The News: An estimated 14% of students in Wisconsin school choice programs have a special needs disability, according to a new analysis conducted by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) and School Choice Wisconsin (SCW). The Quotes: Will Flanders, Research Director at WILL, stated: “The data are clear. Wisconsin’s school choice programs serve thousands of students with disabilities—far more than choice opponents acknowledge. The Department of Public Instruction’s method of counting grossly undercounts these students. This fuels a false narrative about private schools’ commitment to serving children with disabilities.” Mike Metoff, Director of Research at SCW, added, “This…

Latest DPI data shows substantial advantages for choice programs MADISON, Wis. (November 19, 2024) – New report cards from the Department of Public Instruction show positive results for private schools in Wisconsin’s school choice programs in terms of both student growth and achievement when compared to public schools. School Choice Wisconsin released the following statement from its president, Nicholas Kelly:  “Parents across Wisconsin know what educational opportunities are best for their kids. School choice empowers them to make those decisions. While report cards are just one piece of information a family might use, it’s clear that Wisconsin’s choice schools give…

Update to school funding policy would solve issues public schools face, benefit all students MADISON, Wis. (October 16, 2024) – The Wisconsin Public Education Network is holding an event Wednesday evening in Manitowoc to attack choice schools over funding despite an easy solution existing. “Decoupling” legislation passed last year by the Wisconsin State Assembly would save taxpayers in the Manitowoc School District more than $1.5 million – a move supported by School Choice Wisconsin last legislative session.  “Thousands of Wisconsin families use vouchers to get the best educational outcomes for their kids every year. The solution isn’t fewer choices for…

Latest DPI data shows an increase in students attending choice and charter schools MADISON, Wis. (October 15, 2024) – Data released by the Department of Public Instruction today showed continued growth in families using private school parental choice programs for their children. School Choice Wisconsin released the following statement from its president, Nicholas Kelly:  “Parents have spoken: they want more educational opportunities for their children. It’s evident from the new data today that parents are exercising their rights and know what is best for their students. Thank you to all legislators who advocated for the historic increases in the last…

This is an opinion piece by Nicholas J. Kelly posted to Wisconsin Right Now on October 10, 2024. Milwaukee and Racine data – the fairer comparison – shows private choice students outperform public school students in 32 of 36 grade-level comparisons. Half-truths are contemptible. As the Oxford Dictionary explains, half-truths “deliberately convey only part of the truth in order to deceive someone.” DPI issues half-truths on an annual basis, when it releases state test scores that compare students from low-income and moderate-income families with all students statewide. They do it even though they know it is deceptive. Here’s the half-truth…

Data Shows School Choice Leads to Improved Outcomes October 8, 2024 (Madison, Wis.) – Newly released Department of Public Instruction (DPI) test score data shows school choice students maintain an advantage over public schools that has continued for at least the last three years. “Wisconsin choice students perform better despite being financed at 70% of the average public school cost,” said Nicholas Kelly, President of School Choice Wisconsin. “This performance advantage was true under prior DPI reporting standards and remains so under its new regimen.” “The results explain why polling shows 77% of Wisconsinites agree that parents, not the state,…

Here we go again.  Ingrid Walker-Henry’s Sept. 28 attack on parent choice presents the tired litany of falsehoods regularly advanced by those who want to limit educational opportunities for Milwaukee families.   Ms. Walker-Henry is the president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. She clearly seeks to divert attention from the tidal wave of news this year by describing the many reasons parents seek options other than Milwaukee Public Schools. Readers deserve to know that the attacks published against the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program are, at best, flawed and, at worst, dishonest.  While the author questioned the results from private, charter,…

August 9, 2024 Nicholas Kelly, president of School Choice Wisconsin, issued the following statement in response to the new WPF report on education: “Any plan to address K-12 education issues in Milwaukee must include more parent choice.” “DPI data show that students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have outperformed MPS students despite often entering the choice program at lower levels of achievement.” “Those results, which we know could be even stronger, occurred with per-pupil funding at about 60% of public school funding.”* “Milwaukee choice students scored higher, on average, on all state academic tests and on the college-readiness ACT.”…

West Allis, WI – School Choice Wisconsin is pleased to announce that Peter Farrow has joined its board of directors, SCW president Nicholas Kelly said today. “Peter is an established corporate leader who served as CEO and general manager of Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire for 22 years. His experience in government relations, policy development, and policy implementation will help guide our efforts to increase educational freedom for all families in Wisconsin,” Kelly said. Peter lives in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where he remains an active technology investor and advisor. He is currently the Executive Chairman of MedWand Solutions, Inc.,…