The Smart Thinking Foundation announced micro-grants for schools to access free or discounted educational services through CESA 6. Learn more here.Get Up to $1,000 for Your School
Read More
Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
New Tech Grants For Computers, Hot spots, Modems, Routers
May 13, 2021
Congress has created a $7.17 Billion Emergency Connectivity Fund through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC issued its guidelines for the program on Monday (5/11). The fund is designed to help close the homework gap. The program provides reimbursements for allowable expenses, such as laptops, tablets, modems, routers, and hot spots. Here is a [...]
Read More
Using EANS Funds Creatively
May 13, 2021
Our state counterparts in the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) network have reported the following approved use for EANS funds being allowed in their states because they comply with CDC safety guidelines about air quality and social distancing. We received these ideas in weekly CAPE meetings, as the official state chapter of CAPE. The [...]
Read More
WCRIS Student Named 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar
May 13, 2021
Neil Sai Dogra, of the University School of Milwaukee, was named as one of the three Wisconsin U.S. Presidential Scholars. Congratulations to Neil and University School on this prestigious honor.
Read More
EANS Program Logistics
May 13, 2021
The DPI is stepping back as the contact-point for EANS. Their application process has closed and 450 schools have been approved for participation. Based on this information, the DPI is generating a firm list of per-school allocations, which they hope to announce at the end of the month. CESA 6 will now be handling the [...]
Read More
Masks Are Here to Stay for a While
May 13, 2021
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) issued this letter, on May 11, updating schools about vaccines, testing, quarantining and other efforts aimed at returning “to normal” for Fall. Although there is no mandate for what DHS recommends, the letter says, “even after teachers and staff are vaccinated, schools will need to continue to follow [...]
Read More
WCRIS Testimony Protects SNSP Access
May 05, 2021
In response to WCRIS concerns outlined in testimony to the Assembly Education Committee recently, the DPI has agreed to adjust proposed administrative rules on certain learning disabilities so that they don’t block student access to the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP). WCRIS Executive Director Sharon Schmeling told the committee on April 22, that while WCRIS [...]
Read More
WCRIS Schools Testify on Transportation Bill
May 05, 2021
WCRIS schools also provided testimony on April 22 in support of AB 160 and legislators appeared riled by what they heard, turning the simple bill into a two-hour discussion with WCRIS schools looking like champions. Agitated legislators from both parties questioned MPS on why it did not provide transportation to private school students during the [...]
Read More
May 15 Busing Deadline
May 05, 2021
Annually, by May 15, each private school must notify each school board in its attendance area of the name, grade level, and address of each private school student eligible to receive transportation benefits from the district, and who is planning on attending the private school for the ensuing school year. A public school board can [...]
Read More
WCRIS Transportation Webinar
May 05, 2021
WCRIS hosted a busing webinar on Monday, May 3, in anticipation of the annual May 15 busing deadline (see story below). WCRIS expects public districts to be more rigorous about enforcing the deadline than in years past. The webinar covered the May 15 busing deadline, pandemic-related busing questions, and what to expect next year, and [...]
Read More