Choice Schools: Yearly Data Reporting Resources

1. WISEhome: Creating Credentials to Log In. Create credentials (username/password and an associated email address) to access DPI secure applications (i.e., WISEid, WISEdata) using WISEhome. Options include either an Enterprise level Google email for use with Google Single Sign-On (SSO), or the creation of a MyWisconsin ID account.
   • NOTE: After September 30, 2026, WAMS will be retired and discontinued. 
2. Student Information System (SIS) Software/Vendor Tool: The Wisconsin Act 256 requires private schools participating in the Private School Choice Programs (Choice schools) to have a commercially available student information system (SIS) capable of exchanging data (interoperating) with the state WISEdata system. 
   • Please visit the WISEdata Vendor List website for a listing of vendors/organizations that offer SIS tools and other products capable of submitting data to WISEdata based on the Ed-Fi Alliance Standards.
   • Confirm your vendor is in good standing: SIS Vendor Certification Status webpage.
   • If you have changed SIS products, please review our SIS Conversion Guidance. 
   • Submit a WISE Help Ticket if you need support. To help us provide you with quicker support, please select the following items on your WISE Help Ticket: 
     • School Type: Private
     • Your school’s name and location
3. Enable WISEdata Ed-Fi Credential API by making sure your URLs are current, and your key/secret are correct. Please visit the Ed-Fi User Guide for details on how to locate and use your key/secret.
4. Choice Security Administrator (aka, DSA) tasks completed: A Choice Administrator does not have to be the DSA. The Choice Administrator can assign a delegate DSA when the complete the DSA Authorization Form. 
   • NOTE: The Choice administrator, or their selected delegate, will automatically be assigned all roles when the DSA role is assigned. 
   • Choice Administrators should also review the following webpages:
     • Data at DPI
     • Data Requests (forms)
     • Student Data Privacy Resources
5. Choice Administrator, or delegated DSA, will then need to set up WISE User Roles for staff to access secure reporting applications. Only the Choice Admin/DSA designee may assign access.
   • Set Up New WISEdata Users: How To Assign Access to WISEhome Applications
     • Ed-Fi Credential
     • SAFE
     • School Directory Management Portal
       • Use the Private School User Guide
     • WISEadmin Portal 
       • NOTE: Agency Contacts should be specific for each SCHOOL
     • WISEid
     • WISEdata
     • WISEsecure
     • NOTE: Choice schools do not collect staff data, so WISEstaff is not required
6. Update Agency Contacts: for each WISE application
   • Review the Updating Agency Contacts in WISE Applications mini tutorial for the following:
     • WISEadmin Portal: Agency Contacts should be specific for each SCHOOL.
     • WISEdata Portal: Primary Contact is the person performing WISEdata reporting.
     • WISEid: Primary Contact is the person performing WISEid reporting.
     • School Directory: Complete the annual required School Directory updates. 
       • Please refer to the Private School, School Directory User Guide for details on how to change agency level and building level required contacts. 
       • Complete all annually required School Directory updates.
       • NOTE: Choice schools do not report PK or K3, and do not report three-year-old students to WISEdata because these students receive special education services to support an individual education plan (IEP).
7. School Directory: complete the annual required School Directory updates.
   • Choice schools do not report PK or K3, and do not report three-year-old students to WISEdata.
   • There are also special tasks to be completed for Choice and SNSP Schools.
8. PI-1207 Report: submit all required PI-1207 information.
9. Private School Choice Programs, Online Application System (OAS): submit all required OAS information.
10. Please note that if your school is participating in the Private School Choice Programs (Choice) or Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP), changes that affect those programs must be submitted using the update forms on the Choice or SNSP websites.
    • For example, changing the main contact email address through the form for the Directory will only change it for emails related to the Directory. That will not change the email address that is used for Choice program or SNSP correspondence. Thank you for your work to ensure your school’s information is accurate.
    • For Choice changes, please visit the Private School Choice Programs: School Submitted Reports and Forms webpage.
    • For SNSP changes, please visit the Special Needs Scholarship Program-School Submitted Reports webpage.
    • There are also special tasks to be completed for Choice and SNSP Schools.
11. Enter the following student information entered into your student information system (SIS) via WISEid upload, or by using the Student Identity Integration within your SIS, if it has this featured tool. File layouts and templates are available.
    • Student Name
      • Middle name can be an initial
    • Race/Ethnicity
    • Date of Birth
    • Gender
    • Parent/Guardian Name and relationship
12. Opt-In or Opt-Out of the Private School - All Students Report Card Selection. Choice schools are required to select an option:
    • Before August 1st, Choice schools must submit their Opt-In/Opt-Out selection and a variety of other forms to update school related information annually, indicating their selection either to receive or not receive the optional All Students Report Card.
      • Opt-in to the All Students Report Card requires ALL students (Choice and non-Choice participants) to be submitted to WISEdata and reported on the School Report Card.
        • Opting-in to the All Students Report Card allows schools to automatically pull down immunization data from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry Integration (WIR) via WISEadmin Portal if the SIS vendor participates.
      • Opt-out from the All Students Report Card requires Choice participants only to be reported on the School Report Card.
        • Opt-out of the All Students Report Card does not allow for the use of the Wisconsin Immunization Registry Integration (WIR) tool. Immunization Registry Schools should not pull student records using the WIR tool unless they have opted-in to the All-Student report card.
13. School Enrollment paperwork requires ALL of the following data elements:
    • Attendance
    • Birth Date
    • Choice School Program Participation
    • Count Inclusion: 3rd Friday of September
      • Count Date Status
    • Disability
    • Economically Disadvantaged Status
      • Effective Begin and End Dates
    • ELP Code, required for Choice schools participating in Title III services
    • Enrollment and Exit Date
    • Enrollment Type
    • Exit Types
    • Food Service Eligibility Begin and End Dates
    • Gender
    • Grade Level Placement
    • Local Person ID/Type
    • Migrant Status - not required, but highly recommended
    • Multiple Birth Status
    • Parent/Guardian
    • Parent/Guardian Name
    • Primary Service Provider
    • Race and Ethnicity Data
    • Receiving Services on a Count Date
    • Report Card Selection
    • Student Name (Legal and Other Names)
    • WISEid

