News

Wisconsin’s Parental Awakening

February 28, 2022

For Immediate Release February 28, 2022   One of the nation’s leading opinion research firms conducted a random, scientific sample poll in February of likely Wisconsin voters.  The survey focused largely on education issues. It showed significant support, across the political spectrum, for policies that expand parent options.  Respondents also were in broad agreement on what they see as constituting “parent rights.” “There’s been a parental awakening in Wisconsin.  While voters might be divided on any number of non-education issues, there is substantial agreement when it comes to education,” said Nicholas Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. A comprehensive summary…

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Wisconsin Parents Are Clear: They Have Rights

February 22, 2022

For Immediate Release February 22, 2022   Likely Wisconsin voters leave little doubt about the rights they believe parents should have when it comes to the schooling of the state’s children. Their views clash sharply with the Democratic Party official and state legislator who said parents wanting “to have a say” should home school or pay tuition at private schools. “Parents with diverse political leanings find common ground when it comes to their rights in the K-12 school world,” said Nic Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. Kelly cited results from a random, scientific survey of 700 likely voters for…

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Broad Cross Section of Wisconsin Voters Want School Choice Universal

February 22, 2022

  For Immediate Release  February 22, 2022    Wisconsin voters strongly support making all families eligible for the state’s school choice programs and favor ending funding inequities between choice, charter, and traditional public schools. These are among key findings on education issues in a scientific, random sample poll conducted earlier this month by one of the nation’s leading opinion research firms.  “Parents want more options. They want to be more involved. It’s as simple as that,” said Nic Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin.  The poll showed support for school choice across the political spectrum. While strong Republican support is…

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Voters Sharply at Odds with Lecture to Parents

February 20, 2022

For Immediate Release February 21, 2022   Wisconsin voters are sharply at odds with a Democratic party official and legislator who said parents who want “to have a say in their child’s education” should home school or pay private school tuition. On February 10, the Vice Chair of the state Democratic Party, Representative Lee Snodgrass, tweeted: “If parents want to ‘have a say’ in their child’s education they should home school or pay for private school out of their family budget.” She posted this while an Assembly committee held a hearing on legislation to create a Parent Bill of Rights.…

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Three New Members Added to the School Choice Wisconsin Board

February 8, 2022

February 8, 2022 Contact: Nicholas Kelly, 414.319.9160 BROOKFIELD, WI – Three new board members with extensive backgrounds in school choice advocacy, community outreach, and business have joined the School Choice Wisconsin (SCW) board, said Nicholas Kelly, SCW president. The three are: Jason Fields, President and CEO of Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadRep); Jim Kitzinger, founding partner of KLCM Advisors, an investment management firm in Wisconsin, and an investor in Milwaukee Forge; and Tammy Olivas, Outreach Director for Hispanics for School Choice (HFSC) since October 2011. “We look forward to the positive impact that these very competent and passionate individuals will…

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Champions Celebrate School Choice at Lambeau Field

January 31, 2022

  Contact: Nicholas Kelly, 414.319.9160  January 31, 2022 BROOKFIELD, WI – Last Friday night, School Choice Wisconsin was proud to host one of the nation’s most significant National School Choice Week events at Lambeau Field. Keynote speaker Governor Tommy Thompson, founding member of the school choice movement, electrified the crowd with a speech about the history of school choice and what the future of the movement holds. He pushed for a path ahead where all families have access to all of our educational options. Wisconsin Right Now has written an account of Governor Thompson’s full speech, which you can read…

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Why Not School Choice?

January 26, 2022

January 26, 2022 By Edgar Zaragoza Wisconsin’s private school choice program has benefited my family and—through my work at the Green Bay Area Catholic Education School System (GRACE)—I’ve personally seen it change the lives of hundreds of families for the better. Why not bring the blessing of choice to more families? About a decade ago, I worked at a public school, but hoped for a different quality of education and faith-based environment for my oldest daughter. By asking many questions about our options, I learned about Wisconsin’s School Voucher Program and applied for it through GRACE. When we received a voucher, I thought the…

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How the Milwaukee School Choice Program Inspired a National Movement

January 24, 2022

January 24, 2022 By Susan Mitchell In 1990, the Milwaukee School Choice Program served only 341 students at seven schools. Last year nearly 29,000 students — 1 in 4 Milwaukee school children —used it to attend 129 private schools. More than three decades have passed since former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson signed into law the nation’s first modern parent choice program. The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program inspired a national movement. Thirty-two other states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico now have their own parent choice programs, serving more than 600,000 students. The pandemic has fueled recent growth and awakened…

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School Choice WI Celebrates School Choice Week, History of the Ground-Breaking Movement

January 24, 2022

  Contact: Nicholas Kelly, 414.319.9160   BROOKFIELD, WI – This Friday, School Choice Wisconsin (SCW) will be hosting an event at Lambeau Field to celebrate National School Choice Week. We will host over 29 schools and school systems from around the state. SCW will have over 300 guests, including parents, state legislators, businesses, and other community leaders who support our mission. In addition, SCW will have an all-star lineup of guest speakers. Our keynote speaker is former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Leading up to this event, SCW founder and former SCW board chair Susan Mitchell has published an article here that provides…

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School Choice WI Thanks Rep. Thiesfeldt for Years of Service to Education

December 10, 2021

Contact: Jim Bender, School Choice Wisconsin [email protected] 414.319.9160   Brookfield, WI – Upon the announcement that Representative Thiesfeldt will not run for reelection, School Choice Wisconsin thanks him for his years of public service and dedication to education in Wisconsin. As chairman of the Assembly Education Committee his guidance and assistance has been invaluable to lives of thousands of students across Wisconsin. In particular, his support for the Parental Choice Programs helped transform the landscape of education reform. When first elected, there was a single program in Milwaukee with roughly 100 schools and 21,000 students. Today, there are four programs,…

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