WPA has been informed by the DPI that in order to save money, the DPI will be switching from paper PI-1206 forms to an electronic version that homeschoolers file online beginning this August with forms for the 2010-2011 school year. This change requires new procedures and raises concerns about protecting homeschoolers’ privacy. The WPA Board has discussed the issues involved, and a WPA representative has gathered the following information from the DPI.

Summary: Recent Wisconsin legislation on virtual charter schools required the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) to audit these schools. The audit report published in February 2010 is long and detailed. But close inspection reveals that it is based on unsubstantiated information provided by the schools themselves, which obviously have a vested interest in the report’s findings. Because independently verifiable information to confirm or correct the schools’ claims is not available, the report is of questionable value. This serious problem should be addressed by the Legislature when it makes decisions based on this report concerning the future of these schools.

The law is poorly written. It does not state when provisions for charging children enrolled in kindergarten with truancy go into effect. The provisions are being applied arbitrarily by districts.