Update to school funding policy would solve issues public schools face, benefit all students

MADISON, Wis. (October 16, 2024) – The Wisconsin Public Education Network is holding an event Wednesday evening in Manitowoc to attack choice schools over funding despite an easy solution existing. “Decoupling” legislation passed last year by the Wisconsin State Assembly would save taxpayers in the Manitowoc School District more than $1.5 million – a move supported by School Choice Wisconsin last legislative session. 

“Thousands of Wisconsin families use vouchers to get the best educational outcomes for their kids every year. The solution isn’t fewer choices for parents – it’s empowering them with more,” said Nicholas Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. “Decoupling legislation last session would have addressed this issue and saved taxpayers millions of dollars, but the teacher’s unions opposed it. It’s a common-sense solution that will put the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program on the same level as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and benefit all students in all school systems.” 

Assembly Bill 900 was passed by the Assembly last session but not in the Senate. The bill would end school aid reduction for each choice and charter student in a district. The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program is decoupled from Milwaukee Public Schools, but the standard is not the same for the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and its respective districts. Despite broad support from other organizations, the Wisconsin Education Association Council and every Assembly Democrat opposed these efforts.

Statewide, School Choice is incredibly popular. Recent polling indicates that nearly 70% of Wisconsinites support it, including 69% of Independents, 47% of Democrats, and 87% of Republicans.