Ed-Choice’s 2024 School Starter Checklist evaluates private school regulations across the U.S., including Wisconsin, using a stoplight system: green for reasonable, yellow for potentially burdensome, and red for overly restrictive. The study emphasizes maintaining school autonomy while ensuring accountability.

Key Findings for Wisconsin:

Registration and Accreditation: Optional accreditation unless schools join choice programs, supporting autonomy (green).

Nonprofit Status: No mandate for nonprofit status, allowing diverse models (green).

School Day and Year: A requirement of 875 instructional hours is seen as restrictive (red).

Curriculum and Record Keeping: Progressive curriculum and record-keeping rules are potentially burdensome (yellow).

Testing and Teacher Certification: No state-mandated tests or certification, supporting independence (green).

Health and Safety: Monthly fire and biannual hazard drills with reporting may burden smaller schools (yellow).

Autonomy and Legislative Challenges
EdChoice supports private schools’ freedom to define their mission and operations. School Choice Wisconsin (SCW) notes that proposed bills, such as those mandating state-approved curricula, could limit this autonomy, particularly for choice program schools. SCW and partners are drafting proposals to protect school independence.

Significance of Autonomy
Autonomy enables private schools to offer diverse educational options, critical for Wisconsin’s school choice programs.