The document summarizes the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), a school voucher program that began in 1990. It started with 7 private schools but has expanded to include over 20,000 students attending 122 mainly religious private schools as of 2008. Low-income students whose family income is below 175% of the poverty level are eligible. Studies have found that MPCP students have higher graduation rates than similar Milwaukee public school students, and they are more likely to attend a 4-year college. Per-pupil taxpayer support for MPCP is less than half of what is spent per student in Milwaukee Public Schools.

1. School Voucher Milwaukee School Choice Program

3. Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) Begin in 1990 with 7 private schools expanded to include religious schools in 1997 Included 115 mainly religious private schools by 2004 The limit of 15,000 students lifted to 22,500 in 2006 By 2008, 20,000 students attending 122 schools. Low-income students are eligible to attend this program: - Program defined “low-income” as below 175% of the official U.S poverty level.

4. Characteristics of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program ( 1992)

5. General Info (in the beginning) Schools are not required to test their students. Nor to publish any test result. Do not have to hire certified teachers. Can hire teachers who are not even college gradates. Can suspend or expel students without explanation.

6. Participation in the Choice Program

7. Participation in the Choice Program

8. Choice Program Enrollment, 1990−2007

9. Choice Program Enrollment, 1990−2007

10. MPCP Enrollment and participating schools

11. Positive Studies Students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have higher graduation rates than similar students in MPS. That graduation rate is significantly higher for choice students who attended the same school for four years as opposed to their MPS counterparts who did the same Students in the Choice program are more likely than MPS students to go on to four-year college.

12. Positive Studies • In the graduating class of 2003, Milwaukee students using vouchers to attend private high schools had a 64% graduation rate. That same year, the 37 Milwaukee public high schools for which data are available had a combined graduation rate of 36%. Milwaukee’s six academically selective public high schools, whose students are likely to be more advantaged than choice students, had a combined graduation rate of 41% in 2003.

13. Positive Studies Per-pupil taxpayer support for the MPCP is $6,442, less than half of the $15,034 spent per-pupil in MPS.