Please visit the following web pages for detailed information on snapshot data collection:

• WISEdata Annual Tasks Checklist
• Snapshot Preparation Guidance
• Snapshot Data Quality Auditing Information
• WISEdash Extracts for Choice Schools
  • Log into WISEdata Portal via WISEhome. Under the Agency menu, click the Exports tab. Download the extract you want to see:
    • Graduation & HS Completion Rate:
      • To be viewed by schools with grade 12 enrollments.
      • This report shows students included in the numerator and denominator of the Graduation Rate (Regular Diploma) and High School Completion Rate.
    • Graduate Future Cohorts:
      • To be viewed by all schools with grade levels 9-12. Verifies a student’s first enrollment in high school (typically grade 9).
      • This report shows the cohort for high school completion in which a student is placed based on grade level and school year of their first entry into high school.
    • Dropout Rate:
      • To be viewed by schools with grade 12 enrollments.
      • This report shows students included in the numerator and denominator of the annual dropout rate.
    • Absenteeism:
      • To be viewed by all schools.
      • This report shows students' status regarding the Wisconsin state definition of chronic absenteeism.
  • WISEdash Extracts are intended to help Choice schools access graduation and dropout rate information made available only in WISEdash for Districts. WISEdash Extracts work similarly to normal WISEdata Portal exports, allowing Choice schools to download reports they can use to track graduation cohorts and calculate graduation, high school completion, and dropout rates.

Within WISEdata Portal, please visit the following screens:

1. WISEdata Portal Resources Tab, Vendor Resources: check to see if your EdTech (SIS) vendor has provided any tutorial materials to help you resolve any validation errors or warnings. If none are listed, consider reaching out to your EdTech vendor and encouraging them to do so.
2. Review WISEdata Portal Data Quality Alerts and Data Quality Indicators
3. Data Element ‘Close Out’ Tasks:
   • Attendance
   • Credential Type: High school graduates require the credential type of Regular Diploma entered into the SIS.
   • ELP (English Language Proficiency) Scores
   • Exit Dates: This should reflect the last day of receiving educational services unless your school has a specific policy regarding exit date.
   • Food Service Program Exit Date
   • Term Completion Indicator
4. Start Preparing Enrollment Documents for New School Year.
5. Title Services Consultation: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires each state to identify an ombudsman to work with private schools and public school districts to ensure equitable services are appropriately provided. DPI has contracted with the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS) to be Wisconsin’s ombudsman. Direct all equitable service inquiries to essaombudsman@dpi.wi.gov.
   • If receiving Title I services, consult with your LEA to determine what economic data is available and should be reported.
   • If receiving Title III services, work with LEA to have students assessed with ACCESS to report ELP (English Language Proficiency).
   • For additional information, visit the Title I and School Support page or contact the Title I and School Support Team at (608) 267-3721 or dpititle1@dpi.wi.gov.