Parental Choice Pre-Accreditation

A school must meet the following pre-accreditation criteria. Please assemble all required documentation into the WRISA portal.  The documents become the property of WRISA.

A.  The school must have Foundational Statements that state its vision/mission and core values. This provides the framework in which the school community defines itself and operates. Each school has its own unique Foundational Statements based on the community it serves and the needs of the learners. The Foundational Statements with their stated vision/mission and core values enable a school to determine whether it is achieving what it has set out to do. [WI Statute 118.165(1)(a); 118.165 (1)(f)]

• Documentation:  Copy of vision and/or mission statement, statement of core values approved by the governing entity.

B.  The school must have a governing board/commission/council in place that formulates the policies of the school.  The school is incorporated. [WI Statute 118.165(1)(b)] 

• Documentation:  Copy of names, addresses, and phone numbers of governing board/commission/council positions, and board responsibilities.   
• Documentation:  Board Minutes for the most recent full school year, or minutes from school formation meetings.
• Documentation:  Copy of Articles of Incorporation.  
• Documentation:   Organizational chart of governing board/school leadership
• Board Policy Handbook;  policies must be board approved (minimum inclusion):
  • Nondiscrimination policy
  • Admission policy
  • Student code of conduct
  • Complaint procedure
  • Financial Compliance policies including: Tuition and fees, Annual financial reporting procedures
  • Education Policies including:  parent communication procedures, attendance reporting, promotion and retention, and graduation requirements (if applicable) 
  • Health and Safety policies including, criminal background checks, mandatory abuse reporting, medication administration, immunization records, emergency drills, student supervision, and visitor policy
  • Student records policies including record retention, student transcripts, confidentiality, parent access, and record transfer

C.  The school must have a written sequentially progressive curriculum in place that includes the following subjects: language arts including reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and health. (WRISA requirement also includes: physical education, music, the visual arts, and technology.) [WI Statute 118.165(1)(d)]

‘Sequentially progressive curriculum’ is defined as:

1) A separate document for each subject area.

2) Subject areas to be included are: Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Health. For WRISA accreditation, additional subjects include Fine Arts (including Music and the Visual Arts), Physical Education, Technology Education, World Languages, and Cultures.

a) Language Arts must include curricula for reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

b) Specific benchmarks/outcomes for each grade level in each subject area must be provided (simply submitting a copy of the Common Core State Standards is unacceptable).

c) A clear progression of content, skills, and dispositions linking one grade level to the next in each subject area is required.

• Documentation:  Copy of written curriculum that includes the subjects listed above.  The curricula provide specific benchmarks/outcomes for each grade level in each subject area that moves beyond the Common Core Standards.
• Documentation:  Copy of written benchmarks/outcomes for each grade level in each subject area that are more than a copy of the Common Core Standards.
• Documentation:  Curricula show the progression of content, skills, and dispositions in each subject and link one grade to the next. 
• Documentation:  Graduation requirements (if applicable)

D.  The school must meet standard legal requirements for health, safety, and cleanliness, including procedures for fire, tornado, and other emergency drills; kitchen inspections; heating, ventilation, asbestos, and lighting regulations; adequate fire extinguishers and warning systems; health and safety guidelines including blood-borne pathogens, first aid, CPR, and crisis/safe school plan.

• Documentation:  Copy of most recent safety, health and inspection reports.
• Documentation:  Copy of most recent fire and tornado drills/safety drill reports (for existing schools) OR (if NEW school, provide blank reporting forms)
• Crisis Management Handbook (minimum inclusion)
  • Emergency operations plan
  • Employee Trainings:  blood-borne pathogens, first aid, mandated reporting, and CPR
  • Fire drills
  • Tornado/severe weather drills
  • Lockdown procedures
  • Crisis response
  • Medication administration
  • Playground inspections (if applicable)
  • Building inspections
  • Asbestos management (if applicable)
  • Maintenance schedule of building cleaning
• Documentation:  Copy of permanent occupancy permit. 

E.  The school must have a written non-discriminatory policy used in hiring personnel. Church-affiliated schools may give preference to members of their faith as allowed by law.

• Documentation:  Copy of non-discrimination statement in hiring.
• Documentation:  Copy of Criminal Background policy

F.  The school must have a written non-discriminatory policy used in admissions or other services. Church-affiliated schools may give preference to members of their faith as allowed by law.

• Documentation:  Copy of non-discrimination statement for admissions and services.

G.  The normal instructional day provides for a school year of the expected number of hours (K = 437 hours, 1-6 = 1,050 hours, 7-12 = 1,137 hours).  The normal instructional day will be at least six clock hours exclusive of a lunch period.

