Wisconsin Leaders Reach Deal to Expand School Choice Program

MADISON – The American Federation for Children applauds Wisconsin Governor Evers, Speaker Vos, and Senate Majority Leader LeMahieu for coming together in a compromise that would increase the per-pupil amounts received by students in school choice programs.

Eligible families would now qualify for vouchers of up to $9,500 for elementary and middle school students and $12,000 for high schoolers to attend the private school of their choice. Charter schools would receive a base of $11,000 for each student. Separately, the Special Needs Scholarship Program will increase to $14,677 per student.

In addition, students in school choice programs will also receive the same $325 general per-pupil increase as their traditional public school peers.

In total, the bill expands Wisconsin’s programs by nearly $300 million—the largest increase ever in the state’s thirty-three-year history of school choice.

Statement by Tommy Schultz, CEO, American Federation for Children:

“AFC is thankful to Governor Evers, Speaker Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Le Mahieu for setting aside partisan differences and coming together to expand education opportunities for Wisconsin’s neediest students. Their work shows that there is always a way to put students and families first.

Today’s victory for families wouldn’t have been possible without the decades-long effort of our Wisconsin allies like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and School Choice Wisconsin.”

Details:

• Students eligible for the Parental, Milwaukee, and Racine Choice Programs would qualify for vouchers up to the following amounts:
  • $9,500 for elementary and middle school
  • $12,000 for high school
• Special Needs Scholarship Program recipients would receive $14,677 per student.
• Charter schools would receive a base of $11,000 for each student.
• Students in school choice programs will also receive the same $325 general per-pupil increase as their traditional public school peers.