Latest Enrollment Statistics Expose Unaccountable Private School Voucher Expansion Scam

MADISON, Wis. — The state Department of Public Instruction today released official enrollment counts for students in the expanded private school voucher program. Nearly 80% of students participating in the program this year did not attend a Wisconsin public school last year, and over 73% of students now having their tuition and expenses paid by a taxpayer funded voucher were already attending a private school last year. The following are the statements of One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross regarding the data:

“The enrollment statistics on the expanded private school voucher program are staggering. Nearly 80% of students in the program weren’t in a state public school last year, and Wisconsin taxpayers are now footing the bill for the 73% of students that were already in a private school last year.

“These numbers expose the expansion of the unaccountable private school voucher program for the scam that it is. It’s not about helping kids, it’s a far right driven effort to privatize schools and satisfy the wealthy campaign contributors and well-connected special interests behind it.”

An earlier report by One Wisconsin Now revealed the Milwaukee based Bradley Foundation, headed by Gov. Walker’s campaign co-chair Michael Grebe, has orchestrated a decade-long $31 million propaganda campaign in Wisconsin with the goal of privatizing public schools.