School Choice Wisconsin Decries Governor Evers’ Veto of Assembly Bill 602, Blocking Millions in Federal Support for Students

BROOKFIELD, WI — School Choice Wisconsin issued a statement today following Governor Tony Evers’ decision to veto Assembly Bill 602. The legislation would have opted Wisconsin into the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, a move that would have unlocked millions in private donations for educational resources at no cost to the state.

“Governor Evers’ decision to veto Assembly Bill 602 is a deeply unfortunate missed opportunity for Wisconsin’s families and students,” said Carol Shires, VP of Operations at School Choice Wisconsin. “By rejecting this measure, the Governor has effectively blocked access to a new stream of federal support that would have provided additional funding for students in every corner of our state—at no cost to Wisconsin taxpayers.”

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, beginning in 2027, provides a mechanism for taxpayers to donate up to $1,700 to non-profit scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. These SGOs then distribute scholarships to parents for qualified educational expenses, including tutoring, therapies, special needs services, supplementary materials, etc.

The program was designed to benefit students across all sectors—whether they attend public, private, or charter schools. Millions in private donations that could have supported Wisconsin students will now flow to other participating states.

Shires continued. “We should be looking to bring more investment into our classrooms. This week’s veto is a step backward for educational choice and a loss for Wisconsin families who deserve more tools to help their children thrive.”

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Contact:
Carol Shires
[email protected]
(414)-319-9160