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Special Needs Scholarship Program

Special Needs Scholarship Program

Starting with the 2016-17 school year, the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) allows a student with a disability, who meets certain eligibility requirements, to receive a state-funded scholarship to attend a participating private school. The Special Needs Scholarship Program is governed by Wisconsin Statute 115.7915 and Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PI 49.

This notice serves to inform parents and guardians of students with disabilities that the State of Wisconsin has established the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

The State of Wisconsin has established the Special Needs Scholarship Program for students with disabilities. Under this scholarship program and as further specified in state law, a child with a disability who has been denied the opportunity to attend a nonresident school district under the fulltime open enrollment program may be eligible to receive a scholarship from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that allows the child to attend an eligible private school that is participating in the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

This is a state administered program. A parent or guardian who is interested in the Special Needs Scholarship Program should independently verify the participating private schools and the specific terms, eligibility criteria, and application procedures of the scholarship program with the DPI. The Special Needs Scholarship Program is further defined under Wis. Stat. §115.7915. However, special eligibility requirements not found in that statute exist for program scholarships that are awarded for private school attendance that initially begins in the 2016-17 school year.

Additional information about the program should be available on the website of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction -Special Needs Scholarship Program.