Statewide vouchers: A big reason the voucher scene in Wisconsin is so complicated is that there are separate programs for Milwaukee, Racine and the rest of Wisconsin, each with its own rules. In this round of state budgeting, it was decided to make more people eligible for vouchers statewide by raising the maximum household income for qualifying from 185% to 220% of the federal poverty table. (For Milwaukee and Racine, the figure is 300%.) Last year, there were just over 3,000 voucher students in the statewide program. Expect that number to go up in the coming year. And an early bet: An issue in the budget two years from now will be listing the statewide income level to 300%.

Milwaukee and Racine vouchers: There wasn’t much new for these two programs in this budget. It’s easy to get vouchers in both cities and lots of families qualify. Last year in Milwaukee, more than 27,000 students used vouchers, almost a quarter of all the kids in the city getting a publicly funded education. In Racine, there were about 2,500 kids using vouchers. Enrollment in Racine United public schools was just over 19,000. How much will voucher use increase in these two cities in the next few years? Interesting question.

Charter schools: For the more independent type of charter schools (those that are to a large degree self-governed), the scene in Wisconsin is heavily concentrated in the Milwaukee area (more than 16,000 students from Milwaukee alone in such schools last year). The new budget includes ways such independent schools might expand statewide, but I recommend a wait-and-see attitude. One point to keep in mind: Charter schools cannot be religious; the large majority of voucher schools are religious.