The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) represents a group of Wisconsin taxpayers, parents, and choice schools in a motion to intervene in Wisconsin PTA v. Wisconsin State Assembly. The complaint in that case seeks to have the judiciary determine the level and distribution of funding for education in this state rather than leave those decisions to the Legislature and seeks to reduce or eliminate Wisconsin’s School Choice Programs. 

The Wisconsin Constitution grants the Legislature the authority to determine education policy and to effectuate school funding and charges the Superintendent of Public Instruction with the task of supervising public instruction, not the judicial branch. Moreover, the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s Choice Programs 30 years ago.

The Quote: WILL Deputy Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “Courts are not legislatures. They do not get to design or run state school finance systems. That is a policy decision for elected representatives. We’re proud to stand with parents, taxpayers, and schools who value the separation of powers and want a system that prioritizes student success and academic achievement. This lawsuit is a direct threat to that, and we are going to fight it.”

Potential Harm to Our Clients: The parents and taxpayers we represent believe that they will be harmed if the Plaintiffs’ demands are met because it would fundamentally alter our education system in ways that are harmful and likely result in an increase to state and local taxes without increasing educational performance. They also believe parents should have the freedom to choose where their children are educated, and that expanding those choices has increased access to a quality education for students across the state.

Our other clients, School Choice Wisconsin Action, Impact Christian Schools, Green Bay Area Catholic Education, St. Marcus Lutheran School, Shoreland Lutheran High School and Catholic Memorial High School, seek to defend school choice in Wisconsin from a new attack after decades of success. Tens of thousands of children and their families will be significantly harmed if the choice programs are reduced or eliminated, which is a stated goal of the lawsuit.

WILL’s Work Protecting Parents and Educational Freedom: WILL has statewide and national success representing parents and schools in court and intervening in many legal challenges over the rights of parents and schools. We have also produced research and policy ideas to expand access and protect parental rights.

Read More:

Read and share the press release online.