President Biden signed a new bipartisan gun safety law (the Safer Communities Act) on June 25 in response to the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) petitioned Congress to allocate the funds to Title IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) so that private schools are able to participate. [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
Principal Questions: Free Lunch Program
August 04, 2022
Question: If my school will no longer participate in the free and reduced price lunch program, should I tell my local public school district and, if so, how should I tell them? Answer: If your local public school district is operating as the food service authority or if you work with your district for the [...]
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Resource Round-up
August 04, 2022
See below for a list of helpful resources as the new school year commences: Families are still able to apply to the Affordable Connectivity Program to help fund technology expenses. Learn more here. The Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association is hosting a free school safety webinar on August 17. Register here. The DPI has posted updated COVID-19 guidance for the 2022-23 school year. [...]
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Digital Mapping Grants Available
August 04, 2022
A new state law allows private schools to submit digital critical incident maps of their schools to the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Office of School Safety for use by first responders instead of blue prints. The law also provides grants to pay for the maps. Private schools are eligible to apply. Read the grant announcement here.
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DPI Updates WPCP Transfer Policy
August 04, 2022
Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) applicants who are placed on the waiting list due to lack of choice seats at the selected school can transfer their application to another WPCP school, according to the DPI’s updated policy. The DPI has notified parents of students on the WPCP waiting list about this change. Read the DPI’s updated [...]
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The Recent Supreme Court Decision
June 30, 2022
In the recent Supreme Court Case, Carson vs. Makin, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the State of Maine could not exclude private religious schools in the state’s tuition assistance program. The court held that doing so violates the free exercise of religion clause. This is important because the distinction between actively religious and labeled religious [...]
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New State Law About Cardiac Arrest
June 30, 2022
A new law requires that coaches, student-athletes and parents and guardians be educated on the risk of sudden cardiac arrest during athletic activities, beginning July 1, 2022, according to Wis. Stat. sec. 118.2935. Information about electrocardiogram testing must also be included. Concussion and cardiac arrest information are to be distributed together. Signed agreements acknowledging education of sudden cardiac arrest are [...]
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DPI to Update Application Transfer Policy
June 30, 2022
The DPI intends to change its policy on the transfer of Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) applications when a student has been put on a waiting list due to lack of choice seats at the school to which they applied. The DPI plans to update their bulletins in late July. WCRIS will distribute them once [...]
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New Security Guide for Schools
June 30, 2022
The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released its updated K-12 School Security Guide. The guide provides school leaders with an overview of the latest strategies for prevention and mitigation of school violence. The updated version approaches school safety from a customizable and flexible stance, as every school has different needs. Schools can find the [...]
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Important Dates for Choice Schools
June 30, 2022
The DPI has compiled a document of important dates and deadlines for schools participating in parental choice programs for the 2022-23 school year. It also includes links to information about program requirements. Find it here on the DPI’s website.
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