Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (Statewide)

Wisconsin families that earn up to 220% of the FPL are eligible for this program. For married families, $7,000 is subtracted from this limit when determining income eligibility.  Students must have satisfied one of the following conditions to participate: 1) be enrolled in a public school or home school in the previous year, 2) not been enrolled in school in the previous year, 3) be enrolled in a private school under the voucher program in the previous year, 4) be entering kindergarten, first grade or ninth grade, or 5) have attended school in a different state in the previous year. An applicant with a sibling already in the private school of choice will receive preference if the program is oversubscribed and an enrollment lottery is needed. As of the 2025-2026 school year, no more than 10% of the student membership of a public school district may participate in this program.  

Funding Mechanism: For all students who joined the program after 2015-2016, the money comes from the state education budget and is formula-based. Before 2015-2016, an appropriation paid, and it applies to students who are still enrolled. 

Universal Eligibility: ❌
Universal Usage: ❌
Universal Funding: ✅
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Qualifying expenses include tuition and fees at participating private schools. 

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Wis. Stat. § 118.60 

(Last updated July 12, 2024) 

No legal challenge is currently pending. 

On October 12, 2023, a lawsuit funded by the Minocqua Brewing Company SUPERPAC was filed by a group of parents, public officials, and other plaintiffs in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. The petition for original action argues the Independent Charter School Program, Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, statewide Parental Choice Program, and Special Needs Scholarship Program are all unconstitutional and asks the Court to immediately halt the programs. 

Plaintiffs allege the programs violate the Wisconsin Constitution’s Uniform Taxation Clause, as well as Article X, Section 4, and the superintendent supervision clause. Plaintiffs state that superintendents are not provided with sufficient control over participating private schools, arguing the Wisconsin Constitution requires superintendents to “supervise the instruction paid for by the public that is occurring at these private schools.” 

Plaintiffs also allege the choice programs violate the Wisconsin Constitution’s public-purpose requirement because there is less oversight and regulation of participating schools compared to public schools, thus the “private school programs serve no public purpose.” Plaintiffs further claim the programs “are affirmatively designed to undermine Wisconsin’s public education system by robbing it blind and forcing local districts into financial death spirals.” Julie Underwood v. Robin Vos, 2023AP001896.The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear the case in December 2023.  

(Last updated July 31, 2024)