30 Vouchers Left In School Choice Program

If you are interested in taking advantage of the voucher program, there are still vouchers left, according to a story in the Journal Times.

Of the 500 offered for the 2012-13 school year, there are 30 left, the Department of Public Instruction reported.

According to the story:

Because the 500 FTE limit was not met, the department announced Monday that participating private schools can accept more voucher student applications from May 1 to 7. If a school receives more applications than there are spaces available at that school in a grade level, the school must conduct a random selection by May 9. Schools must notify DPI of their accepted students by May 18, according to DPI.

Here are few of the ins and outs of the program.

Who is eligible to apply for the school voucher program?

Students living in the Racine Unified School District would be eligible to apply for a scholarship to a designated choice school. Not all private schools will opt to be a choice school and it would be the decision of the private school to accept choice students.

How does the voucher work?

The state pays the tuition on behalf of the parent.

• If the tuition exceeds $6,442, then parent would have to pay difference. If the tuition is less than $6,442, the state keeps the difference.
• Families with more than child attending choice school will only need to fill out one application.
• There is no geographic boundary with regards to where a choice student may go. So if there’s a choice school in Milwaukee County or Kenosha County, the vouchers can be used at those schools.
• The voucher program was limited to 250 students for the 2011-12 school year and 500 students for the 2012-13 school year. After that, there wouldn’t be a cap.
• If more than 500 students participate, then there would be a lottery.
• Students whose families earn 185 percent above the poverty level and less would be given first preference. Then preference would be given to families earning 300 percent or less.

To learn more, click here.