Private Voucher School Application Data Shows Overwhelming Support for State Public Schools

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction today released application information for the taxpayer funded private school voucher program, expanded statewide by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature in the 2013 state budget.

Again this year the vast majority, roughly 99.7% of the approximately 875,000 public school students opted not to apply for the voucher program. In addition, over 80% of the applying for the program for the 2014-15 school year did not attend a Wisconsin public school last year.

The following are the statements of One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross on the data released today:

“Based on the latest data it’s clear that Gov. Walker and the Republicans’ taxpayer-funded private school voucher program is all about appeasing the ideological millionaires and billionaires that fund their campaigns and who want to privatize our schools.

“There are about 875,000 students in Wisconsin public schools, and 99.7% of students and their families have chosen their schools over the taxpayer-funded private voucher program. And why wouldn’t they — time and again students in public schools outperform those in voucher schools, while parents and taxpayers alike get more accountability.”