Education (School Choice)

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 134: Relating to: alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders.

SB 134 extends the deadline for military-connected families to apply for school enrollment after a residency change due to military orders. It changes the requirement from a 30-day window to 90 days after receiving military orders, including orders from the National Guard, Reserve, or state defense forces. This directly affects service members and their dependents seeking to enroll children in public schools following a permanent relocation. The bill modifies existing statute 118.51(3m)(b)4 to provide more time for applications, ensuring families have sufficient opportunity to complete enrollment processes after a military assignment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends enrollment deadline for military families, facilitating school access and reducing barriers to K-12 education for relocating service members' dependents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 122: Relating to: alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders.

AB 122 extends the deadline for military-connected families to apply for school residency changes under open enrollment. It changes the requirement from submitting applications within 30 days of military orders to 90 days after the orders are issued. This applies specifically to students whose families relocate due to active-duty military orders from any U.S. armed force, reserve component, state defense force, or National Guard. The bill directly affects military families seeking school enrollment in new districts following a permanent relocation ordered by military command. The change aims to provide more time for families to complete necessary paperwork during relocation transitions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends enrollment deadline for military families, facilitating school access during relocations, directly supporting educational continuity for affected students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 582: Relating to: the pupil application process to attend a private school under a parental choice program and modifying and creating administrative rules related to pupil applications to participate in parental choice programs.

SB 582 simplifies residency verification for students continuing in Wisconsin's private school choice program. It eliminates the requirement for parents to submit new residency documents when a student re-enrolls in the same participating private school the following school year, unless their address has changed since the last verification. This applies directly to families using the parental choice program and affects all participating private schools in the state. The rule change takes effect for applications submitted for the 2026-27 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSimplifies residency verification for private school choice program, reducing barriers to educational access for families in Wisconsin's parental choice initiative.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 570: Relating to: payments for pupils who withdraw from a parental choice program, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, or an independent charter school. (FE)

AB 570 redirects remaining scholarship funds to public school districts when students switch schools. If a student withdraws from a private school under a parental choice program, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, or an independent charter school during a school year and enrolls in a public school district, the state department must pay the unused scholarship amount to that district instead of the original school. This applies to all specified programs and covers the remainder of the school year's funding. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. It directly affects students transferring programs, public school districts receiving funds, and the state's scholarship payment process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects unused scholarship funds from private/charter schools to public school districts, increasing public school funding when students switch to public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 518: Relating to: allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program.

AB 518 allows private schools participating in state parental choice programs (like voucher systems) to hire substitute teachers who hold a state-issued substitute teaching permit. Currently, these schools must employ teachers with full teaching licenses or bachelor's degrees. The bill creates a specific exception to that requirement for substitute permit holders at eligible schools. This directly affects private schools in choice programs and substitute teachers seeking positions in those settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables substitute teachers with permits to work in private choice schools, expanding access to educational options under voucher programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Teachers

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 621: Relating to: prohibiting a virtual school from participating in a parental choice program.

AB 621 prohibits virtual schools from participating in parental choice education programs. It directly affects virtual schools (defined under Section 118.076(4)(a)) that would otherwise qualify for these programs. The bill adds new requirements to statutes governing parental choice, explicitly stating that participating schools cannot be virtual schools. This change takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly prohibits virtual schools from parental choice programs, restricting educational access options for families seeking virtual school enrollment under choice initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 452: Relating to: pupil eligibility for parental choice programs based upon participation by a sibling or a dependent child of the pupil's parent or guardian. (FE)

SB 452 would expand eligibility for Wisconsin's private school choice programs to students whose siblings or younger dependent children (e.g., younger siblings) attended participating private schools the previous year. Currently, only students themselves must have attended such schools to qualify. The bill applies to students in grades K-12 outside city school districts (under Section 118.60) and within cities (under Section 119.23). It would take effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded private school choice, diverting public education funding to private institutions, opposing public school budget support.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for school choice programs, increasing access for students with siblings in participating schools, aligning with 'expands educational access' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 565: Relating to: pupil discrimination and private schools participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program, discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression, and providing a penalty.

SB 565 amends Wisconsin law to explicitly prohibit private schools participating in parental choice or scholarship programs (like the Special Needs Scholarship Program) from discriminating against students based on gender identity or gender expression. It specifically requires these schools, which may limit admission by sex, to admit students whose gender identity aligns with the sex they limit to. The bill adds a $1,000 penalty for school officials who intentionally violate these anti-discrimination rules and updates reporting requirements for school compliance. This directly affects students seeking enrollment in participating private schools and mandates new policies for school boards and governing bodies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits gender identity discrimination in scholarship-participating schools, protecting student access to educational programs under parental choice initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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