School Choice: Education Voucher Legislation Provisions

Tax-Supported K-12 Voucher Programs
in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida
Summary of Key Provisions*

Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program

Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

Florida's A+ Opportunity Scholarship Program

Student Eligibility

Cleveland residency. Priority to families with income below 200% of federal poverty level.

Milwaukee residency. Income may not exceed 175% of federal poverty level.

Students assigned to a Florida public school with an "F" state rating twice in the previous 4 years.

Other Eligibility Standards

K-8 eligibility. Some restrictions apply involving prior year school attendance.

K-12 eligibility. Some restrictions apply involving prior year school attendance.

K-12 eligibility, continuing through grade 8 or grade 12, depending on the grade levels offered by the chosen school.

School Eligibility

Private schools in Cleveland Municipal School District or public schools in adjacent districts.

Private schools in the City of Milwaukee.

Private schools in Florida or public schools with a state rating of "C" or better within or adjacent to the district of eligible students.

Maximum Student Participation

Depends on funds allocated by the legislature. Participation for 2001-02 is 4,195 scholarship recipients in 50 schools.

No more than 15% of the Milwaukee Public Schools' enrollment, or about 15,000 students. Participation for 2001-02 is 10,739 students in 106 schools.

No limit. Participation for 2001-02 is 47 students in 5 private schools and 82 students in other public schools.

Voucher Amount

Either 90% or 75% of a private school's tuition (depending on family's income level), or $2,250, whichever is less. Voucher covers 100% of the additional costs for special needs students.

In 2001-02, the lesser of $5,553 per pupil or the private school's audited per pupil cost of education.

Based on the local district's per pupil cost or the private school's tuition, whichever is less.

Selection Criteria

Students are accepted on a random basis. Siblings of current participants are given preference.

Same.

Same.

Regulations for Participating Private Schools

May not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion, nor advocate hatred or foster unlawful behavior. Must register with the state education superintendent and attain minimum enrollment requirements.

Must follow laws that apply to all Wisconsin private schools. Must follow state accounting standards and file an independent audit. Must comply with health and safety codes and with specified federal civil rights laws.

Must comply with state's private school laws and specified federal civil rights laws. Must meet health and safety codes and demonstrate fiscal soundness. Subject to criteria adopted by a nonpublic school accrediting body.

*See Ohio Revised Code, Sections 3313.974-3313.979; Wisconsin Statutes, Section 119.23; and Florida Statutes, Chapter 229.0535 and 229.0537-229.05371, for legislative provisions.

For data sources and more information on these programs, and a .pdf version of this chart (best for printing), go to www.SchoolChoiceInfo.org.

Prepared by Marquette University Institute for the Transformation of Learning, Office of Research (414) 765-0691, Institute for Justice, (202) 955-1300, and Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation (317) 681-0745.

For more information from CER visit School Choice State-by-State.

CER Home Page School Choice E-Mail CER

	Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program	Milwaukee Parental Choice Program	Florida's A+ Opportunity Scholarship Program
Student Eligibility	Cleveland residency. Priority to families with income below 200% of federal poverty level.	Milwaukee residency. Income may not exceed 175% of federal poverty level.	Students assigned to a Florida public school with an "F" state rating twice in the previous 4 years.
Other Eligibility Standards	K-8 eligibility. Some restrictions apply involving prior year school attendance.	K-12 eligibility. Some restrictions apply involving prior year school attendance.	K-12 eligibility, continuing through grade 8 or grade 12, depending on the grade levels offered by the chosen school.
School Eligibility	Private schools in Cleveland Municipal School District or public schools in adjacent districts.	Private schools in the City of Milwaukee.	Private schools in Florida or public schools with a state rating of "C" or better within or adjacent to the district of eligible students.
Maximum Student Participation	Depends on funds allocated by the legislature. Participation for 2001-02 is 4,195 scholarship recipients in 50 schools.	No more than 15% of the Milwaukee Public Schools' enrollment, or about 15,000 students. Participation for 2001-02 is 10,739 students in 106 schools.	No limit. Participation for 2001-02 is 47 students in 5 private schools and 82 students in other public schools.
Voucher Amount	Either 90% or 75% of a private school's tuition (depending on family's income level), or $2,250, whichever is less. Voucher covers 100% of the additional costs for special needs students.	In 2001-02, the lesser of $5,553 per pupil or the private school's audited per pupil cost of education.	Based on the local district's per pupil cost or the private school's tuition, whichever is less.
Selection Criteria	Students are accepted on a random basis. Siblings of current participants are given preference.	Same.	Same.
Regulations for Participating Private Schools	May not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion, nor advocate hatred or foster unlawful behavior. Must register with the state education superintendent and attain minimum enrollment requirements.	Must follow laws that apply to all Wisconsin private schools. Must follow state accounting standards and file an independent audit. Must comply with health and safety codes and with specified federal civil rights laws.	Must comply with state's private school laws and specified federal civil rights laws. Must meet health and safety codes and demonstrate fiscal soundness. Subject to criteria adopted by a nonpublic school accrediting body.