Republican gerrymandering has left Wisconsin with a one-party government that has worked for them but not for the people. One example is the growing use of private school vouchers which siphon crucial funds from public schools that are desperate to protect staff and programs while maintaining their buildings and grounds.
Wisconsin Republicans would have us believe that private school vouchers are merely a method for giving parents choice, but it doesn’t work that way. In fact, vouchers raise property taxes. When the state gives our tax dollars to private or parochial schools, that funding must be replaced with increased local property taxes. The Wisconsin State Legislature has played favorites by giving huge increases for vouchers and choice schools while providing only modest increases to public schools ($3342 vs $394)*.
There’s a reason for free public education. The Founding Fathers knew that preserving democracy required an educated population with common beliefs about our government, society, and each other. However, private schools are under no obligation to provide education about the most fundamental concepts of our common heritage or goals.
As for choice, a parent should be free to choose a school for their children which provides an adequate level of education to fulfill the requirements of an open and free society while at the same time providing religious, or whatever, training. Just don’t ask your neighbors to pay for it.
The 92nd assembly district represents parts of the following five school districts. Private school vouchers skim $5.2 million from those districts.
The School District of Chippewa Falls sends $2.5 million to the private schools within their border.
The School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA) distributes $720,000 to the private schools within their border. A new private school opened this fall in Menomonie. Representative Moses attends the church where the school is located. At this time, it is unknown what the impact will be until official notification is sent to the state Dept. of Public Instruction.
School Choice Expansion Impacts
Wisconsin & Racine Parental Choice Program (WPCP)
Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP)
New Independent Charter School Program (NICS)
2023-24 3rd Friday in September Incoming Pupil Payment Plan including Summer School Payments
$5.2M Impact
| Public School Districts in AD 92 | Incoming K-8 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) | Incoming 9-12 FTE | Total Incoming FTE | School Aid Deduction & Non-Recurring Revenue Limit Exemption (WPCP) | Deductions Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) # of students/$ | New Independent Charter School Impacts (NICS) # of students/$ |
| Chippewa Falls | 122.00 | 49.00 | 171.00 | 1,820,212.56 | 47.60/714,779.51 | – |
| Colfax | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | 29,679.00 | – | – |
| Eau Claire | 149.90 | 27.00 | 180.90 | 1,817,590.60 | 8.00/120,520.00 | – |
| Elk Mound | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 12,387.00 | – | – |
| Menomonie Area | 56.80 | 2.00 | 58.80 | 586,696.40 | 9.00/135,585.00 | – |
| Total | 331.7 | 79.00 | 414.7 | $4,266,565.56 | $970,884.51 | – |
WPCP $4,266,565.56 + SNSP $970,884.51 = $5,237,450.07
No Independent Charter School Impact as of 2023-24 3rd Friday in September Incoming Pupil Payment Plan. More info here: https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/charter-schools/independent
2023-24 Voucher $ Values:
K-8: $9,893.00 per pupil/FTE
9-12: $12,387.00 per pupil/FTE
SNSP: $15,065.00 per pupil/FTE
NICS: $11,385.00 per pupil/FTE
Information is from this DPI Web Page: https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/finances/private-school-vouchers