Wisconsin Parental Choice Program
The Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) is a statewide private school voucher
program that allows eligible students to attend participating private schools at no tuition cost.
The program aims to provide parents with more educational options for their children.
(Please keep in mind that these numbers and figures will be for the 2025-2026 school year and maychange for the 2026-2027 school year.)
Key Program Details:
Tuition Coverage:
For eligible students, the WPCP covers tuition and education-related fees.
(Note that certain additional expenses, such as uniforms, extracurricular activities not part of the required curriculum, musical instruments, meals, transportation, before- and after-school care, and high school classes not required for graduation, are typically not covered.)
Application Period:
The open application period for the WPCP typically runs from the first weekday in February through the third Thursday in April for the following school year.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the application period is February 3 to April 17,2025.
"Once In, Always In"
If a student is accepted into the WPCP and continues to attend a Choice school without voluntarily leaving the program, they will retain their voucher even if their family's income increases in subsequent years.
Voucher Amounts
o Grades K-8: $10,237
o Grades 9-12: $12,731
(These amounts may increase annually.)
Enrollment
Financial Aid
How Families Qualify:
To qualify for the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, families must meet specific criteria related to residency, income, and student attendance/age.
Residency Requirements
Wisconsin Resident:
Exclusion Zones:
Proof of Residency:
The student must reside in Wisconsin.
The student's home cannot be located within the boundaries of the City of Milwaukee or the Racine Unified School District. These areas have separate choice programs.
(MPCP and RPCP)
Families must provide acceptable proof of residency each year. Examples include:
(Wage statement or W2 form, Utility bills, lease agreements, Governmental correspondence)
Income Requirements:
Income Limit: A student's family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be at or below 220% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For married couples, their income is reduced by $7,000 for eligibility determination.
2025-26 Income Limits (for new students):
Family Size | Maximum Yearly Income
1 | $33,132
2 | $44,968
3 | $56,804
4 | $68,640
5 | $80,476
6 | $92,312
For each additional member, add $11,836.
Income Documentation: Families can verify income by:
-
Providing social security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers for theDepartment of Revenue (DOR) to determine eligibility.
-
Answering income questions in the online parent application and submitting supporting documentation (e.g., prior year's federal income taxes or W-2 forms)directly to the school.
Age Requirements
by September 1st of the school year
K4: 4 years old
K5: 5 years old
Grade 1: 6 years old
(Students must be between ages 4 and 20.)
Grade Levels for New Applicants:
Students are eligible if they are applying for K4, K5,1st grade, or 9th grade, OR if they meet one of the prior year attendance requirements.
No Academic Requirements:
Schools cannot use grades or test scores as a condition foracceptance into the program. They may test students for placement purposes afteracceptance.
Student Eligibility
Prior Year Attendance Requirements
(for students not entering K4, K5, 1st, or 9th grade)
o Attended a public school in Wisconsin in the previous year.
o Attended school in another state.
o Was not enrolled in school the previous year (including homeschooling for the entire year).
o Participated in any Wisconsin Choice program (MPCP, RPCP, or WPCP) in the prior year.
o Was on a waiting list for any Choice program in the prior year.
