Effort to tighten regulations on school’s state voucher program stalls

When he ran for governor in 2018, Democrat Tony Evers – at the time, the state schools superintendent – promised to tighten regulations on the state's private school voucher program, or even end it if he could.

With Republicans in the Legislature aiming to expand the programs, you can guess how this effort went. And you're probably right.

In the latest iteration of the ongoing battle, the governor proposed capping enrollment in the 2022-23 school year for each of the state's three choice programs, and the special needs scholarship program, at the levels reached in the 2021-22 school year.

Evers also proposed oversight measures regarding private choice schools, such as requiring all teachers to have a teaching license or permit issued by the state, and requiring property tax bills to include information regarding reductions in state aid to the district due to the choice programs.

Republicans blocked the measures. Likewise, Evers has blocked GOP efforts to expand programs. Spokesperson Britt Cudaback said that included "vetoing 2021 Assembly Bill 970, which would have eliminated income limits for participation in private choice programs with a cost to taxpayers of potentially more than $500 million."  

So, this battle could be revisited if Evers wins a second term. But for now it's a bit of a stalemate.

We rate this promise Stalled.