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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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
69 Results found for category: Advocacy
ACTION NEEDED: Another Round of Safety Grants in Play
January 29, 2024
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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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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WCRIS Supports Affordable Private School Financing
December 14, 2023
WCRIS is one of 20 organizations supporting a proposed bill that aids the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA), which provides tax-exempt financing to non-profit organizations for expansion projects and capital improvements. Other supporting organizations include non-profit hospitals, long-term care and elderly housing providers and higher education institutions. WHEFA sought out WCRIS’ support this fall. The proposed [...]
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WCRIS Testifies On Virtual Forward Exam
December 07, 2023
As the state legislative session unusually drags on into the winter, WCRIS testified in front of the Assembly Education Committee regarding proposed Assembly Bill 652. The bill proposes a virtual option for the state’s Forward Exam if certain testing policies are in place. This would be helpful for virtual choice schools. WCRIS is always supportive of [...]
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WCRIS and Choice Advocates Respond to Pending Choice Lawsuit
November 16, 2023
The Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty (WILL) filed an amicus brief and a motion to intervene this week on behalf of WCRIS and 21 other parental choice advocates – including WCRIS schools, other advocacy organizations, parents and teachers – in response to the case challenging choice and charter programs in Wisconsin. Check out the [...]
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Take This Survey from the DPI
November 09, 2023
The DPI just launched a survey and a schedule for community engagement sessions to gather feedback from Wisconsin citizens for the department’s five-year strategic plan. Take the survey here, which features multiple-choice questions on a number of DPI’s duties and initiatives. All responses are confidential. If you’re interested in attending an engagement session near you or online, check [...]
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