In 1998, the state of Wisconsin decided that only 15 percent of Milwaukee school children, or about 15,000 students, could receive a voucher under the city's school choice program. Now, as the city is just 100 students away from reaching this limit, a simmering debate over the merit of the voucher cap is coming to a boil. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, voucher critics argue that the cap is a "fair limit on a program that is 'unaccountable' to taxpayers." Similarly, Wisconsin Education Association president Stan Johnson contends that students "are already getting a free ride on the taxpayers" and that "there's no reason to lift the cap because the program has no accountability." Pace Mr. Johnson, the results from a recent report by Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute suggest otherwise, with the graduation rate of students in Milwaukee's voucher program nearly double that of students in the public school system. (Click here for more.) And, research conducted by Caroline Hoxby shows that the more exposed public schools were to these sources of competition, the greater their academic improvement. (Read more here.) Compelling reasons, both to lift the cap and extend choice to more Milwaukee families.
"Voucher debate flares as program nears its limit," by Sarah Carr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 24, 2004