Milwaukee, Wisc. March 8, 2022 — The Wisconsin State Senate has passed a series of bills to empower parents and expand parental school choice program access.
The bills will now go to the desk of Governor Tony Evers, who is expected to veto the legislation.
These bills, part of the larger Empowering Parents K-12 Education Reform Package, include:
- AB 963, which protects the rights of parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of their children,
- AB 967 and AB 968, which relate to the expansion and opening of additional high-performing charter schools and
- AB 970, which eliminates the income limits on the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the Racine Parental Choice Program. AB 970 also eliminates the pupil participation limits in the WPCP.
“Almost 2/3rds of voters want to see school choice be an option for all Wisconsin families,” said the bill’s author, State Senator Roger Roth, in a series of comments shared via his Twitter account. “I’m proud to empower parents and support universal school choice for every family in Wisconsin!”
In February, over 500 Wisconsin families sent more than 1,500 emails to their lawmakers in support of the Empowering Parents K-12 Education Reform bill package.
A recent Marquette University Law Poll showed 59% support the use of publicly funded vouchers to attend private or religious schools. Another poll from Real Clear Opinion Research found that 72% of registered voters support the concept of school choice, an 8% increase since early 2020.
To thank your legislators for supporting educational choice, visit: https://p2a.co/vAJDjkZ
