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Private School Choice Programs: School Registration Information

2026-27 Optional School Registration Training - New Schools
 

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) encourages new schools for the 2026-27 school year to participate in one of the optional Online 2026-27 School Registration Trainings for the Private School Choice Programs.

  • When: Dates/Time coming soon.  NOTE: The same information will be covered in both training sessions. The training is NOT recorded.

  • Training Meeting Link (coming soon)
  • Topic: How to register for the program by January 10, 2026 including - Completing the Notice of School's Intent to Participate; Required school policies; Student Information System (SIS) and WISEdata requirements; and Surety Bond Financial Requirements.
  • Training Presentation Slides: See the "School Registration Presentations" section of this webpage for the slides used for these optional trainings. 

2026-27 Required School Registration - New & Continuing Schools

 
Schools must review and complete the documents in the New Schools or Continuing Schools table below by January 10, 2026.  Additionally, all schools must review the documents below the table under All Schools.
 
  • Continuing schools are schools that are currently participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, Racine Parental Choice Program, or Wisconsin Parental Choice Program.
  • New schools** are any schools that are not currently participating in the Private School Choice Programs. Some new schools were required to meet certain requirements prior to August 1, 2025 to be eligible to participate in the 2026-27 school year. Please review the information below under "New Private School Registration Requirements" to determine if your school is eligible prior to registering. 

New Schools

Due by January 10, 2026
  1. Cover Letter Regarding School Registration (coming soon)
  2. School Registration Checklist (coming soon)
  3. Notice of School's Intent to Participate (ITP) 
    • Access via Online Application System (OAS) - see page 2 of above cover letter for instructions for new school's Choice administrator to request access to OAS
  4. Random Selection
  5. Auditor Fee* (coming soon)
    • Pay online via Online Auditor Fee Form OR
    • Mail paper Auditor Fee Form  with a cashier's check (mailing address on form)
  6. Disclosure of Information
Due by January 16, 2026 - Choice administrator training
  1. Choice Program Requirements Training and Quiz AND OAS Access Training and Quiz - both trainings and quizzes must be completed by January 16 or OAS access will be removed
New schools that will have Designees must complete:

  1. OAS Access Training and Quiz (unless new designee was a Choice administrator or designee within two years); AND

  2. Designee Authorization and Update Form

Continuing Schools

Due by January 10, 2026
  1. Cover Letter Regarding School Registration (coming soon)
  2. School Registration Checklist (coming soon)
  3. Notice of School's Intent to Participate (ITP)
  4. Random Selection
  5. Auditor Fee* (coming soon)
    • Pay via Online Auditor Fee Form OR
    • Mail paper Auditor Fee Form with cashier's check (mailing address on form) 
Continuing Schools with a new Choice Administrator must complete:
  1. Choice Program Requirements Training and Quiz AND OAS Access Training and Quiz (unless new person was a Choice administrator within two years); AND 
Continuing schools with new Designees must complete:

  1. OAS Access Training and Quiz (unless new designee was a Choice administrator or designee within two years); AND

  2. Designee Authorization and Update Form

 

*The DPI recommends schools use the online payment option. If the school pays online, do not mail the paper form to the DPI.

 

All Schools - Important Information to Review by January 10, 2026
 

  1. Changes to the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program for the 2026-27 School Year (coming soon)
  2. Application Process Bulletin 2026-27 School Year
  3. Additional Bulletins at Program Bulletins: Student Eligibility and the Application Grade or Prior Year Requirement, Summer School Bulletin, Accreditation Bulletin, and Combined Private Schools and Prior Year Attendance

School Registration Presentations

 
  1. Trainings at On Demand Training:  Training 2-1 School Registration Process Overview and Training 2-2 Intent to Participate
  2. New Schools Registration Training Slides (coming soon)

**New Private School Registration Requirements
for the 2026-27 School Year

 
If your school is new to the Private School Choice Programs, the school registration requirements and deadlines established in state law vary based on whether your private school is considered a "new private school" or an "existing private school" per Wis. Stats. §§ 118.60 and 119.23.
 
In order to proceed with registration, your school must first determine if it is a "new private school" or an "existing private school" by answering the following questions:
  1. Has your private school been open with enrolled students for longer than 12 consecutive months?
  2. Does your private school have at least 40 students or have three or more grades with enrolled students?
If your school answered no to either question, it may meet the definition of a "new private school," and must consider this last question:
  1. Is your private school operated/managed by a private school already participating in the Private School Choice Programs?
If your school also answered no to this last question, then it meets the definition of a "new private school."

"New private school":  If your school is a “new private school”, you were required to meet certain requirements by August 1, 2025.  Schools that did not meet these requirements by August 1, 2025 are not eligible to participate in the Private School Choice Program for the 2026-27 school year, should not complete 2026-27 Notice of School’s Intent to Participate, and should not send the Auditor Fee or Form to DPI. For additional information about requirements applicable to "new private schools," please see the Private School Choice Programs: "New Private School" Registration Information webpage. 
 
"Existing private school":  Private schools that do not meet the new private school definition are considered an “existing private school”.  These schools may proceed with completing the School’s Notice of Intent to Participate for the 2026-27 school year in the Private School Choice Programs.
 
Please contact the DPI at PrivateSchoolChoice@dpi.wi.gov or 1-888-245-2732 ext. 3 with any questions.
 

New Schools Interested in Joining the
Private School Choice Programs in the 2027-28 School Year
 

Sign up here to receive additional information, as it becomes available.

 

If you have any questions, please e-mail PrivateSchoolChoice@dpi.wi.gov
or call toll free 1-888-245-2732 ext. 3.