163 Private Schools Registered for Wisconsin Parental Choice Program

One-hundred-sixty-three private nonsectarian and religious schools and school systems registered with the Department of Public Instruction by the Jan. 10 deadline to accept students for the 2017-18 school year through the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP). Eleven schools that previously participated in either the Milwaukee or Racine Parental Choice programs or both are registering to join the WPCP for the first time in 2017-18. In addition, there are 31 new private schools applying to participate in the statewide voucher program. The WPCP allows students who reside outside of the Milwaukee and Racine Unified school districts to use a taxpayer-funded subsidy to attend participating private or religious schools. To qualify for the program for the 2017-18 school year, a new student must have a family income equal to or less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $44,955 for a family of four or $51,955 if the child’s parents or guardians are married. Eligible students in grades kindergarten through eighth may attend the private school with no charge for tuition. The private school, on behalf of each student’s parent or guardian, receives a state aid payment for each eligible choice student. The amount, set in state law, is $7,323 for students in grades K-8 and $7,969 for students in grades 9-12 for the current school year. A private choice school is not required to provide transportation to choice students. According to state law, the resident public school district may be required to provide transportation under certain circumstances. More information is available on the department’s Pupil Transportation webpage at dpi.wi.gov/sms/transportation.