NOTE: When grades 7 and 8 are included as part of an elementary school, the hours of instruction are the same as for grades 1-6. When grades 7 and 8 are included as part of an elementary school participating in the Parental Choice Program, the hours of DIRECT instruction are the same as for grades 7-12.  It is important to include extra hours in the school calendar to cover a loss of time for acts of nature which may take away from the direct instructional time. [WI Statute 118.165(1)(c); 118.165(1)(e); 118.165 (1)(f)]

• Documentation:  Copy of school compulsory attendance policy. 
• Documentation:  Copy of school schedule showing students return annually to homes for not less than two months of summer vacation or the institution is licensed as a child welfare agency under s. 48.60 (1)     
• Documentation:  Copy of daily schedule showing at least six clock hours of direct instruction exclusive of lunch.
• Documentation:  A copy of the yearly schedule (face-to-face student attendance days by month) showing compliance with the required hours of instruction from the State Department of Public Instruction.

H.  The school has a professional and competent staff in sufficient numbers to support student learning.  (if staff is not hired yet, insert information into the WRISA portal upon hiring)

• Documentation:  Copy of names and qualifications of all administrators and all faculty members.  (This information is inserted into the staff members tab in the WRISA portal)
• Documentation:  Copies of college degrees from accredited institutions and highest level earned. List subjects/grades the teachers will be teaching. Copies of college diplomas and state licenses. (This information is inserted into the staff members tab in the WRISA portal)
• Documentation:  Copy of hiring policies regarding teacher education requirements. (NOTE:  Schools pursuing accreditation with WRISA, please refer to Standard 5 for educational requirements for professional personnel which differ from requirements for Choice Program). (Standards tab in WRISA portal)
• Documentation:  Staff Handbook: minimum inclusion:
  • Attendance reporting responsibilities
  • Code of Conduct / Professional Ethics
  • Conciliation / Grievance Procedures
  • Employee Evaluation Procedures
  • Employment Policies:  Discharge/Termination Procedures, Family and Medical Leave and Other Leave/Time Off, Reduction in Workforce / Layoffs, and Voluntary Separations
  • Mandatory Reporting Training Documentation
  • Non-Discrimination Statement
  • Procedure for Reacting to Violence in the School / Workplace
  • Sexual Harassment Policy
  • Social Media Policy
  • Student Information Privacy (FERPA)
  • Technology Policy (AI guidelines, data security, personal device expectations)
  • Handbook Distribution and Acknowledgment (e.g., in print, digitally, or via email) and how revisions or updates are communicated to staff.
• Documentation:  An outline of projected staff development and teacher evaluation procedures.

I.  The school has an annual budgetary process and budget that support the foundational statements. The administrator and governing/consultative body maintain and oversee financial records, transactions, and statements through a recognized accounting system, and provide financial accountability to stakeholders by publishing an annual financial report.

• Documentation:  A copy of a one-year budget projection (July 1-June 30) clearly showing additional funding beyond Parental Choice Program funds SEPARATE from the DPI Parental Choice Program application forms.  This budget must assure WRISA that the school is solvent through its first year of Operation.
• Documentation:  Proof of funding source(s) in addition to the Parental Choice Program funds
• Documentation:  Copy of Financial Policies and Procedures
• Documentation:  Copy of latest independent financial audit (if one has been completed)              
• Documentation:  Copy of Year-to-Date budget (applies for schools in operation)
• Documentation:  Copy of one (1) year budget projection for the upcoming school year
• Documentation:  Copy of current active insurance (for schools in operation)
• Documentation:  Copy of Application for ‘private pay’ students.

J.  The school has policies and procedures for students and guardians.

• Documentation:  Student/Parent/Guardian Handbook (minimum inclusion)
  • Admissions
  • Academic policies and grading practices, 
  • Attendance requirements
  • Code of conduct and disciplinary procedures
  • Communication procedures between school and home
  • Dress code (if applicable)
  • Enrollment and Admissions procedures
  • Extracurricular activities and participation requirements
  • Health and Safety procedures
  • Legal notices and non-discrimination statements
  • Mission, Vision, Core Value Statements
  • Parent organizations and volunteer opportunities
  • Safety and emergency protocols
  • Support services (e.g., counseling, special education, ESL)
  • Technology and device use guidelines
  • Transfer/Withdrawal and Student Records Policy in compliance with Wis. Stat. § 118.125 and FERPA 
  • Acknowledgment of receipt and agreement to comply with handbook policies (signed by parent/guardian and student)  
• Documentation:  Policy for student cumulative files and health records (Must be kept in separate locations due to FERPA and HIPAA requirements)

K.  The school has policies and procedures for technology usage.

• Documentation:  Technology document that includes the following: 
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • AI policy
  • Internet safety policy
  • Student technology agreement
  • Data privacy policy
  • Device management procedures
  • Cybersecurity practices
  • Backup procedures