Same special interests pay for voucher school research, GOP candidates | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com

Same special interests pay for voucher school research, GOP candidates | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com:

Same special interests pay for voucher school research, GOP candidates

Green Bay schools react to OK on voucher expansion: Wednesday, June 5: Green Bay school officials share their concerns about a plan approved by the state Joint Finance Committee that would create a statewide private school voucher plan.

Gov. Scott Walker and Republican legislators are using research paid for by the same special interest groups that support many GOP candidates to push for a statewide expansion of the school voucher program, campaign finance reports show.

The study cited by Republicans has come under fire by researchers who say it doesn’t meet academic standards or provide proof that the school voucher program gives students a better learning experience.

Republican lawmakers pushing the expansion have been citing research that claims students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program graduate and attend college at higher rates than their public school counterparts.

The Joint Finance Committee last week approved a deal, worked out between Walker, Republican legislative leaders and school choice lobbyists, that would expand the voucher program statewide next year. Enrollment in the program would be capped at 500 low-income students in the first year, and 1,000 students in the second. Currently, the voucher