Special Needs Scholarship Program Grows Again

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2019
Contact: Jim Bender, School Choice Wisconsin

Additional Schools Join Program for 2019-20 School Year

The Department of Public Instruction recently released the list of participating private schools for the 2019-20 school year in the Special Needs Scholarship Program(SNSP). The SNSP will now have 104 schools participating. The 2019-20 school years begins the 4th year for the SNSP.

2016-17     26 Schools, 235 students
2017-18     28 Schools, 252 students
2018-19     76 Schools, 692 students
2019-20    104 Schools, 31 are marked as new

The geographic reach of the special needs program is expanding rapidly statewide. The schools entering now encompass these new locations:

• • Wisconsin Rapids, Appleton, Sherwood, Ashland, Shawano, Bonduel, Sun Prairie, Sparta, and Hartford

Five of the new schools listed are not enrolled as part of the other Parental Choice Programs in Wisconsin:

• • St. John Sacred Heart Catholic School, Sherwood
  • Open Wings Learning Community, Kenosha
  • St. Robert School, Shorewood
  • Sankofa Gifted & Talented, Sun Prairie
  • Sonnenberg School, Mt. Pleasant

All the other new schools are currently enrolled in one of the other Parental Choice Programs in Wisconsin. Some of those schools are enrolled in multiple programs. Additionally, five new high schools are joining the program.

Enrollment numbers for all of the Parental Choice Programs will be released by the Department in October:

“The Special Needs Scholarship Program, like the other school choice programs, continues to grow across Wisconsin,” Jim Bender, President of School Choice Wisconsin said. “The trend is clear, parents are seeking new opportunities for students with special needs. The success of the program builds more demand for options.”