What Should Parents Know About The Proposed School Voucher Program?

The expansion of the school voucher program to include students living in the Racine Unified School District is far from being a done deal. While a motion was passed in the Joint Finance Committee, the provision still needs to be passed in the State Assembly and Senate before it is signed into law. However, GOP Legislators say they hope to have the expansion approved by July 1.

Here’s an explanation of what’s in the motion:

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.

What can I do now?

Begin doing homework on schools you might be interested in sending your children to now.

• Call the school to see if they are planning to participate.
• If they are planning to be a choice school, then enroll at the private school during open enrollment from Aug. 1 – Aug. 20.
• 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.

If the bill is signed into law, what do parents need to know?

When you enroll at a choice school, you will need to tell the school you want to enroll with the intent of applying for a choice scholarship.

• The voucher program will be 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 250 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.

How would the voucher work?

The state would pay 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.
• A separate piece of legislation will address scholarships for students with special needs.