On August 27, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. the Immunization Program along with RN Louise Wilson from the Department of Public Instruction will be holding a webinar on Wisconsin student immunization law. It will cover reporting requirements and the new DPI online reporting tool. Please go to Adobe Connect at the time of the webinar. There [...]
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Free National Park Admission for 4th Graders
July 30, 2019
The Every Kid in a Park initiative invites fourth-graders to participate in a quick educational activity online here, and in exchange receive a paper pass that allows the student and their families to visit federal land and water destinations for FREE. Fourth-grade educators can also participate by getting the passes for their whole class. Teachers [...]
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School Safety Grant Program to be Audited by Legislature
July 16, 2019
This summer, the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) will survey Wisconsin’s public school districts, independent charter schools, tribal schools, and private schools to hear their perspectives on the school safety grant program. The LAB will email your school a survey. WCRIS urges you to provide feedback. This will inform the Legislature about how the school [...]
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Public District Blocks New Private School
July 16, 2019
In Northern Wisconsin, a vacant school building that once housed Mattoon Elementary is being eyed by a Christian community that wants to start a new private school. The goal of Shepherd’s Watch is to open a school that serves low-income students by participating in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP). But, the Antigo Public School [...]
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Voucher Amounts Released
July 16, 2019
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released the official voucher amounts for the 2019-21 Choice Program and the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) (see Page 6). For the 2019-20 School Year: K – 8 = $8,046 9 – 12 = $8,692 SNSP = $12,723 For the 2020-21 School Year: K – 8 = $8,300 9 – [...]
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Gov. Vetoes Freshman Computer Grant Program
July 09, 2019
The Personal Computing Devices Grant Program funds were vetoed by Governor Tony Evers July 3. His line-item veto of the $9.1 million appropriated for the program effectively eliminates it. In his veto message (see page 12), Gov. Evers objected to the grant because he said the funding formula was fiscally irresponsible and cited other ways [...]
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A Summer Surprise!
July 09, 2019
WCRIS is excited to announce another gift card giveaway for the 2019 WCRIS Professional Learning Conference (PLC) on August 9 at Glacier Canyon Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells. Through a private donation, registrants have a chance to receive a $50 Wisconsin Dells gift card for use at over 100 attractions, restaurants, and hotels in the [...]
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Special Needs Scholarship Program Training: Key Takeaways
July 09, 2019
In June, The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) held a Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) training workshop. The DPI presented several PowerPoints over four hours featuring 245 slides of information on agency rules and state statutes governing the program. WCRIS staff attended and provide this summary of key takeaways for schools too busy to attend: [...]
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SNSP Updated 2019-20 Resources and Bulletins Now Available
July 09, 2019
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has released the updated bulletins and resources for the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) for the 2019-20 school year. The SNSP applications are now available and parents can start submitting completed applications to their SNSP schools of choice. Applications and Transfer material can be found here. To help schools [...]
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WI Supreme Court Ruling a Blow to DPI
June 28, 2019
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) won a case on Tuesday, that clarifies the constitutional powers of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. WCRIS Executive Director Sharon Schmeling says this will have a major impact on how the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) oversees state programs, such as the Parental Choice Programs. The [...]
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