MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has announced the names of the private schools and school systems that received the most eligible applications during the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) application period for the coming school year.
Applications received by the April 21, 2014, deadline exceeded the 1,000 student cap, and as such, state law mandates that only the 25 private schools and school systems that received the most eligible applications are able to participate in the random drawing for the additional voucher slots. Due to a tie in the number of eligible applications at the 25th spot, there will be 26 private schools and school systems included in the random drawing, including six new schools. Five private schools and school systems from the 2013-14 school year did not receive enough eligible applications to be included in the random drawing for additional voucher slots for 2014-15. These five schools, as provided by state law, will receive the same number of voucher slots (55) in 2014-15 as they had in 2013-14. Overall, there are 31 private schools or school systems eligible to participate in the WPCP in 2014-15.
The Green Bay and Sheboygan areas lead the state, each with four private schools or school systems participating in the WPCP for the 2014-15 school year. Appleton, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Oshkosh, and Wisconsin Rapids will each have two private schools or school systems participating in the statewide choice program.
