Legislation Would Provide Transparency, Accountability for Private School Vouchers

Madison, WI – Senator Chris Larson joined a coalition of pro-public education lawmakers – including Senator Tim Carpenter and Representatives Angelina Cruz, Christian Phelps, Joe Sheehan, and Francesca Hong – in introducing two pieces of legislation designed to provide transparency and accountability within Wisconsin’s private voucher school programs. He released the following statement to coincide with the bill release:

“Public education means the world to me and my kids. Unfortunately, its future is very much in doubt, due in no small part to the uneven playing field caused by taxpayer-funded private programs. These programs both directly and indirectly harm our public schools’ ability to continue delivering the high quality of instruction they are empowered by our Wisconsin Constitution to provide.

“Over thirty years ago, our state became the testing ground for private school vouchers. What started as a small, targeted pilot program for low-income children in Milwaukee was transformed into a scheme for conservative operatives and their wealthy donors to dismantle and privatize public education.

“Sadly, their efforts are paying off. This school year (2025-26), Wisconsin is on track to hand over $700 million – with few strings attached – to private, mostly religious organizations with no obligation to explain how that money is spent. Shifting millions upon millions of public funds away from public schools into private institutions with no open meetings, no open records, and limited transparency goes against our state’s proud tradition of effective, transparent governance. No other government program functions like this – and for good reason.

“The legislation offered today pulls back the curtains on Wisconsin’s voucher programs by mandating operators follow open records and open meetings laws, and requiring annual recertification of income eligibility for program participants. Vouchers were not designed to subsidize private education for wealthy families, but because of the “once in, always in” rule that exists today, that’s exactly what can happen.

“More must be done to ensure all schools funded with taxpayer dollars are accountable to taxpayers. Today’s release is the first in a series of legislation with this goal in mind that the coalition will release in the coming weeks.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.