Enrollment in the aptly named parental choice program in Racine, WI has more than doubled after the removal of a state-imposed cap, meaning over 1,200 Racine students in the 2013-14 school year will have increased choice and opportunity to be in a schooling environment that’s right for them.
School leaders in the area are reporting that the community has been receptive, and the leaders themselves feel gratified they are part of something that’s improving the chances of success for students most in need. The parental choice program in nearby Milwaukee is the oldest of its kind, and has proven to be a lifeline for students in urban areas who not only escape failing systems, but have also demonstrated academic achievement and college readiness. In fact, a 2012 longitudinal study revealed that students enrolled in the parent choice program made substantial gains in reading over their traditional public student counterparts, and increased their likelihood of graduating on-time and moving on to college.
Wisconsin lawmakers realized this potential for the rest of state when they answered the call for more access to quality options, and expanded the choice program statewide. Naturally, the program’s increasing popularity among parents has raised concerns of the state creating a dual funding system for schools. But financing should respond to the needs of the student rather than the needs of the system, because what good is a school to a student whose individual needs aren’t being met? Proponents also argue that student funding through the choice program is less than the per-pupil funding if the student stayed put. The right system is one that provides a gateway to a better option, rather than trapping a student solely based on where they live. Parent Power is clearly spreading across Wisconsin, and hopefully won’t stop at the state line.