The Democratic governor and Wisconsin’s top Republican legislative leaders appear to have reached an agreement today for a shared revenue bill that will aid all municipalities – especially Milwaukee – and boost funding for K-12 schools by $1 billion between state aid and property tax revenue.

The boost includes an increase in school choice vouchers and charter school aid; a per-pupil funding increase for public schools; and additional funds to address mental health, special education and literacy initiatives.

This tentative agreement apparently breaks the log jam holding up the state budget, which can now move forward.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called the package the largest expansion of the choice program since it was founded nearly 30 years ago.

The apparent bargain is good for voucher schools, but leaves non-voucher schools empty-handed. The WCRIS Health and Safety Grants are still in play.

Out of around 800 private schools in Wisconsin, the DPI reported that 373 of them participate in one or more of the state’s Parental Choice Programs. In many cases, schools have chosen not to take voucher money because they don’t want to have to comply with state bureaucracy and rules. 

The deal was announced at a 2 p.m. press conference at the state capitol attended by many, including WCRIS lobbyists. The package, according to WisPolitics news service, increases state money for vouchers as follows:

  • For those in kindergarten through eighth grade in the choice programs, the voucher would increase to $9,500 per student, up from $8,399. For high school students, it would go to $12,000 from $9,045; and,
  • The Special Needs Scholarship Program, which assists those with disabilities to attend private schools, would increase to $14,677 per student from $13,076.

The package would increase the revenue limit by $325 per pupil in the first year of the budget and another $325 in the second year. State statutes require a similar formulaic increase be assigned to vouchers, but it was unclear at press time whether it will apply to the bargain.  

The governor’s office said the package doesn’t expand the number of students that can join the choice or charter programs.

Although Gov. Tony Evers, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Rep. Robin Vos announced the deal’s details this afternoon, the Legislature still needs to approve the bill.

It could happen as quickly as tonight or take a week or more. WCRIS will send updates as soon as they’re available. 

Read a preliminary news report here. If you have any questions, please contact WCRIS. 

Coincidentally, the DPI contacted WCRIS earlier this morning about virtual training sessions for schools new to the choice programs. Although the deadline has passed to join the programs for the 2023-24 school year, schools may still find attending a training this summer educational for future planning.

The first meeting is on June 21, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Click here to join.