School Choice Week (January 21-28) was recently observed here in Wisconsin and around the country. It’s appropriate that we reflect on the critical role that educational choice plays in our state. School choice empowers parents and students, giving them the freedom to choose educational options that best suit their individual needs, aspirations, and personal and family values.

Wisconsin has a plethora of educational options for parents, including district-based public schools, open enrollment for families wanting to send their children to a public school in another district, charter schools, virtual schools, regular private schools, private schools participating in one of our three Parental Choice Programs–Milwaukee, Racine, Statewide–and homeschooling.

Reports such as the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty's annual Apples to Apples play a pivotal role in this educational choice discussion. This study provides valuable insights into the performance of various types of schools (public, independent charter, and voucher), offering data-driven evidence on why school choice matters by putting schools on a level playing field to assess education across all types of Wisconsin schools.

Among other findings, WILL found that students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program consistently achieve higher academic results in English/Language Arts and math than their counterparts in public schools. Students enrolled in Milwaukee's charter schools in general outperformed their peers in public schools. Twelve of the top 20 schools in Wisconsin are in the state’s choice (aka, “voucher”) programs. Moreover, choice and charter schools more efficiently use taxpayer money. In general, the report shows our voucher program is a win for both students and taxpayers.

When families have the freedom to choose, they can seek out educational environments that not only meet the academic needs of their children but also align with their values and learning styles. This is especially important as woke indoctrination permeates our school and harms our children. Educational freedom also leads to more engaged and motivated students, which ultimately results in better educational outcomes. Therefore, parents should take advantage of the school choice programs we have in our state as much as possible.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has announced that 394 private schools and school systems are registered to participate in the Choice Programs for the next school year. 356 private schools are registered for the statewide parental choice program, 140 private schools are registered for the Milwaukee Choice program, and the Racine choice program has 38 private schools registered. The application period for families to apply for a choice program for next year opens this Thursday, February 1st.

Our Parental Choice Programs are all about education freedom, supporting qualified parents who want their children to attend a school that is best for their educational needs. Every parent should have the chance to choose the best school for their child, regardless of their income, zip code, or the size of their school district. Interested parents should visit dpi.wi.gov and search for parental education options.