This week, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy voice of Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops,
testified in support of two bills supporting parental choice in education.
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program. On November 5, WCC Associate Director for Education & Religious
Liberty David Earleywine testified in support of Assembly Bill 602, which requires the state of Wisconsin to opt
in to the federal tax credit scholarship program. In testimony, he explained that the bill aligns with Catholic
teaching, helps all students, provides tax relief to individuals, and costs nothing to the state.
Earleywine stated “This program is a win for all involved. Students at any school—public, private, independent
charter, or even home school—will have the opportunity to receive scholarship money to enhance their K-12
education. Individual taxpayers can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their federal tax return for donations
(up to $1,700 per year) made to qualifying K-12 scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The state gets
additional funding for students in our state, something both sides continually call for, at no cost to the state.”
Earleywine said that the “Church’s teaching on education notes that parents have the first responsibility for
education of their children” and “the state and community can help parents and families by ensuring high-quality
public education alongside support for other non-public school options.”
He concluded by urging support for the bill: “Wisconsin is leaving money on the table by not opting into the
program. Now is the time to act to help all families and students across the state.”
Sibling Eligibility for the Parental Choice Programs. On November 6, the WCC testified in support of Assembly
Bill 460, which allows parents with one child in the parental choice program to be automatically eligible to have
their other children participate in the program the following year. Earleywine explained, “The parental choice
programs already have a so-called ‘once in, always in’ provision meaning that students keep the voucher even if
family income rises above the threshold, so long as the student does not voluntarily leave the program. This bill
extends this provision to siblings or other children in the family.”
He also implored legislators to support all forms of education. “Wisconsin must continue to invest in all areas of
education: public, private, independent charters, and home schools. Public and private education should not be
pitted against each other. Simply put, all investments in high-quality education improve the community. Making
every school better serves Wisconsin, our students, and our families. The education of students is what matters.”
Earleywine concluded: “Wisconsin was the first state to affirm parental choice, and the movement has been a
great success across the country. This bill furthers the empowerment of parents and the academic achievements of their children. It helps keep siblings together and lessens the fiscal and transportation burdens on parents. It helps give parents real choice and is a vital step in helping Wisconsin families thrive.”
