1. 2017 Legislative Update
October 19, 2017

2. Voucher Amount 2017-18 – $207 increase
MPCP, RPCP and WPCP: $7,530 / $8,176
SNSP: $12,207
– $217 increase
MPCP, RPCP and WPCP: $7,747 / $8,393
SNSP: $12,424

3. WPCP Income Limits
Increased from 185% FPL to 220% FPL

4. Student Eligibility
Returning choice students – once in, always in for income when switching programs
Students who were waitlisted for WPCP in any year due to the district cap are not subject to entry points
Students who applied to the RPCP or WPCP but were waitlisted (any reason) are not subject to income verification or entry points when applying the following year
Entry points not applicable for out-of-state students and continuing choice students (from any program)

5. School Eligibility
A school that merges with a school already participating in the RPCP or WPCP is not subject to entry points for their first 2 years in the program

6. Optional WPCP Summer Open Enrollment Period
Schools may accept WPCP transfer applications during the first 3 weeks of August
Students must have applied to the WPCP during the February-April application period
Students must have moved between April 21 and the 3rd Friday in August
Students are still subject to the district caps

7. Summer School
Summer school funding prorated for students who attend fewer than 15 days
Beginning in 2018, funding for SNSP summer school

8. Audit and Financial Requirements
$100,000 threshold for GAAP financial audit
In lieu of anticipated budget, new MPCP, RPCP or WPCP schools can choose to submit to DPI a surety bond
Equal to 25% of anticipated choice dollars
Schools must return their reserve balance if school does not maintain a cash and investment balance = to reserve balance

9. Administrative Requirements
All parental choice schools must conduct criminal background checks on employees
Eliminate continuing eligibility report
Eliminate November 1 updated budget for new schools
Continuing schools’ policies, board signatures and academic standards only upon request or change

10. Miscellaneous Items Families can directly submit income to DOR
Schools can charge for room and board
Up to 140 work-based learning program hours can be counted for hours of instruction
DPI can bar schools that “intentionally or negligently” misrepresent information

11. Testing
High school students must earn a 65 (previously 60) on the Civics Exam
Only require testing if 20 or more students in grades 3-12

12. Accountability Report
High school report card must include:
# and % of students who participate in Early College Credit Program
# and % of students who participate in youth apprenticeships
# of student community service hours
# of AP school and # of AP credits earned by students

13. Early College Credit Program (formerly Youth Options)
Beginning in , private schools can participate in this program
Allows students to take college courses (not technical colleges) during high school at discounted rate
Private schools responsible for some cost
Student must reimburse school if they do not pass the class
A school can limit a student to 18 credits

14. Teacher Licensure
DPI will be working on converting licenses affected by this budget.  Educators will not need to complete any steps to obtain the new license for which they are eligible
Please see the DPI website for the most up-to-date information

15. Special Needs Scholarship Program - Eligibility
No open enrollment denial requirement
No prior public school enrollment requirement
eligibility criteria:
Wisconsin resident age 4-21
Current IEP or Services Plan in effect
SCW is currently discussing with DPI how private school students with special needs can obtain an IEP that is “in effect”
New, optional, high cost voucher model available beginning in

16. Grants Private schools are now eligible for the following grants
Bullying prevention grant
School improvement grant
Personal electronic computing devices grant
Robotics league participation grants pilot program
School mental health programs aid
Teacher development program grant

17. Q&A
Questions?