WisconsinPupils could qualify for school choice through family attendance
For 2026–27 applications, some Wisconsin pupils could qualify for a participating private school based on a family member's attendance the previous school year.
What it does
The proposal would let some pupils qualify for a participating private school if a sibling or their parent's or guardian's dependent child attended a participating school in the previous school year. Other eligibility rules and program limits apply.
Argument forSome families could qualify through a sibling's or parent's dependent child's recent school attendance, even if the pupil has not attended that school.
Argument againstPupils without a sibling or parent's dependent child who attended a participating school last year may not qualify through this family attendance route.
More detail
The proposal would let a pupil use a family member's recent school attendance to qualify for a participating private school. One program covers pupils who live outside a first class city school district; the other covers pupils who live within the city. The family member must be the pupil's sibling or a dependent child of the pupil's parent or legal guardian. The pupil must also meet the requirements in the referenced eligibility paragraphs and other program limits. This would first apply to applications for the 2026–27 school year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Apr 3Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026Major
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 24Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026Minor
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15
- Mar 17Point of order that Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 17Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Pfaff, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Ratcliff, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Wall and WirchMinor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 6Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Mar 6Executive action taken
- Mar 3Public hearing held
- Feb 25Read first time and referred to committee on EducationMinor
- Feb 23Received from AssemblyMinor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:23 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- 2025
- Nov 12Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 12Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 4Minor
- Nov 11Executive action taken
- Nov 6Public hearing held
- Oct 21Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Sep 26Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Sep 26Introduced by Representatives Duchow, Brill, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, B. Jacobson, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Steffen, Tusler and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jagler, Nass, Quinn and KapengaIntroduced
- Nov 12Referred to committee on RulesMinor
Education