It is hard to not dwell on the past and the struggles that many of you have faced over the past two years. That is why it is important to remember that this Christmas season is about hope and joy. WCRIS is hopeful for the new semester and looks forward to working with each of [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
How to Handle Incomplete Safety Plans
December 15, 2021
Question: What if I don’t have all the information the DOJ requires in a safety plan or my local law enforcement has not yet approved of the plan and our school is getting ready to close for the holidays and leadership won’t be available until after the legal January 1 deadline? Answer: Submit what you [...]
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School Safety Plan Submission Per 2017 Act 143
December 09, 2021
As a reminder, schools are required to submit their school safety information to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety by January 1. A list of what is required can be found on page 67 of the 2020-21 WCRIS Legal Handbook or on the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s website.
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New Law Adds Options to Safety Submissions
December 09, 2021
Governor Evers signed into law 2021 Act 109 on December 3, which provides schools an additional option when submitting their information under the 2017 Act 143 requirements. The law now allows schools to submit “critical incident mapping data” instead of a school blueprint. As always, blueprints do not have to be formal architectural drawings. The [...]
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State’s COVID Relief Application Approved
December 09, 2021
The US Department of Education has approved Wisconsin’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief plan. This is commonly called ARP-ESSER fund. Or, a shorthand name is ESSER II. However, those funds only cover public K-12 schools. By design. Congress did not include in ARP-ESSER any private school equitable participation provision. The money [...]
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Legal Obligation to Register
December 09, 2021
WCRIS has been contacted by the Selective Service Board and asked to enlist our schools’ assistance in reminding our Junior and Senior high school students that all young men are required to register for the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Failing to do so may prevent them from getting college loans [...]
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EANS Update: VIP and ARP-EANS Application
December 02, 2021
In a surprise move, the U.S. Department of Education rescinded its approval of Vaccine Incentive Programs (VIPs) on November 30. WCRIS and the DPI are actively appealing the Department’s decision. Please check with CESA 6 before you undertake a VIP. Schools should not launch such programs until they get the all-clear from CESA 6. The [...]
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Action Needed Now: Faith-Based Childcare At Risk
December 02, 2021
President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act (BBB), which is under consideration by the U.S. Senate, creates and funds new pre-kindergarten and childcare programs. Unfortunately, the bill’s requirements would limit the participation of religious child care providers. Its hostility to religious programs is unprecedented in recent U.S. lawmaking. The BBB defines the grants for child [...]
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School Safety: January 1 Deadline
December 02, 2021
Every year, by January 1, schools are required to submit their school safety information to the Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety (OSS). You can learn more about what is required on page 67 of the 2020-21 WCRIS Legal Handbook. This requirement is often referred to as 2017 Act 143. This year, schools will [...]
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Need-to-know Changes to the College Planning Process
December 02, 2021
Tell your high school parents and counselors about a free WCRIS-sponsored webinar on December 7 about recent changes to the college admissions gauntlet. Experts say this past year has resulted in some of the most significant changes to the college planning process in decades. Some of the changes include: Colleges and Universities have gone ACT/SAT [...]
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