Wisconsin Senate GOPs lead effort to damage school voucher program

Madison - Wisconsin's school voucher programs could not move beyond Milwaukee and eastern Racine County, under a bill the state Senate approved Tuesday.

Republicans in June included a provision in the state budget that established a voucher program in eastern Racine County and would put in place similar ones in other school districts when they met certain criteria.

Green Bay meets three of the four criteria for having a voucher program and is likely to meet all four soon. Some Republicans, led by Senate President Mike Ellis of Neenah, opposed expanding the voucher program beyond Milwaukee and Racine County and cut a deal this summer to prevent Green Bay or others from having voucher schools.

Ellis said Tuesday the change would ensure the Legislature decides which districts allow voucher schools, rather than having a formula automatically determine that.

"I want the Legislature to decide and I want the Legislature not to be hamstrung," he said.

The state's initial voucher program started 20 years ago and allows low-income students in Milwaukee to attend religious schools and other private institutions at taxpayer expense. Each voucher is worth $6,442 annually.

The budget expanded the program by eliminating a cap on the number of students who could participate, raising the income limits and allowing students from Milwaukee to attend private schools outside the city limits at taxpayer expense.

The budget also created a formula to establish voucher schools for second-class cities (which generally are those with populations from 39,000 to 149,999) that have 50% or more of their students eligible for free or reduced lunch and meet certain state aid requirements.

MJS