WISCONSIN'S VOUCHER VORTEX
SUCKING PUBLIC FUNDS UNDERMINING PUBLIC EDUCATION
Wisconsin is known for many things: cheese, beer, the Green Bay Packers, and the birthplace of the progressive movement. But it is also home to one of the oldest and largest private school voucher programs in the nation, which allows students to attend private or religious schools with public funding.
Let's face it, Wisconsin is known for a lot of things, but our voucher program isn't exactly something to brag about. Sure, it allows students to attend private or religious schools with public funding, but at what cost?
First of all, vouchers divert public funds from public schools. And let's be real, our public schools could use all the help they can get. But instead, voucher schools receive more state funding per student than public schools. It's like giving the rich kid in class extra allowance while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. Not cool, Wisconsin.
And don't even get me started on how vouchers undermine local control and democracy. The program is funded by state taxes, but local taxpayers have no say in how the money is spent or who receives it. It's like giving your ex access to your bank account without your permission. No thanks.
Plus, vouchers promote privatization and corporatization of education. Because who needs diversity and creativity when you can have standardized curricula and pedagogy that stifle critical thinking? And let's not forget that some voucher schools are run by for-profit companies or religious organizations that have little interest in serving the public good. It's like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse.
But wait, there's more! Despite decades of research and evaluation, there is no conclusive evidence that vouchers improve student achievement or academic growth. In fact, some studies have found that voucher students perform worse than their public school peers on standardized tests and other measures of learning. So much for fostering competition and innovation among schools.
In summary, Wisconsin's voucher program is like a black hole that sucks public funds and undermines public education. It's time to stop the voucher expansion and invest in our public schools instead. Because let's be real, cheese and beer can only do so much for our state's future.
THE DEEP DIVE
The voucher program, which started in Milwaukee in 1990 and expanded to Racine in 2011 and statewide in 2013, has been a source of controversy and debate for decades. Supporters claim that vouchers offer low-income families more educational options and foster competition and innovation among schools. Critics argue that vouchers drain resources from public schools, violate the separation of church and state, and lack accountability and transparency.
The voucher program has grown in enrollment and cost over the years, reaching over 45,000 students and $350 million in state aid payments in 2021-22. And it shows no signs of slowing down: 19 new schools joined the program for 2022-23, and Republican lawmakers are pushing to make vouchers available to all families, regardless of income level.
But what does this mean for public schools, corporate education reform, and the future of public education in Wisconsin? Here are some key points to consider:
- - Vouchers divert public funds from public schools. According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the voucher program reduced state aid to public school districts by $145 million in 2021-22. This means that public schools have less money to spend on teachers, staff, facilities, curriculum, technology, and other educational needs. Moreover, voucher schools receive more state funding per student than public schools: $8,400 for K-8 students and $9,000 for high school students, compared to an average of $7,000 for public school students.
- - Vouchers undermine local control and democracy. The voucher program is funded by state taxes, but local taxpayers have no say in how the money is spent or who receives it. Voucher schools are not accountable to local school boards or voters, and they do not have to follow the same rules and standards as public schools. For example, voucher schools do not have to administer state tests, report student achievement data, hire licensed teachers, or serve students with disabilities. Voucher schools also do not have to comply with federal civil rights laws that protect students from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
- - Vouchers promote privatization and corporatization of education. The voucher program is part of a larger agenda to dismantle public education and replace it with a market-based system that favors profit over quality and equity. Many voucher schools are run by for-profit companies or religious organizations that have little interest in serving the public good or the diverse needs of students. Some voucher schools are also affiliated with national chains or networks that promote standardized curricula and pedagogy that stifle creativity and critical thinking. Furthermore, some voucher advocates have ties to wealthy donors and lobbyists who influence education policy and legislation to advance their ideological and financial interests.
- - Vouchers do not improve student outcomes or educational quality. Despite decades of research and evaluation, there is no conclusive evidence that vouchers improve student achievement or academic growth. In fact, some studies have found that voucher students perform worse than their public school peers on standardized tests and other measures of learning. Moreover, vouchers do not guarantee access to high-quality education or better educational opportunities for low-income students or students of color. Many voucher schools have selective admission policies or practices that exclude or discourage students who are academically struggling, have special needs, or do not fit their religious or cultural norms.
In summary, Wisconsin's voucher program is a vortex that sucks public funds and undermines public education. It is a threat to the common good and the democratic principles that underpin our society. It is time to stop the voucher expansion and invest in our public schools instead.
¹: [Wisconsin Parental Choice Program | School Choice Wisconsin](https://schoolchoicewi.org/programs/wisconsin-parental-choice-program/)
²: [Private School Choice Programs: Student Applications (Information for Parents & Schools) | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction](https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/choice-programs/student-applications)
³: [19 schools join Wisconsin voucher programs for 2022-23 | Wisconsin Public Radio](https://www.wpr.org/19-schools-join-wisconsin-voucher-programs-2022-23)
⁴: [What Wisconsin parents should know about voucher schools. | Wisconsin Watch](https://wisconsinwatch.org/2023/05/considering-a-wisconsin-voucher-school-heres-what-parents-should-know/)
⁵: [DEHCR Recovery Voucher Grant Program (RV) - Wisconsin](https://energyandhousing.wi.gov/Pages/AgencyResources/RecoveryVoucherGrant.aspx)
Bing, 6/19/2023
(1) Wisconsin Parental Choice Program | School Choice Wisconsin. https://schoolchoicewi.org/programs/wisconsin-parental-choice-program/.
(2) Private School Choice Programs: Student Applications (Information for .... https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/choice-programs/student-applications.
(3) 19 schools join Wisconsin voucher programs for 2022-23. https://www.wpr.org/19-schools-join-wisconsin-voucher-programs-2022-23.
(4) What Wisconsin parents should know about voucher schools.. https://wisconsinwatch.org/2023/05/considering-a-wisconsin-voucher-school-heres-what-parents-should-know/.
(5) DEHCR Recovery Voucher Grant Program (RV) - Wisconsin. https://energyandhousing.wi.gov/Pages/AgencyResources/RecoveryVoucherGrant.aspx.
