Wisconsin Capitol Building (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
Republicans leaders of the Wisconsin legislature’s budget writing committee say they plan to add language that would create a special needs private school voucher program.
The proposal, which the panel is expected to vote on late Tuesday night or by Wednesday, would give students with special needs the ability to attend private school using a taxpayer-funded voucher.
Several disability rights groups have opposed previous attempts to create a special needs voucher. They argue it would drain resources away from public schools, that many private schools lack the ability to properly handle special needs students, and that there would be fewer federal protections for those students outside of public schools. Nygren said people would still have the opportunity to say no to a voucher, and noted that there are plenty of parents who want to have the option available to them.
AUDIO: JFC co-chairs Alberta Darling and John Nygren (:17)
Efforts to create a special needs voucher program in previous sessions have been rejected by lawmakers.