SB 495

This bill makes the following changes to parental choice programs:

1. Under current law, a private school may accept applications from pupils to

attend the private school under the statewide parental choice program for the

following school year from February 1 to April 20. The bill changes the application

period to begin on the first weekday in February and end on the third Thursday in

April.

2. Under current law, a private school that receives applications from pupils

for the statewide parental choice program must, no later than the May 1 immediately

following the application period, report the number of applicants to the Department

of Public Instruction so that DPI may determine whether a pupil participation

limitation has been exceeded. The bill changes that reporting deadline to the first

weekday in May.

3. Under current law, a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental

Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, or the statewide parental

choice program must annually provide DPI with evidence that the private school

remains accredited for the current school year, including a letter from an accrediting

entity that confirms that the private school is accredited by that entity as of the date

of the letter. The bill requires that a private school must submit a “notice” from an

accrediting entity, rather than a “letter.”