The first major step of 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 (“Right to Read Act”) was made this week, as reported by WCRIS in Monday’s Special Edition of Current Events. To cut through the reading ruckus, see a summary of the latest developments and next steps: The latest: Despite multiple lists, rumblings of possible legal action and [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
DHS Warns of Measles
March 14, 2024
Ahead of schools’ spring breaks, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the DPI school nursing consultant are recommending school staff stay alert for potential measles outbreaks. At the time of publication, there are no confirmed measles cases in Wisconsin, but one was recently confirmed in Illinois. Since the beginning of the year, seventeen states [...]
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Principal Question: The Forward Exam
March 14, 2024
Question: If I’m in the choice program, do I have to test my students with the Forward Exam? Answer: It depends on how many choice students are enrolled in your school. Schools enrolling 20 or more students in grades 3-12 in the Milwaukee, Racine or statewide choice programs are required to administer the state’s annual testing program [...]
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Special Ed Draws National Attention
March 14, 2024
As a member benefit, WCRIS watches the headlines so you don’t have to. Recently, special education has been drawing the attention of the press. See the latest below: According to Education Week, there’s three reasons why more students are in special education: 1) Inflexible curricula are leaving students’ needs unmet; 2) Autism and ADHD diagnoses [...]
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Transportation Reminder: April 1 Deadline and Upcoming Q&A
March 14, 2024
Attendance Area Due April 1 Private schools that are requesting busing from the school district for their students must submit its proposed attendance area to the affected school board(s) by April 1. If a new attendance area isn’t submitted by the deadline, the school board will default to your school’s most recent submission. To learn more about [...]
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Act 20 Update: State Legislators Make Key Curricula Decision
March 11, 2024
Earlier today at a meeting attended by WCRIS staff, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) approved the first, shorter list of recommended curricula eligible for up to 50% reimbursement under 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 (“Act 20”). The now-approved list was submitted by the Wisconsin Early Literacy Curriculum Council, made up of individuals appointed by [...]
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Understanding Students’ Transportation Rights
March 07, 2024
If you have students that need busing to your school by your public school district, you must submit a map of your school’s attendance area to your local school board(s) by April 1. To help you understand the requirements of private and public schools, watch this on-demand webinar from WCRIS staff. Then, register for our member-exclusive Transportation Q&A Session on [...]
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Lawmaker Visits WCRIS School
March 07, 2024
This week, Saint Peter Lutheran School in Appleton hosted an educational visit with Rep. Joy Goeben (R-Hobart, pictured above), who represents the school’s district. Rep. Goeben was greeted by elementary students, took a tour of the school and taught a civics lesson to the middle-schoolers. The school’s students and staff did a fantastic job of [...]
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Another Statewide EANS Pool Coming Soon
March 07, 2024
The DPI and CESA 6 are opening applications for another statewide pool for the remaining dollars from the pandemic’s second-round of Emergency Assistance for Non-public Schools (ARP EANS). The application process begins on April 15 and will be similar to previous pool applications. But there are a few key restrictions, according to the DPI: Requests [...]
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Job Opening: Headmaster at St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy
March 07, 2024
WCRIS member Saint John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy is hiring! See an excerpt of the job posting below: Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) is looking for a Headmaster for St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy in Green Bay, Wis. The Headmaster is the spiritual, educational and administrative leader of the [...]
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