Decoupling a common sense solution to Wisconsin school funding conundrum

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6 hours ago

Education is not a zero-sum game, but unfortunately divisive politics and ideologies are holding us back. At the end of the day, public schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, all offer unique choices for parents and families and should be seen as part of one education ecosystem.
Funding education, however, is proving to be a difficult endeavor. And it's not a Republican or Democrat issue and, frankly, not just a problem here in Wisconsin. All 50 states are dealing with the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds and uncertainty over how federal education dollars will be distributed in the coming years.
Additionally, choice schools and public schools are going to need to find a way to coexist. And it can happen as long as we have a sincere discussion about how education in Wisconsin is currently funded and what we can do to improve it.
At the heart of this issue is what I believe to be a false notion that school choice 'siphons' money away from public schools. That's a political slogan—not a fiscal reality. When a student uses a voucher, the public school no longer incurs the cost of educating that child. While state aid to the district is reduced, the district can—and almost always does—raise its property tax levy to recoup the lost revenue. Giving the school the same level of funding to teach fewer students.
About 1,153 students in the Green Bay Area Public School District use a voucher to attend a private school, amounting to $12 million in state aid. That's just 3.8% of the district's $311 million budget—even though those students represent over 6% of enrollment.
A similar story holds statewide. On average, Wisconsin school districts receive $15,569 in state and local revenue per student, while choice schools receive $10,798. Statewide, spending on choice students represents about 4.6% of total educational spending even though choice students are about 6.5% of total enrollment. Bottom line: taxpayers are getting more value per dollar.
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Some have raised concerns about the property tax implications. In fact, property taxes are the most hated tax, especially for fixed income households. But there's a solution: decoupling public and private school funding so one doesn't affect the other. The Legislature introduced such a reform last year. Gov. Evers, who supported the idea as state superintendent, can once again consider it in this year's budget.
Decoupling means separating choice program funding from public school funding in Wisconsin. Instead of seeing their funding reduced and having the ability to make up for it through higher property taxes, public schools would see their funding exist entirely separately from private school choice and charter schools. Public school funding would be more stable, and property taxpayers would see their burden eased. Statewide, the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates decoupling would save property taxpayers more than $342 million.
I learned more about decoupling's 'positive' effects at a Green Bay Common Council meeting where Council member Brian Johnson touted decoupling as a potential 'common sense' solution, because it provides stable and reliable funding from state coffers, not constant property tax increases on local residents.
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The policy solution exists, and it's been out there for quite some time. The question is whether lawmakers and the governor are willing to make a difference.
Let's be clear: if you like your public school, nothing changes with decoupling. In fact, it provides the school with consistent state funding. And for thousands of families across Wisconsin — especially low-income and working-class families — decoupling keeps the ability to choose the best school with the family.
Cate Zeuske is an education reform advocate, former elected official, and resident of Brown County.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Choice and public schools need to coexist. Here's how. | Opinion