By George Mitchell
Writing recently in The Wall Street Journal, the influential Kim Strassel observed that the “biggest government reform story in recent years has been the explosive growth of school choice. Some 34 states now offer vouchers, scholarships or savings accounts, 19 of which have universal choice programs.”
So, what began in Milwaukee 36 years ago has gone national. The idea of giving parents more education options is now mainstream. The reasoning behind crucial Wisconsin judicial decisions provided the foundation for U.S. Supreme Court cases that affirm broad parent education rights.
What’s the current situation in Wisconsin? What are the challenges and opportunities?
Republican leadership, in the Legislature and East Wing, created three alternatives in the 1990s previously unavailable to parents: (1) private school choice; (2) public charter schools; and (3) Open Enrollment (the ability of parents to choose a public school outside of their district).
While most attention and controversy involve private school choice, mention must be made of the overall impact of these expanded options.
- The number of students using them has grown from 29,000 in 2000 to more than 181,000 this year.
- Statewide (outside of Milwaukee and Racine), 16% of tax-supported students are enrolled in either a private school, a charter school, or a public district other than where they reside.
- The impact is much greater in Milwaukee in Racine. In Milwaukee, more than half of students use an option other than the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). In Racine, nearly one-thirds use an option other than the Racine Unified School District.
The state’s legacy media are missing in action when it comes to covering the state’s role in fostering a national movement and in describing results here.
Few readers know, for example, that none other than the Department of Public Instruction gives higher marks to schools in the state’s private school choice programs than to traditional public schools. This is so even though participation in private choice is limited to low-income and working-class families AND that taxpayer support is about two-thirds of public-school funding.
Notwithstanding these results, the DPI Superintendent leads opposition and even favors repeal of school choice. Depending on the outcome of this year’s elections, the path might be clear next year for those who have supported Governor Evers in seeking enrollment caps, funding restrictions, and added state regulation.
Regrettably, Wisconsin — once a national leader — missed opportunities during the eight years of the Walker Administration. Statewide expansion of choice was limited to low-income families. (Nationally, the norm is now universal access.) Enrollment was capped for a decade. Pledges to reduce regulations went unfulfilled. The state now ranks behind most others in eligibility and control of red tape.
A bright spot occurred, against all odds, in the 2023 legislative session. Thanks to Robin Vos, Devin LeMahieu, and Duey Stroebel, Republicans gave priority to reducing the substantial funding gap between choice and public schools. By making that a goal in budget bargaining they reached agreement on a historic funding increase with a Democratic governor who opposes school choice. This helped several successful choice schools stave off serious threats so financial viability and sustainability.
Excessive state regulation, and the prospect of getting DPI into private school classrooms, is a major threat to program growth. Several hundred private schools have not joined the state’s programs, largely out of fear that they will lose autonomy. Unfortunately, support for added curriculum regulation extends beyond traditional choice opponents.
The election of Tom Tiffany would create an opportunity to expand options and cut red tape. His defeat, on the other hand, will require stalwart legislative supporters to step up and keep the Wisconsin choice gains from being undone.
George Mitchell is a longtime school choice advocate.
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