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Private Schools in Wisconsin

Special Needs Scholarship Program: School Registration Information

The Bureau of Education Options (BEO) web pages and documents are currently under construction. Most web pages, documents, and forms will continue to be available, but may look different due to updates to ensure Title II ADA digital accessibility requirements are met. If you have any questions or need help finding information or a document, please contact snsp@dpi.wi.gov.

Interested Schools 2027-28

SNSP school registration materials for the 2027-28 school year will be available in early 2027. If you are a private school interested in participating in the SNSP for the 2027-28 school year, please complete the Interested Schools Form to be included on the 2027-28 interested school email list. You will be emailed information about the 2027-28 school registration requirements and timelines when the information is available.

 

2026-27 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.  

See the Archived Trainings for more information on School Registration requirements.

 

1. Notice of Intent to Participate (ITP): Due by March 2, 2026

The SNSP Intent to Participate (ITP) for the 2026-27 school year is now closed in the SNSP Portal in WISEhome.  

 

2. Special Education Profile: Due by March 2, 2026

The Special Education profile in the SNSP Portal is now closed.  

  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 2026, 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 1, 2026. Schools cannot use their own surety bond form or the prior year surety bond form. They must use the 2026-27 prefilled surety bond form DPI emails to the school mid April 2026.

-OR-

  • Meet Financial Requirements: This option requires that a 2026-27 DPI Budget & Cash Flow Report  was submitted by March 2, 2026. The completed DPI Budget and Cash Flow Report and all required attachments must have been loaded to Kiteworks for schools to use this option. Schools must have emailed snsp@dpi.wi.gov by February 24th to request a SNSP budget folder in Kiteworks if they wanted to use this option. If the school provided a 2024-25 financial audit to the DPI, the school's 2024-25 financial audit must meet certain minimum requirements to use this option. 

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, 2026. The accreditation notice may not be dated earlier than July 1, 2026.

-OR-

  • SNSP Private School Requirements Form: Schools that are not fully accredited for all grades available for SNSP students must be annually approved as a private school by the state superintendent. Schools using this option must have emailed snsp@dpi.wi.gov by February 24th to request a folder in Kiteworks. The completed form and required support must have been uploaded to the folder in Kiteworks by March 2, 2026. Kiteworks is the Department’s secure online platform. This approval requires that the school must have submitted the SNSP Private School Requirements Form by March 2, 2026. 

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

  • New Schools = May 1, 2026
  • 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 2, 2026. 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.

If you have any questions, please e-mail snsp@dpi.wi.gov or call 608-267-1292 ext. 4.