Improving the Charter School Sector in Wisconsin

Will Flanders, Kyle Koenen & Maellie Lewna:

Charter schools are laboratories of innovation that accept rigorous achievement expectations in exchange for freedom from district mandates.

Once at the forefront of education reform, charter schools face stagnation in Wisconsin despite national growth. While enrollment in charters has risen modestly, momentum has slowed due to a mix of financial, regulatory, political, and structural barriers. This report examines the challenges confronting Wisconsin’s charter sector, drawing on interviews with fifteen stakeholders, analyses of state funding and policy frameworks, and comparisons to more supportive charter environments nationwide. The findings highlight why Wisconsin is viewed as a somewhat inhospitable environment for charter growth and offer targeted reforms to reinvigorate the sector.