The date of the Choice Webinar for people who purchased a WCRIS Choice or Special Needs Scholarship Program Handbook has been changed. The new date is January 27 from 1 to 2:30 pm. The date change is to accommodate the Presidential Inauguration on January 20. A sign-up form will be sent in the coming days.
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
January 14, 2021
The DPI has released some updates regarding the vaccines and school staff, mainly school nurses, special education educators, and speech-language pathologists. You can read the update here.
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Back in the School Building?
January 05, 2021
While WCRIS awaits a decision from the state Supreme Court on whether county and city health departments have legal jurisdiction to shutter our schools, Dane County pivoted just before Christmas from its lock-down order, citing new research on COVID transmission that would allow in-person classes. Harvard research about COVID-19 transmission and in-person instruction was released [...]
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Taming the Choice Tiger
January 05, 2021
While the state’s four voucher programs have been a financial lifesaver for many students and their schools, administrators tell WCRIS they need a whip and a chair to tame the beast of state bureaucracy. So, in response to demands by its members, WCRIS has developed new resources for schools navigating a choice program or the [...]
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Save the Date: WCRIS Leadership Conference
January 05, 2021
While we are not hosting an in-person leadership conference this year, WCRIS is still committed to its members. That is why we are excited to announce a virtual WCRIS Leadership Meeting on March 10, from 9 am to 11 am. You will learn about the new legislative session, changes in state government, and the areas [...]
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COVID 19 Vaccine
December 16, 2020
Wisconsin had its first-person vaccinated on Monday, moving our state forward on the journey back to normalcy. But, as the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) moves from COVID-19 vaccine planning to implementation, they are asking community leaders like you to help urge the public to have patience and understanding, while the agency works through [...]
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FBI Security Warning
December 16, 2020
Recently the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI issued an alert (https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-345a) warning of increased ransomware threats against K-12 schools and districts. Please take time to review the alert, increase your school’s cybersecurity posture, and share with stakeholders within your school. The FBI recommends that [...]
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Student Assessments
December 16, 2020
The DPI is charged with oversight for the K-12 testing programs mandated by state and federal laws. However, the agency does not have the authority to waive the tests. Therefore, the DPI is in a monitoring and reporting mode. For the DPI’s overview of where the testing process stands for 2021, as of now, see [...]
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WCRIS & Supreme Court; Harvard Expert on Safe Schools
December 10, 2020
WCRIS took its case against the Dane County school closure order to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court for oral arguments this week. Our attorneys, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) says a decision is weeks away. In the meantime, schools are struggling to keep their school buildings safe for in-person instruction. Harvard Public [...]
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April 6 Race for DPI Superintendent; 7 Candidates Declare
December 10, 2020
The seven candidates who have filed papers expressing interest in running for the DPI’s top post have until January 5 to gather at least 2,000 to 4,000 nomination signatures each. You may be asked to sign nomination papers for a candidate. Remember, you can sign only one candidate’s paperwork. The nomination form has to be [...]
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