The Assembly passed Bill 321, nicknamed the “Right to Read Act”, yesterday, which attempts to overhaul how reading is taught, learned and tested in Wisconsin. Because of potential government overreach into choice schools, WCRIS testified in opposition to the Assembly’s reading bill and the Senate’s companion bill last week. After conferring with other leading organizations on literacy [...]
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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
Lawmakers Address Why Johnny Can’t Read; WCRIS Supports Voucher Increase
June 13, 2023
It’s been a busy week for WCRIS’ lobbyists! In case you missed it, Democrat Gov. Tony Evers and Republicans Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced last week that they reached a major deal that, among other things, mainly addressed shared revenue and education funding. Part of that deal allocates a [...]
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Water, Water Everywhere…
June 01, 2023
Concerns about chemically contaminated water are washing over the nation. Both federal and state agencies are in the process of upgrading standards and contributing millions in an effort to eliminate newly-identified harmful chemicals in water supplies. Any well that serves at least 25 of the same people for at least six months per year is [...]
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WCRIS Testifying for You
May 25, 2023
In addition to meeting with legislators about our Health and Safety Grants, WCRIS’ 2.25 lobbyists have been busy at the Capitol this spring. Aside from the usual scrimmages about school choice, some issues in play include: regulating water quality in private schools; mandating specific reading education; the impact on children and schools of legalizing marijuana; [...]
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Student Mental Health Concerns Rising
May 25, 2023
Results from the DPI’s Youth Behavior Risk Survey, given every two years to Wisconsin high school students, were released yesterday. The results are unsettling: More than one in two students reported anxiety; One in three students reported depression; and One in five students reported self-harming behaviors. These statistics are consistent with the increasing trend of [...]
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Take 10 Minutes for 10 Percent
May 18, 2023
You sent over 100 messages to legislators in one day. Thank you! But our work is not done. We need to continue to flood legislators’ inboxes by May 26 so that private schools are included in state budget conversations about K-12 spending. Please take less than 10 minutes to ask legislators for 10% of the state funds [...]
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Time Is Running Out to Support Student Safety
May 11, 2023
Hardening school buildings is essential but expensive. A one-time Health and Safety Grant would allow private K-12 schools to make necessary infrastructure updates, like installing cameras, locks, intercoms, hard core doors and alarms. “As a retired law enforcement officer, I have a good understanding of the school’s needs for school safety… With additional dollars and adequate funding [...]
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The Time Is Now
May 04, 2023
WCRIS is hearing feedback from legislators about our proposed plan for Health and Safety Grants for Private K-12 Schools. Thank you! But our work has only begun. The window to act is now. Your messages will only be effective for the next month before the state budget is set. Please contact your legislators by June 5. It [...]
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Boost Your School’s Mental Health Resources
April 27, 2023
Mental health resources have never been more important as schools navigate the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent research found that Generation Z (ages 10-25) are twice as likely to experience feelings of depression than older adults. And more than half of Wisconsin’s high school students reported struggling with anxiety in 2021. Some member schools have invested in [...]
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Proposed Title IX Changes Open to Public Comments
April 20, 2023
New, proposed changes to Title IX by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) address transgender students’ participation on athletic teams. Read the USDE’s fact sheet about it here. Public comments about the proposed changes are accepted until May 15. Submit yours by clicking the green button at the top of this page. Please note: These changes are only [...]
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