Parents and administrators at private choice and independent public charter schools start with the philosophical belief that all children have value and that their worth does not depend on the type of school they attend. Yet, these schools are starting from a financial deficit. The reality is they receive a fraction of the per-pupil funding compared to traditional public schools.

Close the funding gap and, in the words of Kingdom Prep principal Kevin Festerling, “We could open up five more of these [schools] tomorrow. We could say yes to more parents and more students.”

One of the few things that all Americans agree on about education is that it must improve. How, specifically? There we differ.

Other states are embracing far-reaching visions of parental empowerment by choice, and new exposure of the flaws in the traditional district public school model means it’s time to see how Wisconsin can move forward as well.

We should enrich the environment in which millions of parents, and the myriad of educators who want to work with them, find what is right for each child. They know the children. They know the job. We should empower them.

That only happens by making Wisconsin’s promise of education freedom available for all families. Here is how to do that.

The Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI), has long been at the forefront of the fight for school choice, right to work, welfare reform, tax restructuring, limited government, civil society and so much more. If you appreciate the Institute’s legacy and want to support free markets, opportunity and prosperity, please consider donating today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles now and in generations to come.

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