In 2019–20, the maximum voucher amount is $7,954 for grades K–8 and $8,600 for grades 9–12. Each school year, maximum voucher payments increase by the dollar amount equal to the dollar amount increase in general school aid to Wisconsin public schools. Parents of students in grades 9–12 that have an income greater than 220 percent of the federal poverty level ($56,650 for a family of four in 2019–20) may be charged additional tuition exceeding the voucher amount.

Students from families with household incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($77,250 for a family of four in 2019–20) are eligible for vouchers. Moreover, a family’s income limit eligibility increases by $7,000 if the student’s parents or legal guardians are married. Students who are continuing the program from previous years and those who were on a school’s waiting list in the prior year because the school did not have space available do not need to demonstrate income eligibility. Students must have been either (1) enrolled in a public school or home school in the previous year, (2) not enrolled in school in the previous year, (3) enrolled in a private school under the voucher program in the previous year or (4) be entering kindergarten, first grade or ninth grade. If an applying student has a sibling already in the private school the applicant wishes to attend, he or she will receive preference in the voucher lottery.

Eligibility in Racine’s school voucher program is relatively restrictive. The program also has room for improvement in terms of its burdensome regulatory environment. Schools must follow the state’s academic standards (which cannot include mandatory religion classes), must administer the state test, must provide specific yearly hours of instruction, can hire only teachers with college degrees, must admit voucher students randomly and must meet accountability requirements. With the program’s enrollment cap now removed, Wisconsin also should consider removing the arbitrary income limits placed on families and the unnecessary and burdensome regulations imposed on schools.

• Income Limit: 300 percent x Poverty
• Prior Year Public School Requirement: Conditional
• Geographic Limit: District (Racine Unified)
• Enrollment Cap: None
• Voucher Cap: $7,954 (K–8) / $8,600 (9–12)
• Testing Mandates: State

School Requirements:

• Meet state nondiscrimination policies
• Meet health and safety codes
• Allow students to opt out of religious programs
• Administer state testing to scholarship recipients in third, fourth, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th grade
• Receive accreditation within three years of participating in the program
• Submit an annual financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant to the state
• Provide evidence of sound fiscal practices and financial viability to the state
• School administrators must undergo financial training and have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education
• Administer background checks for all employees
• Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, and teacher aides must have received a high school diploma or been granted a GED or HSED
• Provide 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1–6 and 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7–12
• Must provide the state with information about the academic program at the participating schools and student test score data

Wis. Stat. § 118.60

No legal challenges have been filed against the program.