"New Private School" Requirements for Applying to Participate in the
Private School Choice Programs (PSCP)
for the 2025-26 School Year
The deadline for a "new private school" to register for the
2025-26 school year is August 1, 2024.
State law establishes the requirements and deadlines all private schools must meet in order to participate in the PSCP. All private schools new to the PSCP that are interested in participating in the PSCP must register with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and complete the fiscal management training whether the school currently exists or not. The requirements and deadlines established in state law vary based on whether the private school is considered a "new private school" or an "existing private school." See the Registration webpage in order to determine if your school is a "new private school" or an "existing private school." The following are required for "new private schools."
DPI will provide optional, live virtual Q&A sessions in June and July. See the New Private School Training Webpage for additional information.
Requirements for Training Completion
If a "new private school" intends to participate in the PSCP for the 2025-26 school year, the individual that will serve as the school's PSCP administrator must complete all of the following. The following should be completed by the PSCP Administrator by July 15, 2024. Failure of the Choice Administrator to complete the training by July 15, 2024, may impact the school’s ability to timely receive a Kiteworks folder and submit the Budget & Cash Flow Report and related attachments by August 1, 2024. If the PSCP Administrator fails to complete all of the following on a timely basis, the school will not be eligible to participate in the PSCP in the 2025-26 school year. See the registration checklist and registration cover letter below for additional information.
- Watch each of the Fiscal Management training modules on the New Private School Training Webpage. The Fiscal Management training modules will explain how to complete the 2025-26 Budget and Cash Flow Report ("Budget") for the sample school (Holy Love) and what information should be input into the Budget for the sample school.
- Complete the online quiz on the Fiscal Management training. Upload the completed Budget for the sample school (Holy Love) in the online quiz. *Please note that the Holy Love Budget you load into the quiz will have Errors in the Error Report and will not meet all of the Choice program new school requirements. You do not need to try to resolve the errors or remove the financial related issues in Holy Love's budget unless the training specifically indicates you should enter information/amounts in the example budget and cash flow report.*
Questions on the training or Fiscal Management requirements should be emailed to dpichoiceauditreports@dpi.wi.gov.
Note: The PSCP administrator is the individual identified on the Intent to Participate form. This person must meet the PSCP administrator requirements. See the Staff Credentials Bulletin for information on the requirements to be a PSCP administrator.
Required Forms & Documents Due by August 1, 2024:
Please read the Cover Letter Regarding School Registration Materials BEFORE completing or submitting any of the registration forms and other required materials.
Overview of Requirements
Auditor Fee
-
Mail paper Auditor Fee Form with a cashier's check (mailing address on form)
Disclosure of Information
2025-26 Budget and Cash Flow Report
- 2025-26 Budget and Cash Flow Report
- Kiteworks Budget Submission Instructions-The PSCP administrator, who completed the online quiz on the Fiscal Management Training will receive an email with information about how to access their Kiteworks account.
Information on Additional Requirements:
- Accreditation Bulletin
- Staff Credentials Bulletin
- See the Statutes & Rules webpage for the statutes and rules for the program.
- School Modification Form
If you have any questions, please e-mail PrivateSchoolChoice@dpi.wi.gov
or call toll free 1-888-245-2732 ext. 3.