refer to the FAQs, Details and Points to Note section below the table for updated information about the Parent/Guardian information required for obtaining Summer EBT funding

Uses

Storing parent and guardian information in WISEdata helps enable WISEdata to integrate with more services, including the Wisconsin eSchool Network and some special education vendors. This data collection will facilitate the distribution of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) cards to families. All WISEid data elements are also considered school level demographic data elements for a student record.

Parent Guardian Data is Optional, Except to Support Program Data

Reporting parent/guardian data in WISE is almost always optional, except when Program data is being reported (e.g., National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)). Programs require parent/guardian data.

DataPrograms Requiring DataDescription
Unique IDRequired for Summer EBTA unique alphanumeric code assigned to a parent or guardian.
First NameRequired for Summer EBTThe parent or guardian's first name.
Last NameRequired for Summer EBT & Ed Tech tools, Vendor ResourceThe parent or guardian's surname.
Middle Namenot required by any ProgramThe parent or guardian's middle name.
AddressesRequired for Summer EBTA home or mailing address for a parent or guardian. See Student Address data element
Date of Birthnot required by any ProgramThe birth date of the parent or guardian.
Legal GuardianRequired for Summer EBTIndicator of whether the person is a legal guardian for the student.
Lives WithRequired for Summer EBTIndicator of whether the student lives with the associated parent/guardian.
Primary Contact StatusRequired for Summer EBTIndicator of whether the person is a primary contact for the student.
Emailsnot required by any ProgramEmail addresses for a parent or guardian, as well as a descriptor (Home/Personal or Work).
Languagesnot required by any ProgramWhich languages a parent or guardian speaks or writes.
Telephonesnot required by any ProgramTelephone number for a parent or guardian.
Parent Referencenot required by any ProgramA unique ID assigned to a parent or guardian for use in a student/parent association.
Student Referencenot required by any ProgramA unique ID used to associate a student with a parent or guardian.
Relationnot required by any ProgramA descriptor of the individual's relation to the student: Father, Mother, Guardian, or Other.

FAQs, Details, and Points to Note

This data element is required for Choice and public schools. 

  1. Required Data for Summer EBT: The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has created a permanent Summer EBT program. Access to this program is especially important to schools that participate in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) programs. If an LEA participates in a Food Service program where students receive meals through federal school meal initiatives such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), they are expected to report parent/guardian data to be shared with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS). DHS is the state agency responsible for providing Summer EBT to families. Please read the information below. 
    • Access to this program requires parental information to be collected, as indicated in the table above:
      • First name
      • Last name
      • School-created unique/reference code
      • Parent address
      • Legal guardian status
      • Lives with status
      • Primary contact status
    • ** The parent/guardian address is now required by the department of Health Services in order for families to access Summer EBT. 
      • Schools collect this required information and send it to DPI via WISEdata. DPI then shares this information with the Department of Health Services (DHS). 
      • More information on the Student Address data element page.
    • If the required parental information is not collected for participating students, a WISEdata Portal validation, warning 7471, will throw to alert LEAs participating in CEP and NSLP to obtain and/or send required parent information to DPI via WISEdata. Warnings can be 'acknowledged' if LEAs verify that the information entered is correct.
    • NOTE: It is not a requirement for your school district to submit this information through WISEdata. If the household does not want to share their address but still wants to participate, they do have the option to submit address information through the DHS website using the Benefit Management Tool.
  2. Visit the Department of Health Services Summer-EBT webpage for more information.
    • You can also email the Summer EBT team at dhssebtsupport@wi.gov or
    • Call 833-431-2224 for more information. 
  3. Refusal to provide address: It is not a requirement for your school district to submit this information through the schools WISEdata. If the household does not want to share their address but still wants to participate, they do have the option to submit address information through the DHS website using the Benefit Management Tool.
  4. Multiple parent home addresses: If the student has more than one primary address, such as if the student lives with multiple families while attending the same school, you can designate each of those addresses as the student's primary home address and submit each to WISEdata. 
    • Be sure to note which parent/s hold primary custody. 
    • WISEdata allows for multiple primary addresses; please check with your Student Information System (SIS) to see if your specific vendor tool supports this option as well. More information on the Student Address data element page.
  5. Moved to a new address during the school year but attends the same school: In this scenario, update the student's primary home address in your SIS and submit it to WISEdata to replace the previous primary home address. More information on the Student Address data element page.
  6. Guardian has custody of student: In this scenario, use the address of who the child lives with. 
  7. Homelessness: Homeless families may use an Income Maintenance (IM) agency to receive their mail. The address for the IM agency can count as a mailing address. The department of Health Services (DHS) can assist, as can the Homeless Liaisons at DPIThis flier includes an up-to-date listing of Income Maintenance agencies that serve as homeless mail pick-up sites. More information on the Student Address data element page. Families experiencing homelessness can reach out to the Department of Health Services (DHS) Housing via email, or the DPI Homeless Liaisons. More information on the Student Address data element page.
  8. Foster Care/Group Home/Residential Care Center: In this scenario, use the address of the out-of-home care (OHC) placement. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state agency that assists with OHC address.

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Tags: WISE Data Elements - Years