The school choice and charter movement spreading across the country had its beginning more than three decades ago in Wisconsin.
Opponents of choice and charter schools asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to end these successful programs. Fortunately, the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously denied the request to directly take the case. But the threat to end these education reforms isn’t over, because the lawsuit could still be filed in circuit court.
In 1990 as governor, I had the privilege to design and sign into law the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. It was the first program to empower parents by having public funding follow the student. By the decade’s end, I signed additional measures creating charter schools and allowing parents to enroll their children in public schools outside of districts where they lived.