Milwaukee’s voucher program is the nation’s oldest, created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1990. It enrolls 20,996 students in 102 private schools with vouchers worth about $6,442 per student in the 2010-2011 school year. About 38 percent of the program funding came from a reduction in state general aid to Milwaukee Public Schools and 62 percent from state general purpose revenues with the voucher program estimated to cost $131 million in 2010-2011. Studies have repeatedly show no major differences in test scores between voucher students and their peers in the Milwaukee Public Schools.
In June 2011, Gov. Scott Walker signed the 2011-2013 state budget into law that expanded the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and created the Racine Parental Choice pilot program. Changes to the Milwaukee voucher program include: removing enrollment caps, expanding student eligibility and expanding school participation eligibility. The Racine voucher program allows students in the Racine Unified School District to receive a voucher to attend a participating private school. The program has an enrollment cap of 250 in the first year and 500 in the second, and no cap in subsequent years.
Additional Resources
Test scores same at Wisconsin public, voucher schools (Today, 8-17-2011)
Wisconsin state audit confirms same performance between voucher and public school students.
Governor cuts funds from most public schools, expands vouchers (AP, 7-1-11)
Former head of a voucher school pleads guilty to mail fraud and money laundering. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3-22-2011)
Results show Wisconsin voucher students test poorly (Washington Examiner, 3-29-11)
The latest study of the Milwaukee voucher program showed that students attending voucher schools performed worse in reading and math than their peers in public schools. For students from low-income families in public schools, they also outperformed students attending voucher schools. Voucher students took the state tests for the first time this year, allowing for the comparison in the statewide reading and math performance.
Budget proposal includes new rules for voucher schools (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6-1-09)
Study finds results of Milwaukee Public Schools and voucher school students are similar (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3-26-09)
New Study on Milwaukee Vouchers Finds No Significant, Sustained Improvement in Public Schools Resulting from Competition
New Study On Milwaukee Vouchers Finds No Significant, Sustained Improvement in Public Schools Resulting from Competition
11 schools cut off from vouchers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9-21-07)
2006-07 Facts and Figures (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)
State yanks school's voucher status (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5-26-06)
Barrett pleads for help on vouchers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2-6-06)
Group blasts voucher ad targeting governor (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-25-06)
Doyle finds no shortage of friends after ads (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-25-06)
Voucher program starting new year under close watch (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8-31-05)
Choice school rules tighten (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8-17-05)
New oversight for state officials comes after several scandals in past year.
Inside Choice Schools - 15 years of vouchers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/11 - 6/18/05)
A 7-day series on the 15-year-old Milwaukee school voucher program from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Louis Tucker voucher school will close (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2-24-05)
State was investigating apparent discrepancies in student enrollment count that could provide the school with taxpayer dollars for students not enrolled.
Senate approves lifting choice enrollment cap (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2-8-05)
Assembly votes to raise voucher limit (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-27-05)
State orders private school out of choice program (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-27-05)
School choice tied to taxes, mayor says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-24-05)
Vouchers spur lasting achievement gains in MPS schools, study says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 12)
Study is contradicted by one from Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum.
Doyle OKs bill giving state more power over voucher schools (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 16)
Gov. Jim Doyle signs one bill increasing state authority and fiscal requirements on voucher schools, but vetoes bill to require background checks on school employees.
Mandella ordered closed (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 19)
Judge intervenes in case of troubled voucher school and orders it closed. YWCA attorney: "Harm to the students has already occurred."
Choice funds used to buy 2 Mercedes (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 16)
Principal of voucher school that cashed more than $300,000 in voucher checks for students not even attending the school, used voucher money to purchase two Mercedes automobiles. NOTE: A judge soon shut down the school; nearly 200 students displaced in middle of year.
School Struggles to Maintain Order (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2-13-04)
Article: “Becoming a choice school is real simple. I’m shocked. Me and you, in about two hours, we can basically open a choice school,” said the voucher school's director of operations.
Reinforce Choice, Researchers Say (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1-21-04)
New study says Milwaukee voucher program needs stepped up accountability.
Who Cleans Up Problem Choice Schools? (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9-14-03)