The Latest

A second-round grant application for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Program is being offered to address the mental health stresses of the pandemic in public and private schools. The $1,000 grants are designed to help schools implement or support existing peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs. You can use the funds on staff [...]

Schools that want to join the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) should fill out the Interested School form on the DPI website as soon as possible. This will ensure that you get timely access to the Intent to Participate form and other important resources for joining the program by March 1.

WCRIS wants its students to be in secure learning and worship environments. Therefore, we share several planning resources available for churches/religious entities in the wake of the recent Texas synagogue shooting. These federal publications include security information for K-12 religious schools. Some key tools from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) [...]

Supply chain challenges are having an impact on school meal programs. Some schools are experiencing challenges in purchasing and obtaining food. Some have received little notice that ordered food products will not be provided as planned. As a result, these schools have had to find other products. The USDA reached out to WCRIS to report [...]

Students at Aquinas Catholic High School, La Crosse, now have a way to earn their bachelor’s degree in three years. The innovative program allows students to take tuition-free classes at Viterbo University with the guarantee of a three-year bachelor’s degree. The program will allow students to take Viterbo classes during the day. These classes are [...]

The security experts in DC are warning of cyber security vulnerabilities in information technology equipment that you may be using at your school. While your school may not seem to be a target of cybercrime, you may become a victim of a larger attack. Schools should contact their IT professionals to ensure that all the [...]

The allocations for the American Rescue Plan Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (ARP EANS) or EANS II is now available. In Wisconsin, ARP EANS has 348 schools participating in the program. The highest amount awarded was $2.1 million to a Milwaukee school and the lowest amount awarded was $11,990 to a school in Sun Prairie. [...]

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is promoting its School Testing Program. This program may help schools tackle the surge in the Omicron COVID variant. However, WCRIS principals have noted supply chain challenges around the School Testing program.  Principals note that while the state is promoting the program, tests are not available. One principal [...]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is hosting its annual Digital Forum on Prevention: Digital Ecosystems Student Security, Safety, and Well-Being. The digital event will discuss how to keep students safe online along with digital threat prevention tips for school leaders. You can learn more here.

Before the congressional Christmas recess, the highly debated Build Back Better (BBB) COVID relief plan failed to move in the US senate. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia (D) broke ranks and announced that he would not be backing the BBB. His announcement now makes the future of the bill uncertain. CAPE says the delay [...]