Republicans Reject DPI Voucher Enrollment Plan

Republican legislators rejected a commonsense plan to address the enrollment cap for the Milwaukee private school voucher program, according to WEAC President Stan Johnson.

Republican legislators on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Thursday (December 16, 2004) blocked a plan developed by the Department of Public Instruction to prorate student admission when the voucher program reaches its enrollment limits. DPI had developed a rule to administer the enrollment cap that gave preference to students currently in the voucher program and their siblings.

After rejection of the DPI plan, families with children in the voucher program may not be able to remain at their current school.

"Republicans are using poor children as a political football to pressure the governor," Johnson said. "The DPI proposal was a sensible way to deal with a state law that limits this experimental and unproven program."

Johnson called on legislators to support the governor's Milwaukee education package that addresses the needs of all Milwaukee children.

"Milwaukee children deserve a great education, not experiments," Johnson said. "Rejecting DPI's plan just adds uncertainty to a program full of uncertainties. The cap on enrollment in the voucher program is needed because it is an experiment," Johnson said.

"The voucher program is unaccountable to the public, even though it receives $87 million a year in tax dollars. Voucher schools should be held to the same standards as public schools. They should be required to take the same tests so we can see if the public is getting its money's worth."

Resource page on private school vouchers

Posted December 17, 2004