Here are some frequent questions from WCRIS school leaders from around the state, as they assess the winds of change swirling around the capitol.

  1. What does a Gov. Evers mean for WCRIS and its schools? As a nonpartisan organization that does not engage in campaign finance or electioneering, WCRIS has no baggage against a new Governor. WCRIS works well with elected officials of all parties and seeks to find common ground in its legislative advocacy.
  2. What is WCRIS’ relationship with Dr. Evers? The WCRIS Board of Directors has been meeting regularly with Dr. Evers since 2016. This has increased understanding and collaboration between public and private school leaders. When Dr. Evers met with the WCRIS Board earlier this year and was invited to return in Spring 2019, he said he would come. And, if elected Governor, would keep the meeting if his schedule allowed.
  3. What will happen to the Choice programs? Before the election, Dr. Evers pledged that if he were elected Governor, his first 100 days would include accepting the DPI budget he built as superintendent. That budget continues funding for the Choice programs. It calls for some changes to the Special Needs Scholarship Program, which were discussed in the last edition of Current Events.
  4. What are WCRIS’ advocacy issues going into the 2019-2021 Legislative Session?
    • Improve K-12 school security: Many schools still lack secure entrances, classroom doors, alarm and intercom systems. Provide $40 million in grants for school doors, locks, alarms, intercoms, and safety training. Grants should be available to public and private schools that did not apply for funding in 2018. The application period should be in November and December and not at the beginning or end of a school year, which are the busiest times and make it hard for small schools with little staff to apply.
    • Expand access to school safety grants: Allow the DOJ to provide school safety grants to WCRIS to conduct state-wide school safety training sessions for private K-12 schools.
    • Maintain the Parental Choice Programs: The Choice programs provide low income families across the state access to safe educational choices, just like the middle and upper income families who already have the resources to move to good public school districts or to choose private school for their children.
    • Allow kindergarten dual enrollment: Allow children attending half-day kindergarten in a private school and half-day kindergarten in a public school to be counted half-time by each school for the purposes of state aid.
    • Teacher licensure: If licensure is required for teachers in Choice schools, the license law must be expanded to include private schools or sponsoring dioceses or jurisdictions to be authorized sponsors of 3-year licenses with stipulations. And, the law must allow licenses to be general and not specific.
  5. What can school leaders do to help while we wait for the legislative process to unfold in the coming months? Invite legislators and other local elected officials to your school for a tour so they can see the impact your school has on the community. If you received a state safety grant, show off your new school safety equipment. Thank them for supporting the school safety grants and the teacher license law changes that included private school teaching experience. Both initiatives passed nearly unanimously so you won’t be in danger of thanking someone who didn’t support those efforts.

    When legislators tour, make sure you show them the WCRIS Legal Handbook and the Choice Handbook (if you’ve ordered one), so they can see all the laws and regulations you must comply with. It’s concrete proof that your schools are not only accountable to parents but to the state.

    Urge lawmakers to reach out to you or WCRIS if they ever have a question about a policy proposal that impacts private schools.

We will know more when the state budget is introduced in February. The budget will pass in June and there will be a lot of disconcerting headlines and stories. Read these headlines with caution and know that WCRIS is constantly monitoring the legislature.

If you need to know something or we need your action, we will reach out to you via our Current Events eNewsletter. If you do not hear from us, that is a good thing. We are always working to preserve your school’s unique mission.