Milwaukee Parental Choice ProgramPresentation to those associated with

Good Shepherd Lutheran SchoolNovember 6, 2011

MPCP Background Information

• Recently celebrated the 20 year anniversary in Milwaukee

• Religious schools could participate starting in 1998

• Today 102 schools in Milwaukee with 20,000 + students

• Original purpose was to provide low income families with

a voucher which would allow them to expand their

educational options

• The voucher can be used to pay tuition at any

school that participates in the program

• The current voucher is $6442 per student

WELS Schools

• Currently, 11 grade schools in the Wisconsin Lutheran High

School Conference participate in the MPCP

• MPCP enrollment in these 11 schools is almost 1600

• In addition, there are three Hope schools that add more than

500 students

• Add in Wisconsin Lutheran High School (250+) and we are

closing in on 2500 MPCP WELS students in Milwaukee

Why we doing this?

• Offer a Bible class to kids?

• Cover the budget gap?

• Provide the Church a chance to witness?

• Share a high quality education?

• Regain some tax dollars?

• Reflect on the vision and mission statements

How does the program work?

• Each year a school must inform the Wisconsin DPI of their intent to

participate. (October)

• Schools must designate the months in which they will accept applications

and declare the number of seats available in each grade. (January)

• Schools accept applications during the designated open application

periods. If the number of applications is greater than the number of

designated seats, then a lottery (random selection) is held to determine

which students receive a seat. (February, March, April, May, June . . .)

• A waiting list is then compiled of students who did not receive a seat as

part of the random selection process.

What kind of administrative time is

required?

• Open enrollment periods

• Communications

• Trainings

• Meetings

• DPI correspondence

• Audit

• 150 hours annually

How does Choice affect the church

and school?• Accreditation

• Outreach opportunities

– Coordination with outreach pastor

– BIC

• Budget implications

– Income

– Audits

– Student Fees

– Testing requirements

Additional Items of Note

• Schools are required to have two separate audits each year. Audits are done on both the student applications and fiscal practices. St. Lucas spends about $8,500 for this annually.

• Schools must meet one of four standards each year in order to continue to participate in the program. Standards are based on attendance, academic progress, parent involvement or grade advancement.

• Schools must administer the WKCE to their MPCP students. Scores of only tested pupils are included in school and grade level averages.

• Schools cannot deny an applicant based upon race, ethnic background, religion, prior test scores, grades or church membership.

• MPCP schools cannot require students to participate in religious activities.

Key changes under the Governor’s

2011-2013 Biennial Budget

1. Program expansion in Milwaukee & other areas

of the state

2. Raising of the income limits for participation

Where do things stand today?

Program Expansion to Racine

* Expansion of Choice to Racine will start in 2011-2012.

* In 2011-2012 the program will give preference to students eligible for free and

reduced lunch and will be capped at 250 pupils.

* In 2012-2013 the program will be capped at 500 pupils. Students not currently in

private schools in Racine, as well as all students in grades K, 1, and 9 will be eligible

to participate.

*In the third year, the cap on enrollment will be eliminated.

To clarify, students entering the Racine program have to either be enrolled in Racine

Unified (or any other non-private school) in the previous year, or entering K, 1, or

grade 9. That kicks in right away. The Free/Reduced lunch matters only if a school has

to hold a random lottery; in that case free/reduced lunch children get preference.

Also, There is no provision to divvy up the seats beforehand. We will still have to wait

for the actual language of the law to learn more.

School Choice Wisconsin

Where do things stand today?

Income Eligibility

The new budget will raise the income limit to 300% of the federal poverty

level, or about $67,000 for a family of four.

The budget will raise the income limit further (by $7,000) for dual income

married families.

Additional Information can be found at …

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

There is a complete section on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

http://dpi.state.wi.us/sms/choice.html

School Choice Wisconsin

http://www.schoolchoicewi.org/