A March 2003, report by the American Education Reform Council (AERC) reveals that newspapers around the state are finally reporting the true costs of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP).
According to "For the Record: School Choice Saves Money," newspapers across the state recently have reported that the MPCP does not reduce school aid to districts outside Milwaukee. Newspapers in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Racine, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Ashland and others have addressed this issue in response to reports from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) and newsroom visits by staff of the AERC.
In the visits, AERC staff explained that the 2001-03 biennial budget changed MPCP funding to provide that no district outside Milwaukee would gain or lose state aid as a result of the program. LFB reports confirm this.
The Marshfield News-Herald reported, “Districts that initially lost or gained money following the move to school choice are no longer affected by Milwaukee’s school choice program … Beginning in 2001-02, legislation eliminated losses or gains resulting from school choice for the state’s 425 school districts outside of Milwaukee, the [Legislative Fiscal] bureau said.” (“Fiscal effect of school choice small, report finds,” Dec. 10, 2002)
“The Milwaukee Public School System had its aid reduced…to pay for the Milwaukee School Choice Program … No other district’s funding is affected by the school choice program,” reported papers such as the Sheboygan Press and the Ashland Daily Press (Associated Press, November 22, 2002.)
Headlines from other stories and editorials include:
“Choice is working in Milwaukee,” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Dec. 16, 2002
"Choice Advocate: Program saves state money,” Racine Journal Times, Sept. 17, 2002
“Milwaukee’s school choice good for MPSD,” Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, Dec. 11, 2002
“Fuller: School Choice not a drain on West Bend,” The Daily News, Dec. 10, 2002
“Milwaukee choice affects county,” Watertown Daily Times, Dec. 4, 2002
To see the whole document, download the PDF below.
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