ERIC Number: ED524213
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Feb
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Slight Decline in Use of Private School Tuition Vouchers in 2010-2011: Loss of Schools Results in Fewer Students. Research Brief. Volume 99, Number 2
Dickman, Anneliese; Schmidt, Jeffrey
Public Policy Forum
For the first time since its 1998 expansion to include religious schools, enrollment in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) did not grow in the 2010-2011 school year. Currently, 20,996 private school students receive taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers (of $6,442 per pupil), a decrease of 66 students over last year. Chart 1 shows program enrollment since the 1998-1999 school year, as well as the number of participating private schools. The data suggest the slight decline in voucher use is related to a decline in the number of MPCP schools. In fact, 103 schools participate in the program this year, compared to a high of 128 schools in the 2005-2006 school year. The decline in schools results from fewer new schools joining the program, as well as a significant number of schools leaving the program or closing altogether. Over the past decade, an average of 10 new schools joined the program each year, compared to four new schools in 2010-2011. In addition, 12 schools no longer are participating in the program as of 2010-2011, and two Catholic schools have merged in the past year (Chart 2). The four new schools have a total enrollment of just 66 voucher students, which fails to offset the loss of 1,801 voucher seats from school closings and school withdrawals from the program. Voucher use data are collected in the aggregate and do not indicate how many individual students may have left the program and been replaced by students new to the program since the last school year. This paper presents the findings from the Public Policy Forum's 13th annual census of Milwaukee Parental Choice Program schools. (Contains 9 charts and 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Urban Schools, Parochial Schools, Educational Vouchers, School Choice, Private Schools, Parent School Relationship, Tuition, School Closing, Enrollment Trends, Educational Finance
Public Policy Forum. 633 West Wisconsin Avenue Suite 406, Milwaukee, WI 53203. Tel: 414-276-8240; Fax: 414-276-9962; e-mail: forum@publicpolicyforum.org; Web site: http://www.publicpolicyforum.org
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Fleck Foundation
Authoring Institution: Public Policy Forum
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A