Overview
Wisconsin is home to the nation’s oldest and largest school choice program. The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) (see state statute 119.23) began in the 1990-91 school year. Its success led to the creation of the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (or statewide program) (WPCP). The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) refers to this group of programs as the Private School Choice Programs (PSCP).
While all of the programs allow K-12 students from low-income families who reside in the designated boundaries to attend participating private schools, there are certain eligibility criteria, specific to each program that must be met.
Separate from those programs is the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP). Eligibility is not controlled by income. You can find more information on the SNSP on the WCRIS SNSP page.
Where can I find more information about the PSCP?
You can find more information in the WCRIS School Choice Handbook. Modeled after the WCRIS Legal Handbook, the WCRIS Choice Handbook provides, in laymen’s terms, information and policies about the state’s Choice programs and SNSP that school leaders need to know.
The WCRIS Choice Handbook includes:
- Explanations of the process for joining a Choice program and the SNSP;
- The unique issues schools face and how they tackle those challenges; accounting requirements and audits;
- The process for school accountability measures;
- A discussion of the religious opt-out provision and parent volunteering;
- Check-lists;
- A calendar of dates by program for the coming year;
- And template letters to Choice parents.
Any school leaders or administrators that are interested in joining the Choice program are strongly encouraged to purchase a copy. You can purchase a copy here.
Specific statute details regarding each of the programs can be found beginning on page 97 of the 2020-21 WCRIS Legal Handbook. WCRIS members can access the electronic version online here, with their login information.
Given the evolution of the Private School Choice Programs (PSCP) in Wisconsin, the statutory provisions are codified in a number of different sections.
- The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program still remains in its original location in State statute 119.23.
- Racine’s Parental Choice Program and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program are both described in State statute 118.60.
- The Special Needs Scholarship Program is found in State statute 115.9715.
- Additional guidance regarding Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program has also been prepared with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. That can be found in Wisconsin’s Administrative Code, Chapter PI 35.
In addition, because the legislative changes regarding the State’s Private School Choice Programs occur quite routinely, WCRIS highly recommends that schools and families interested in the PSCP review recent legislative change summaries that can be found on the DPI’s Private School Choice Programs page.
Available Resources
The DPI regularly posts required documents for schools and parents interested in participating in the Wisconsin PSCPs for the upcoming school year. Information on the DPI’s website includes:
- Lists of schools participating in each program – MPCP, RPCP, WPCP;
- Information for new and continuing Choice schools;
- Auditor information for schools;
- Financial obligation guidelines;
- Frequently Asked Question documents;
- Parent brochure;
- Student/parent application portal;
- Hours of Instruction calculators;
- Statutes and rules;
- Data and reports.
WCRIS strongly advises that schools and families complete and submit required forms and fees well before the stated deadlines each year to ensure that errors and questions can be resolved prior to the due dates.
Please note that the DPI will not mail or distribute packets with school registration material. Schools are responsible for obtaining the required forms and additional material needed from the DPI to participate in the PSCPs.
