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Bill > AB496

WI AB496

WI AB496
Verification of a pupil’s family income for participation in a parental choice program.

summary

Introduced
10/09/2025
In Committee
10/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, to be eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program or the Racine Parental Choice Program, a pupil[s family income may not be more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Similarly, to be eligible to participate in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, a pupil[s family income may not be more than 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Each parental choice program allows a pupil to continue participating in the parental choice program if the pupil[s family income increases. Under this bill, a pupil attending a private school under a parental choice program may not continue to participate in the parental choice program if the pupil[s family income increases and exceeds the maximum family income for the parental choice program. Under current law, each parental choice program requires that a pupil[s family income be verified through the Department of Revenue, but verification is not required if the pupil attended a private school under a parental choice program in the previous school year. The bill requires that, to participate in a parental choice program, a pupil[s family income must be verified through DOR each year, regardless of whether the pupil attended a private school under a parental choice program in the previous school year.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Wisconsin's parental choice programs, which allow students to attend private schools using public funding, by changing the income verification and eligibility requirements. Specifically, the bill eliminates provisions that previously allowed students to continue participating in the program if their family income increased, and now mandates that a student must be removed from the program if their family income exceeds the established threshold (either 300% or 220% of the federal poverty level, depending on the specific program). The bill requires annual income verification through the Department of Revenue for all participating students, regardless of whether they were in the program in the previous year, which is a change from the current system that did not require re-verification for returning students. The changes will first apply to school year 2026-27, affecting three parental choice programs: the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. By removing the language that allowed continued participation after income increases, the bill aims to more strictly enforce income-based eligibility for these school choice programs.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (25)

Last Action

Representative Subeck added as a coauthor (on 10/10/2025)
(1 Companion Bills)

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