Public school options for Wisconsin students have expanded from one program serving about 13,000 students in a few cities in 1977 to five programs serving about 126,000 students statewide. Participation in the parental choice program in Milwaukee and Racine has risen from 300 in the early 1990s to more than 22,000 in 2012. Statewide open enrollment has experienced similar gains, from 2,464 in 1999 to more than 37,000 today. These programs affect school finances differently, with some having ripple effects throughout the state.
Public school option programs are a contested issue in Wisconsin. Critics often speak of undermining public schools, while supporters worry about children being in “failing” schools.
This debate manifests itself in more than just rhetoric. Multiple lawsuits have challenged school option programs, and new state budget cycles often bring changes to the laws governing these programs.
Despite these differences, Wisconsin’s school options have greatly expanded since first introduced 36 years ago. The programs have grown in number from one to five. The locations have gone from a few cities to statewide, and participation has gone from just over 13,000 to just under 126,000.
Because of the surrounding debate, continued law changes, and complicated nature of Wisconsin school funding, understanding these programs is difficult. Taxpayers may wonder how state and local taxes support these options and what impact they have on traditional public schools.
These questions are answered here. The discussion helps clarify the current state of Wisconsin public school options. It particularly focuses on the relationship between school option participation and funding for both traditional public schools and public school options.