On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling declaring that Montana’s “Blaine Amendment” is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment. In the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, parents sought to use Montana’s tax credit scholarship to attend a religious private school. The state barred the parents from using the [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
USDE Releases Interim ESSER Rule
June 25, 2020
Today the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to clarify the disputed Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund guidance from April. According to USDE, the IFR has the full force of law. The rule is “interim” to allow for a 30 day public comment period. WCRIS schools should [...]
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ESSER Funds and Other Program Confusion
June 18, 2020
Question: I was told today that our public school district uses Title 1 funds only for reading support up to grade 5. This would not be a preferred model for our private school. We prefer the Coronavirus Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds be used for all students. We have voucher (WPCP) families [...]
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Gov. Evers Says GEER Funds to Flow
June 17, 2020
On Wednesday (6/17) Governor Evers announced his plans to start spending the state’s federal Emergency Coronavirus aid for K-12 schools. The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds provide Wisconsin with $46 million in federal relief from Congress (CARES Act). The GEER funds “will prioritize students and districts that have the highest remote learning needs and [...]
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Ten Days to Claim ESSER Funds; Act Fast
June 11, 2020
The DPI has released additional guidance related to the Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to support public school districts and private schools in navigating the consultation and planning process for using the funds to support students during COVID-19. The guidance can be found here, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Equitable [...]
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DC Round Up
June 11, 2020
WCRIS is the state affiliate for the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), who advocates for private schools in DC. The following is a summary of what is happening in DC from CAPE’s monthly newsletter. ESSER Funds The U.S. Department of Education (USED) will be issuing rules on how the equitable services are calculated for [...]
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ESSER Funds: Prepare Now to Maximize COVID-19 Dollars
May 28, 2020
In the coming week, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is expected to open the grant application for districts to apply for the state’s $175 million share of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). District allocations of ESSER funds will be [...]
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Recommendations for Virus-Free Teaching
May 21, 2020
On Thursday, May 21, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released guidance on school operations and COVID-19. This guide includes policies and procedures to help schools plan for the upcoming school year. Keep in mind these are recommendations and not requirements. The DPI understands that not all of the suggestions are feasible for every school. [...]
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What does the WI Supreme Court Order Mean for Schools?
May 14, 2020
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down almost all of Gov. Evers’ “Safer at Home Order” in its ruling May 13. The Court did not, however, strike down the section of the Order that closed public and private K-12 schools. That section of the Order, as well as the defined terms referenced by that section, remains [...]
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Getting ESSA Services for Your Kids During COVID Crisis
May 07, 2020
Many private school leaders have long struggled with getting their students equitable access to federal ESSA title services during normal times. Those problems have increased under the remote learning environment required by COVID-19. To help address this dilemma, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) just released (5/6/20) “Responding to the Changing Needs of Private School [...]
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