A Waukesha County Circuit Court judge agreed this week with WCRIS allies, including some member schools, that the DPI’s “perfection rule” for verifying student applications for the choice programs is invalid. The specific changes to the application process as a result of this decision are not yet known. Learn more here.
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The Latest
Your source for timely and relevant K-12 school updates
ICYMI: SNSP Registration Now Open
February 15, 2024
Schools planning to participate in the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) for the 2024-25 school year must register by March 1. The DPI just opened registration last week. In order to submit your school’s Intent to Participate and special education profile, your SNSP Administrator has to have access to the SNSP Portal. The DPI is hosting a [...]
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Legislative Round-up: Grants and Choice Updates
February 08, 2024
As the legislative session comes to a screeching halt, lawmakers are still working hard. WCRIS is too. Here’s a recap of our advocacy efforts in the last two weeks: School Safety Grants Thank you to everyone who wrote to their legislators and shared WCRIS’ Action Alert with your school communities about School Safety Grants! The [...]
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Right to Read Recommended Curricula Coming Soon
February 08, 2024
WCRIS knows many choice schools are anxiously awaiting more guidance for 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, referred to as the Right to Read Act. The DPI’s Early Literacy Council is close to producing a list of recommended curricula that will go to the state legislature for approval. It’s estimated that schools should have that list going into [...]
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Thrifty Business: Money-saving Programs for Private Schools
February 08, 2024
Inflation may be spreading your school’s budget thin, but there are several, somewhat little-known, programs that can save your school money. On. Feb. 28, join WCRIS staff for a quick overview of some of these programs from WCRIS’ recently-updated Funding Guide. CESA Purchasing, Wisconsin’s education cooperative purchasing program, will also join this WCRIS Lunch & Learn webinar [...]
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Thank You, WHEFA!
February 08, 2024
WCRIS is excited to welcome the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA) as a sponsor again in 2024! WHEFA is a state-sanctioned agency that has been providing tax-exempt, capital financing assistance to Wisconsin non-profit organizations since 1979. Several WCRIS schools have worked with WHEFA, saving thousands of dollars on their building projects. WHEFA doesn’t use public funds so [...]
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Act Now for School Safety!
February 01, 2024
Please take less than 10 minutes to contact your lawmakers about Senate Bill 911 and its companion Assembly Bill 1001. This one-time, $30 million grant program would allow private and public schools to apply for funding for safety infrastructure updates – like updated locks, hardcore doors, intercom systems and alarms – as well as life-saving [...]
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There’s So Much to Celebrate
February 01, 2024
There’s always a reason to celebrate our schools, but the impact of private education and parental choice is nationally recognized each January and February. This week is National Catholic Schools Week, and the governor also proclaimed it Catholic Schools Week in Wisconsin. Last week was National Lutheran Schools Week and also National School Choice Week. (If we’re missing any other [...]
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Federal Gun Storage Letter Coming Your Way
February 01, 2024
In their effort to combat gun violence, the Biden-Harris Administration has issued a letter to principals nationwide about their initiative of safe firearms storage. All local leaders will be receiving the correspondence. WCRIS is notifying you so you don’t think the letter is a scam. The U.S. Department of Education’s letter is one piece of the three-prong federal initiative, [...]
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Chess Competition Looking for Participants
February 01, 2024
If your school has a chess team or club – or students who just like chess – the 2024 Wisconsin State Scholastic Chess Championship is calling for chess players in grades K-12. Students can compete on teams or individually. The event will be held March 23-24 at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Go here for [...]
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