New residency verification guidance for choice applications was released by the DPI this week. Read the new bulletin here. The updated guidance is a result of a recent circuit court decision that ruled the DPI overstepped its rule-making authority with its previous policies for residency verification. The DPI said it’s working on updating other resources to reflect the [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
35 Results found for category: Choice
Act Now for High School Crime Reporting Rules
April 03, 2024
Comments on the recently-passed crime reporting provision for public, charter and choice high schools are being accepted until noon this Friday, April 5. The new law requires schools that operate high school grades, excluding non-choice private high schools, to report instances of certain crimes that occur on their grounds during school hours or school-sanctioned events or on transportation that result in [...]
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New Choice Residency Documents Ruling
March 07, 2024
A circuit court recently ruled that the DPI overstepped its authority by mandating certain residency verification policies for the choice programs, commonly coined the “perfection rule.” The court found that the DPI didn’t go through the appropriate rule-making process for these requirements. The decision was the outcome of a lawsuit filed by WCRIS allies, the [...]
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Allies Win Choice Application Lawsuit
February 15, 2024
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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Important January Deadlines
January 04, 2024
January 1 Thank you to all the schools that uploaded their safety submissions to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS)! If you missed the Jan. 1 deadline, please still upload what you have to the OSS while working on the rest. Contact the OSS with specific questions about your submission or SharePoint access. January [...]
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State Supreme Court Denies Choice Lawsuit
December 14, 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously denied the lawsuit targeting Wisconsin’s school choice and charter programs late Wednesday afternoon. The October lawsuit, funded by the owner of Minocqua Brewing Company, claimed the programs violate the Wisconsin Constitution. WCRIS – and several other parental choice advocacy organizations, schools, teachers and parents represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and [...]
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Principal Question: Navigating the Choice Program
November 30, 2023
Question: My oversight authorities finally agreed to allow my school to join the choice program. What are some things we can do to make sure that we maintain our mission and values? Or limit government intervention as much as possible? Answer: Great question. Several seasoned WCRIS choice schools have found the following to be helpful: [...]
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Principal Question: Joining the Choice Program
November 30, 2023
Question: My school wants to join the choice program, but I see that there are some deadlines for new private schools in August that I’ve missed. I thought the deadline to register was Jan. 10. Which deadline is it? Answer: Like many things in state law, the use of words can be confusing. In this [...]
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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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Making the Grade: School Report Cards Released
November 16, 2023
State report cards for the 2022-23 school year were published this week by the DPI. Reports are generated for school districts, public schools and private schools that participate in the choice programs. Several analyses of the data show that choice schools scored higher than public schools – especially in Milwaukee and Racine. Almost all of the top 20 schools [...]
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