Empowering Parents by Advocating for High Quality Choice in Education

School Choice Wisconsin is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that works to empower parents by developing, supporting and promoting the ideas and policies that create vibrant, quality options in K-12 education in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, enacted in 1990, was the nation’s first to allow low-income parents to choose private schools. Its 1995 expansion allowed parents to choose religious schools. Today, Wisconsin has four private school choice programs, a charter program, and an open enrollment program allowing transfers to non-resident districts.

Positive results bear out the value of parental freedom. Those results come despite the fact that each program faces limits that constrain a true test of the power of giving parents control of their children’s education.

Founded in 2004, School Choice Wisconsin is the lead organization working to advance parent choice opportunities in our state. Staffed by experts in government relations and school operations, School Choice Wisconsin:

• Works with legislators to expand and improve Wisconsin’s school choice programs
• Works with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to insure private and religious schools are protected from burdensome regulations
• Works directly with private and religious schools to maximize their participation in school choice programs and to assist them with program compliance

With offices in the Milwaukee area and Madison, School Choice Wisconsin’s experienced staff works with schools, parents and communities by providing program research, acting as a conduit between schools and the state government, creating community awareness, and advising on program administration.