Wisconsin’s latest budget under Gov. Tony Evers introduces sweeping changes to the state’s parental choice programs and Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP). Rather than expanding educational opportunities, the plan imposes stricter regulations, caps enrollment, and burdens schools with additional licensing requirements. While these moves claim to address financial concerns, they ultimately restrict parents’ ability to choose the best education for their children without offering any real improvements in student success.
The details are in the Legislative Fiscal Bureau document that can be found here. It is a long document, so we broke down the major impacts on Wisconsin’s school choice programs below.
Enrollment Cap Freezes School Choice at 2025-26 Levels
One of the most significant changes is the enrollment cap set to take effect in 2026-27. This will lock the number of students in Milwaukee, Racine, and the statewide private school choice programs, preventing new families from joining after the 2025-26 school year. The impact of this cap will be substantial:
- Families seeking alternatives to public schools will face waitlists, reducing access to quality education options.
- Private schools relying on choice program funding will struggle with sustainability, limiting growth and innovation.
- The cap signals a broader effort to curb school choice rather than expand educational opportunities for Wisconsin families.
More Bureaucracy, More Red Tape
The budget increases the regulatory burden on private schools, making it harder for them to participate in the choice programs. New rules include:
- Stricter Accreditation Requirements for SNSP Schools
- By 2026-27, schools must apply for full accreditation or risk being removed from the program by 2029-30.
- This requirement could force smaller schools out of the SNSP program, reducing options for special needs students.
- 4K Students Counted as Full Members for Funding
- While this may increase funding for private schools, it also raises costs for the state and adds another layer of complexity to the funding formula.
- Adjustments to Payment Indexing
- Changes to how per-pupil payments are calculated could create funding instability, making it harder for private schools to plan long-term.
Taxpayer Transparency or Public Pressure?
The budget includes a new requirement for tax bills to disclose how much state aid is reduced due to school choice and SNSP participation. While this is framed as a transparency measure, it could lead to increased scrutiny and backlash against school choice programs. By highlighting voucher funding as a “loss” to public schools, the policy sets up a narrative that could be used to justify further restrictions in the future.
Ending Actual Cost Reimbursement for Special Needs Students
Another concerning change is the removal of actual cost reimbursement for the SNSP. Currently, schools can be reimbursed up to 150% of actual costs for educating special needs students. Under the new budget:
- All SNSP students will receive a fixed per-pupil amount ($16,196 by 2026-27), regardless of actual costs.
- This move may deter private schools from accepting high-cost special needs students, limiting options for families in need.
Religious Schools Face New Challenges
A new policy allows SNSP students to opt out of religious activities upon parental request. While this appears to promote inclusivity, it could create conflicts in religious schools that integrate faith-based education into their curriculum.
Summary of Key Changes
| Policy Change | Impact |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Cap (2026-27) | Limits school choice growth and creates waitlists. |
| More Licensing & Accreditation Requirements | Forces private schools to meet costly new mandates. |
| 4K Students Count as Full Members | Raises funding but increases state expenses. |
| Payment Indexing Adjustments | Could destabilize private school funding. |
| Property Tax Transparency Rule | Adds public pressure against school choice. |
| Ending Actual Cost Reimbursement for SNSP | Reduces financial support for high-cost special needs students. |
| Religious Opt-Out Rule | Creates tensions in faith-based private schools. |
Final Thoughts
Gov. Evers’ budget doesn’t expand educational access—it restricts it. Freezing school choice participation, adding more regulations, and forcing new licensing rules will make it harder for families to find the best education for their children. While these changes claim to improve oversight, they ultimately do nothing to enhance student outcomes. Instead, they push Wisconsin toward a system where government, not parents, decides the future of education.