The dollar amount per student participating in all Parental Choice Programs is increasing because Gov. Evers (quietly) signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 11 on Tuesday. 

The vouchers will raise to following amounts beginning in the 2023-24 school year, according to WisPolitics: 

  • $9,500 per K-8 student; 
  • $12,000 per high school student;
  • $14,677 for any student in the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

The increase in voucher amount applies to the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide programs. The DPI will publish the official voucher amounts, which could vary slightly from the numbers above. They may reflect the formulaic $325 per public school pupil increase, which is required to be granted to voucher students as a matter of long-existing state law.

The bill also increased the revenue ceiling for school districts by $1,000 per pupil.

This four-page bill is the largest expansion of choice in Wisconsin in thirty years. WCRIS registered in support of the increase, along with the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and various other interest groups who are interested in educating children, empowering parents or securing a well-educated workforce.

The voucher increase was used as a bargaining chip between the Republican Legislature and Democratic governor to pass a shared revenue plan to aid desperate municipalities, which was also signed on Tuesday. Evers signed it publicly at a Wausau fire department, nodding to the aid that firehouses and other public entities around the state will receive through the bill.

Although WCRIS fought to remove various state mandates for private schools, this shared revenue bill (2023 Wisconsin Act 12) snuck in a crime reporting provision for schools. While WCRIS was successful in tempering some of the requirements, the law still requires that public, charter and choice high schools must report instances of certain crimes on their campuses during school hours and school-sanctioned events and during transportation. 

The crime reporting requirement begins in the 2024-25 school year. See pages 40-41 here for what crimes must be reported. Various state agencies will be responsible for writing the rules to specify the details of the law. WCRIS will be monitoring their work in an effort to keep the mandate as simple as possible.

The deadline to join the choice programs for the upcoming school year has passed. If your school is interested in participating in the 2024-25 school year, WCRIS recommends starting the process now by reading the WCRIS Choice and SNSP handbooks, which outline the programs’ requirements all in one place. 

Participation in the programs poses several changes to schools’ staffing, bookkeeping and culture. It’s important to understand what is expected of you and your school well before joining the programs. Consult first with your diocese, synod or oversight organization. WCRIS staff is also happy to consult with you, your pastor and/or school board.

The deadline to register for the Milwaukee, Racine and Wisconsin programs is January 10, 2024. The deadline for the SNSP is March 1, 2024. 

For schools that are participating in the choice programs in the upcoming school year, check out this list of key dates and deadlines from the DPI. 

If you have questions about the voucher amounts or choice programs generally, please contact the WCRIS office. We’re here to serve!