The Appleton Common Council voted 13‑1 last week to require a distinct line item on the city’s tax bill that displays the amount of taxpayer money flowing to private school vouchers. The same resolution was adopted by the Grand Chute Town Board, so the new disclosure will apply to all residents of the Appleton Area School District who live in Appleton or Grand Chute.
Transparency for taxpayers
“I think that the very least we can do is to show where our taxpayer money is going,” said Appleton District 6 Alderperson Denise Fenton. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, with only District 13 Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim casting the lone dissenting vote.
Hartzheim argued that the measure is “more than” simple transparency, hinting at broader concerns about how voucher funding impacts the public‑school system.
Statewide school‑choice program
Wisconsin’s private school‑choice program, now in its 11th year, serves nearly 25,000 students statewide and grew 8 % last year. “That’s a signal from parents,” said Will Flanders, Research Director for the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. “They like what they’re getting from these alternative educational choices.”
Under the program, families whose income falls below a set threshold can apply for tuition‑free private‑school placement. The state then directs public funds to the private school to offset tuition costs.
Reported academic gains
Flanders cited research indicating that voucher students, on average, advance more than one full grade beyond their public‑school peers after four years in the program. He added, “Students who continue in those programs for several years see substantial improvement on the Forward exam relative to their peers who stay in public school.”
He also argued that the competition created by school choice strengthens public schools by giving parents more options.
Cost considerations and criticism
Critics, including the state’s largest teachers’ union, acknowledge the academic results but contend that the money would be better spent improving public schools directly. Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes said he is not opposed to dollars following the student, but he wants fairness and transparency.
“[I’m] not opposed to dollars following the student, we’re just looking for fairness, we’re looking for transparency,” Hartjes said. He warned that private schools face fewer testing and transparency requirements, and that public districts often bear a higher proportion of special‑education costs, which are more expensive to provide.
Hartjes noted that districts also cover transportation for voucher students, adding to the financial burden.
Financial impact on Appleton taxpayers
According to Hartjes, about 11 % of Appleton’s school property taxes this year—roughly $10 million—will be allocated to voucher schools. The largest recipients are Fox Valley Lutheran and Xavier High School, each receiving about $4.8 million for the current school year.
“We believe that if a private school is taking public dollars from local taxpayers, they should have to follow the same rules, requirements that we do,” Hartjes said.
Looking ahead
The new line‑item on the tax bill will give Appleton residents a clear view of how much of their money supports private‑school vouchers, a step that both parents and school‑choice supporters say promotes accountability. State lawmakers will continue to set the overall framework for school‑choice funding, but the local disclosure now puts the information directly in the hands of voters.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
