Milwaukee school choice working for most, surveys show

School vouchers are working in Milwaukee, according to new reports on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP).

The MPCP began as the United State’s first urban school voucher initiative in 1990, with 341 students attending seven private schools. By 2007, 17,749 voucher students were attending 122 private schools.

Surveys of parents for the 2006–07 academic year found the majority of MPCP parents surveyed "very satisfied" with what was taught at their children's schools, school safety, what their children had learned and information received from teachers about student progress.

The majority of MPCP and public school parents surveyed cited educational quality as the primary reason for choosing a school.

Teacher quality and safety were also high priorities. Fewer MPCP parents were worried about weapons in the schools their children attended than parents of children at Milwaukee public schools.

Teachers at MPCP schools were more likely to have more years of teaching experience than their public school counterparts. MPCP schools had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6, compared with 16.6 in the public schools.

The programme saved taxpayers US$24.6 million in 2006–07. Taxpayer support for students in the MPCP is a maximum of US$6,501 per pupil, compared with per pupil spending in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) of US$11,885.

The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and other reports are at this web page.