EdChoice Moves to Defend Multiple Wisconsin School Choice Programs 

Press Release: For Immediate Release
April 15, 2026
For more information contact Mairead Elordi at [email protected]

EdChoice Moves to Defend Multiple Wisconsin School Choice Programs

EAU CLAIRE — This week, on behalf of Wisconsin families, EdChoice Legal Advocates filed a motion to intervene as defendants in the lawsuit brought by several teachers’ unions, school districts, and other opponents over the current public school funding formula. 

Wisconsin has four educational choice benefit programs, the statewide Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, the Wisconsin Special Needs Scholarship Program, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, and the Racine Parental Choice Program.  

Each of the four choice programs provides parents over $11,000 on average toward their children’s tuition at a private school. 

In February, opponents filed a suit challenging the public school funding formula and targeting the choice programs as a supposed cause of allegedly inadequate public school funding. 

EdChoice Legal Advocates is asking the court to allow two Wisconsin families, who are using two of the choice programs to pay for their children’s tuition, to join the case and defend the constitutionality of the programs. 

“Families rely on these programs to provide their children with a safe, effective, and values-aligned education,” said Thomas M. Fisher, Executive Vice President and Director of Litigation at EdChoice Legal Advocates. “They deserve a voice in this case. We are asking the court to let them stand up for their rights and defend the constitutionality of these vital programs.” 

Olivia Jimenez is a single mother of three children in Racine, Wisconsin, who works as a business analyst. Although two of her children previously attended public school, all three children currently attend Trinity Lutheran School, which Olivia believes provides the best educational environment for them. Trinity Lutheran has a faith-based education and community that are important to her. This year the Racine choice program paid for the two oldest children’s tuition, and next year the program will pay for all three children. Without the Racine program, Olivia would not be able to afford tuition, which would be devastating to her and her children. 

“I put careful consideration into every decision regarding their health, safety, happiness and education. For my children, private schooling is truly what is best for them,” Olivia said. 

“As a single mother providing for three children on a single income, I could never afford the education they receive at Trinity Lutheran out of pocket. For us, the choice program is a beacon of hope.” 

Anthony and Gina Ellis are parents of nine children in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. Two of their children attend Chesterton Academy, and starting in the fall they will have three children attending St. John Paul II Classical School. Anthony works full-time as a cheese maker, and Gina is a homemaker and part-time bus driver. The Ellises rely on the statewide choice program to afford to send their children to the private schools where they are thriving and which reflect the family’s values. Taking away the program would impose a serious financial burden on the family. The Ellises would have to consider going back to homeschooling, which they do not believe would be best for their children or their family as a whole. 

• Learn more about the case: Motion to Intervene  
  
• Learn more about Olivia Jimenez 

• Learn more about Anthony and Gina Ellis 

To be connected with Thomas Fisher or one of the clients contact: Mairead Elordi at [email protected] 

EdChoice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. We are committed to understanding and pursuing a K–12 education ecosystem that empowers every family to choose the learning environment that fits their children’s needs best. Learn more at edchoice.org. 

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