Wisconsin Assembly to vote on raising voucher school income

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin families at three times the federal poverty level could send their children to a private school using a voucher paid for by taxpayers under a Republican-backed bill passed Tuesday by the state Assembly.

Conservative supporters say the change is needed given increasing interest in sending students to private schools during the pandemic, which has led many public schools to offer fewer in-person classes. The change is opposed by the statewide teachers union and groups representing public school administrators, school boards and rural schools.

They have all usually opposed expanding the voucher program, which diverts students from public schools at taxpayer expense. Supporters of the program say parents deserve a wide array of options for where to send their children to school.

Currently, to qualify statewide for a voucher, applicants can’t earn more than 220% of the federal poverty level. The bill would raise that to 300%, now the cutoff for the Milwaukee and Racine voucher programs. The change would mean the most that a family of four could earn would increase from $57,640 to $78,600 or $85,600 if there is a married couple.

The Assembly passed the bill on a 60-36 party line vote. All Republicans in that chamber were in support and all Democrats were against. It now heads to the Senate.

The proposal would have to be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to take effect. Evers, a former state superintendent, is an opponent of voucher schools, making it unlikely he would approve of making it easier for more families to qualify.