A parent from Trenton, WI

During the 2024-25 school year, Wisconsin’s choice programs expanded over 400 schools and impacted over 58,000 students across the state. Despite the vastness of the program, more and more families are learning about their private schooling options for the first time each year. This opportunity to receive a choice voucher is life-changing for so many Wisconsin families—take Danyell G.’s family as one example.

Her oldest children attended Ozaukee Christian School for a few years until the family decided to try homeschooling. Danyell’s husband was soon diagnosed with and passed away from cancer. Danyell couldn’t keep up with the demands of homeschooling alone, but she was conflicted about sending her children to public school. Without compromising her desire for a Christian-aligned curriculum, the only viable option was to send her kids to a private religious school, but it had become financially impossible after now having three children and the loss of her husband. Danyell did what anyone else might do in a time of need: pray.

After praying for guidance one night, Danyell woke up the next morning to an email from Ozaukee Christian saying that the school would begin participating in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. The administration at Ozaukee assisted Danyell through the process of applying, and before she knew it, Danyell’s children were accepted and enrolled at the school—at no cost. The timing could not have been any better!

Danyell had felt stuck and limited with the schooling options her family had, but says, “by the grace of God, I found out about the choice program.” Parents only have as many options as they are aware of, which is something we at School Choice Wisconsin are passionate about expanding. No family should be expected to compromise with a one-size-fits-all system.