Gov. Scott Walker announced a proposal to expand Wisconsin’s school choice programs Monday that includes vouchers meant to give parents more options in school choice.
Wisconsin has the oldest school voucher program in the U.S., according to a press release from the governor’s office. Programs currently exist in Milwaukee and Racine.
Under these programs, states provide vouchers for students whose residency and family income levels meet certain requirements, funding their attendance at private schools that can better meet their educational needs.
According to the release, the expansion of the state’s voucher program will open it to school districts with at least two underperforming schools and over 4,000 students, but will also include limits of 500 and 1,000 students in the 2014 and ‘15 fiscal years, respectively.
“Every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves access to a great education,” Walker said in a statement.
The move to expand school choice programs around the state will be funded as part of Walker’s budget, which he will formally announce Wednesday.
The budget will include additional funding going to each sector of education, including charter schools and student-choice programs. According to the release, the plan also expands open enrollment for individual courses, which provides access to foreign language and Advanced Placement courses that students in rural areas cannot currently access.
State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in a statement Monday a Charter School Oversight Board, which the budget proposal will create, “will ensure that every school will be held to high educational standards.”
“The governor has proposed excellent options to help students succeed at every level; removing barriers for those don’t want to settle for anything less than a top-notch education,” Vos said in the statement.
State Democrats criticized Walker’s budget proposal for not doing enough to make up for previous cuts to education funding, attacking in particular his decision to expand the voucher program.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said the proposal is a “bad deal” for Wisconsin’s economy and taxpayers.
“At a time when our public schools continue to struggle because they lack necessary funding, how can he justify giving more to private voucher schools?” Barca said in a statement.
