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Special Needs Scholarship Program: School Registration Information

 

2025-26 School Registration

  • Continuing schools are schools that are currently participating in the SNSP.
  • New schools are schools that are not currently participating in the SNSP. The SNSP administrators for new schools must complete the following to obtain access to the SNSP Portal.
  1. The SNSP School Information Set Up form.
  2. After completing the SNSP School Information Set Up form and creating a WAMS account, if required, complete the steps in the Adding SNSP Portal Access Instructions.

SNSP Administrators for new schools should obtain access to the SNSP Portal as soon as possible.

Training for Schools New to SNSP:  SNSP Overview and Registration Process

The Department will be holding a virtual training on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 from 11:45 am to 4:15 pm for schools that are interested in joining the Special Needs Scholarship Program for the 2025-26 school year. This training will provide an overview of the Special Needs Scholarship Program registration process and the program in general. You may register for the training using this link.

This training is geared towards new SNSP schools and will present items that are unique to new SNSP schools. Trainings for all schools in the program will be provided this summer. On demand trainings on the registration requirements are available. See the next section for the links to these trainings.

On Demand Trainings & Virtual Q&A Sessions 

School Registration On Demand Trainings:

Virtual Q&A Session:

The Department will hold two virtual question and answer sessions:

  • Friday, February 21, 2024 from 9:30 am to 10:30 amA link to join this meeting will be posted here.
  • Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A link to join this meeting will be posted here.

There will be no prepared content for these Q&A sessions. Schools are welcome to come with any questions they have on the SNSP registration process.

Other Available Trainings:

For general information on SNSP school requirements, schools are invited to review the SNSP school training page. Please be aware that some training videos may be school year specific and may change for the 2025-26 school year.

Questions not answered by the above trainings?

Email at snsp@dpi.wi.gov or call toll free 1-888-245-2732 ext. 4.

 

1. Notice of Intent to Participate (ITP): Due by March 3, 2025

The SNSP Intent to Participate (ITP) for the 2025-26 school year is available in the SNSP Portal in WISEhome.  See the Intent to Participate Trainings in the On Demand Trainings & Virtual Q&A Sessions section above for information on how to access and complete the ITP in the SNSP Portal.

SNSP Administrators for new SNSP schools should refer to the 2025-26 School Registration section above for information on how to gain access to the SNSP Portal.

2. Special Education Profile: Due by March 3, 2025

The Special Education profile in the SNSP Portal is available.  See the 2025-26 SNSP Registration Requirements Overview Training for information on how to access the profile in the SNSP Portal and information on what to include in the profile.

3. If the expected SNSP scholarships in the ITP are $50,000 or more, provide one of the following:

  • Surety Bond: By the middle of April 2025, a prefilled surety bond form will be emailed to all schools that have expected SNSP scholarships in the ITP of $50,000 or more unless the school met the “meet financial requirements” option below. The completed bond form is due by June 2, 2025. Schools cannot use their own surety bond form or the prior year surety bond form. They must use the 2025-26 prefilled surety bond form DPI emails to the school mid April 2025.

-OR-

  • Meet Financial Requirements: This option requires that a 2025-26 DPI Budget & Cash Flow Report be submitted by March 3, 2025. The completed DPI Budget and Cash Flow Report and all required attachments must be loaded to Kiteworks for schools using this option. Schools must email snsp@dpi.wi.gov by February 26th to request a SNSP budget folder in Kiteworks if they are using this option. If the school provided a 2023-24 financial audit to the DPI, the school's 2023-24 financial audit must meet certain minimum requirements to use this option. The 2025-26 SNSP Registration Requirements Overview includes information on these requirements.

4. Accreditation or Approved as a Private School by the State Superintendent: 

  • Accreditation Notice: Schools that are fully accredited must annually provide a notice, completed by the accrediting agency, indicating that all grades available for SNSP students are accredited. See the Accreditation Information Bulletin for information on the accreditation requirements. The accreditation notice is due by August 1, 2025. The accreditation notice may not be dated earlier than July 1, 2025.

-OR-

 

5. Certificate of Occupancy or Letter for all new schools and certain continuing schools due by the following dates:

  • New Schools = May 1, 2025
  • Continuing Schools = Prior to the students being in the new location.
 

6. Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) Letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – New SNSP Schools Only

Schools new to the SNSP should provide the FEIN letter from the IRS to the DPI by March 3, 2025. The information on this letter is required in order for the new school to be set up to receive SNSP payments from the DPI and for schools choosing the surety bond option.

The school's FEIN letter from the IRS should be emailed to snsp@dpi.wi.gov. If the school is not able to locate its FEIN letter, the school should request the letter from the IRS by calling 800-829-4933. Please note a letter indicating the school is a 501(c)3 and exempt from taxes is not sufficient to meet this requirement.  If you are having problems obtaining your FEIN Letter, please email snsp@dpi.wi.gov.

For additional information on this requirement, including samples of what the letter will look like, review the 2025-26 New SNSP Schools Intent to Participate Training.

If you have any questions, please e-mail snsp@dpi.wi.gov or call toll free 1-888-245-2732 ext. 4.