Releases one pager summarizing successes of public charter and private choice schools
January 22, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Today starts National School Choice Week, January 21-28, to help raise awareness of school choice and the importance of every child having access to a high quality education. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty is privileged to recognize the significant successes of school choice in Wisconsin with the release of a “one pager” summary.
Says WILL President Rick Esenberg: “For more than two decades, Wisconsin families have fought for and earned the right to access the education opportunities they deserve. National School Choice Week is a chance to celebrate those victories and recognize the importance of providing every Wisconsin family with more and better education opportunities. School choice has been a success in Wisconsin, and we look forward to continue to fight for every child, regardless of their zip code or income.”
Some facts about school choice in Wisconsin:
- Wisconsin is home to the oldest private voucher program in the country. Established in 1990, Wisconsin’s voucher program serves over 30,000 families.
- More than 44,000 Wisconsin families utilize public charter schools.
- Wisconsin’s private voucher and public charter schools receive, on average, $2,200 less in per pupil funding than their public school peers.
Wisconsin’s school choice programs and the public charter schools have been the subject of significant research that have resulted in important findings.
- Students attending voucher schools had higher graduation rates than their public school peers.
- The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program is projected to add $500 million in economic benefits to the city through higher graduation rates and lower interaction with the criminal justice system.
- Public charter schools have 9-10% higher proficiency in Reading and Math than their public school peers.
Private voucher schools have 4-5% higher proficiency in Reading and Math than their public school peers.