Because of WCRIS’ and our members’ advocacy, state lawmakers are considering passing a one-time, $30 million school safety grant program to protect our schools. But we need your help! What It Is Proposed state Senate Bill 911 (SB-911) and its companion Assembly Bill 1001 (AB-1001) would establish a school safety grant program that mirrors the state’s successful 2017 safety grant [...]
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The Latest
Your source for timely and relevant K-12 school updates
New Parent Packet for the K-12 Tuition Tax Deduction
January 25, 2024
Did you know Wisconsin is one of only four states that have a state tax deduction for private K-12 school tuition? Because of WCRIS’ advocacy, private-school-tuition-paying parents and guardians have had the opportunity to reduce their tax liability for almost a decade. To help our schools spread the word to families, WCRIS has published a [...]
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Florida Lawmakers Seek Clarity for Non-profits
January 25, 2024
The day after WCRIS published last week’s story about three federal courts’ contradictory rulings on private schools’ tax-exempt status as federal financial assistance (FFA), the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) issued a notice that the federal “Safeguarding Charity Act” was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R – Fla.) and Rep. Greg Steube (R – Fla.). [...]
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Thank You, PRA!
January 25, 2024
WCRIS is excited to welcome a new sponsor for 2024, Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP (PRA)! Since 1935, PRA has completed more than a thousand educational projects and more than four hundred projects for faith-based organizations. PRA balances technical knowledge with aesthetic sensitivity in their projects to focus on student engagement, community building and reinforcing higher ideals. Learn [...]
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ICYMI: New FAFSA Form Released
January 25, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has been teasing a new form for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for months. But according to the DPI, it’s now officially ready and available online. Some experts are calling this the biggest overhaul of the application since the Reagan administration, featuring significantly less questions, adjusted formulas and more. [...]
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State Legislative Update
January 18, 2024
Wisconsin lawmakers are still hard at work this month. In many previous legislative sessions, legislators would be returning to their districts to meet with constituents or prepare for re-election around this time. But, both sides of the aisle are showing no signs of slowing down soon, which means WCRIS isn’t slowing down either. Just this [...]
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New Positive Ruling on Non-Profit Status
January 18, 2024
Private schools nationwide have been grappling with a loaded question: Does a school’s non-profit status make it a recipient of federal financial assistance (FFA), thereby requiring compliance with Title IX and other federal laws? Federal courts in Maryland and California ruled “yes” in 2022, citing that a private school’s tax-exempt status is financially benefiting the school, which means it’s [...]
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The Right to Read Act: Choice Schools Aren’t Missing Anything
January 18, 2024
Although many of us hoped to have more information by now, the DPI had nothing new to report about requirements of the Right to Read Act (2023 Wisconsin Act 20) earlier this month. WCRIS followed up with the DPI on behalf of our members. As the DPI’s Council on Early Literacy Curricula slowly works on [...]
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Reading, Math and AI – Oh My!
January 11, 2024
Lawmakers around the country are working feverishly to pass policies to keep up with our nation’s changing societal and educational landscape. Some trending policies, like those addressing literacy and school choice, have made it to Wisconsin, while other states are prioritizing social media restrictions, math instruction, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and teacher workforce development. WCRIS is monitoring [...]
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Snow Days: Reminder of Students’ Transportation Rights
January 11, 2024
In light of the winter weather that’s impacting much of the state this week, click here for a reminder of public school districts’ transportation requirements. If your district is calling for a “virtual instruction day” due to winter weather (or other circumstances), it still must transport eligible private school students if your school is in-session that day.
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