Brandi Fauver, director of Zebaoth Learning Center, said she was under the impression that preschools had to provide only half of the 875 hours of instruction. Harbor Cross's director, Portia Draeving, also disputed the DPI's findings, saying Harbor Cross offers more than 900 hours of instruction. Of the nine other applicants notified that funding would be withheld, the DPI said it has been unable to verify that the applicants meet the definition of private schools because they have failed to provide necessary documentation. That paperwork includes a school calendar indicating hours of instruction and documents on the curriculum for each grade, Soldner said. Soldner said about half of the nine applicants probably would not qualify as private schools.
Grace is a new applicant for the choice program.
Immanuel is a new applicant. Immanuel also was among the applicants targeted last week, when the DPI said it hadn't provided a copy of its occupancy permit. Stepping Stone is a new applicant. Last week, the DPI threatened to withhold funding from six applicants - four because they did not have the required occupancy permits to show their buildings meet health and safety codes for schools and two for failing to refund to the state overpayments they received last year. Sending the DPI a copy of the occupancy permit is a new requirement this year.