Wisconsin School Choice Programs: Parental Choice and Special Needs Scholarships Explained
Wisconsin's private school choice programs explained for 2026-27: the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide Parental Choice Programs, income limits, application periods, payment amounts, the Special Needs Scholarship Program and what homeschool families should know. Last verified October 2026.
Quick answer: Wisconsin runs four state-funded private school programs, all administered by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI): the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP), the statewide Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) and the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP). The three choice programs are income-based vouchers that pay a participating private school directly; for 2026-27, new students must have family income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in Milwaukee and Racine or 220% statewide. The SNSP has no income limit and is for students with an IEP or services plan. Wisconsin does not have an ESA that homeschool families can use.
Wisconsin is home to the country’s oldest modern private school voucher program. The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program began in 1990, and the state later added programs in Racine, a statewide program and a scholarship for students with disabilities. Unlike the newer education savings accounts in states such as Arizona or Texas, Wisconsin’s programs send money to private schools rather than into accounts that parents manage.
This guide covers who qualifies for each program, how income limits and residency work, when and how to apply, what the state pays, and what families who homeschool should know. It is part of our series on state education funding programs for parents, which compares programs across the country.
Last verified October 2026 against Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction pages for the choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, including the 2026-27 parent FAQ, income limits and payment FAQs. Amounts and rules can change by law. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice, and it does not take a position on school choice policy.
The Four Programs at a Glance
All four programs are run by DPI, and each pays a state aid amount to a participating private school on behalf of an eligible student. That makes them vouchers rather than ESAs, a difference our guide to ESAs, vouchers and tax-credit scholarships explains in detail.
| Program | Who it serves | Income limit for new students (2026-27) | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) | Students living in the city of Milwaukee | 300% of the federal poverty level | K4 through 12 |
| Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) | Students living in the Racine Unified School District | 300% of the federal poverty level | K4 through 12 |
| Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) | Students living elsewhere in Wisconsin | 220% of the federal poverty level | K4 through 12 |
| Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) | Students with an IEP or services plan | No income limit | K4 through 12 |
Which choice program applies to you
DPI’s parent FAQ for the choice programs says the program is decided by where the student lives at the time of the application. Students in the city of Milwaukee apply to the MPCP. Those in the Racine Unified School District apply to the RPCP. Everyone else in Wisconsin applies to the WPCP, including residents of Milwaukee County cities that are not part of the city of Milwaukee. The online application checks the address and steers families to the correct program.
Income Limits and Other Eligibility Rules
Eligibility for the choice programs is a mix of residence, income, age and, for the RPCP and WPCP, grade or prior-year attendance.
2026-27 income limits
DPI’s 2026-27 student applications page lists these limits for new students:
| Family size | MPCP and RPCP (300% FPL) | WPCP (220% FPL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $46,950 | $34,430 |
| 2 | $63,450 | $46,530 |
| 3 | $79,950 | $58,630 |
| 4 | $96,450 | $70,730 |
| 5 | $112,950 | $82,830 |
| 6 | $129,450 | $94,930 |
| Each additional member | add $16,500 | add $12,100 |
If the student’s parents are married, DPI reduces their income by $7,000 before comparing it with the table. Family income counts the parents or legal guardians who live in the same household as the student. Students continuing in a choice program, and students on the same program’s waiting list in the prior year, do not have to meet the income limit again.
Age rules
Students must be at least 4 by September 1 for K4, 5 for K5 and 6 for first grade. DPI also says applicants may not be 21 as of the date they apply or September 1, whichever is later.
Grade or prior-year rules for Racine and statewide
For the RPCP and WPCP, a student must either be applying for K4, K5, first grade or ninth grade, or meet a prior-year requirement. Under DPI’s FAQ, qualifying prior-year situations include attending a Wisconsin public school, attending school in another state, not being enrolled in school (which includes homeschooling for the entire prior year), participating in a choice program, or being on a choice waiting list. WPCP applicants who were on a WPCP waiting list due to a district enrollment cap in any year from 2015-16 through 2025-26 also qualify.
Statewide participation limits
The WPCP has participation limits tied to public school district membership, so the number of new statewide students from a given district can be capped. When a school receives more eligible applications than it has seats, students may be placed on a waiting list.
How and When to Apply
Every student, including students already in the program, must apply each year through DPI’s online parent application at dpi.wi.gov/choice. An email address is required.
Application periods for 2026-27
For the 2026-27 year, DPI’s application guide lists monthly open application periods starting February 2-20, then March 1-20, April 1-20, May 1-20, June 1-22, July 1-20, August 1-20 and September 1-14. The MPCP also has October, November and December periods for second-semester participation only. Starting with 2026-27, the WPCP has more than one application period as well, and each private school chooses which periods it will accept, so check the school’s listing before applying.
Documents parents provide
According to the FAQ, parents must provide residency documentation to every school they apply to. Parents of new students must also show income eligibility in one of two ways:
- Provide Social Security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers so the Wisconsin Department of Revenue can determine income eligibility, or
- Use DPI’s income determination method by answering income questions in the online application and giving supporting documents to the school.
Documentation goes to the schools, not to DPI, and it must be provided during the same open period as the application or the application becomes ineligible.
Hearing back
Schools must tell parents within 60 days after the end of the application period whether the student was accepted, by mail or email. A notice of non-acceptance must say if the student is on a waiting list. Parents check application status with the schools directly.
Families applying in more than one state program, or comparing options across states after a move, may also find our step-by-step application checklist useful for organizing documents.
What the State Pays and What Families Pay
DPI’s choice payment FAQ lists 2026-27 annual payment amounts for a full-time student who is eligible on both count dates:
- Grades K5 (five full days) through 8: $11,305
- Grades 9 through 12: $13,799
- K4 and part-time K5: smaller amounts based on full-time equivalency, such as $6,783 for K4
Those payments go to the participating school. DPI notes that amounts are subject to statutory changes.
Tuition rules
The parent FAQ says a choice school may not charge additional tuition for a choice student in kindergarten through grade 8. For grades 9 through 12, a school may charge tuition beyond the state payment only if the family’s income is above 220% of the federal poverty level, which is $70,730 for a family of four in 2026-27. Schools can still have other policies and fees, so ask each school for its written fee schedule.
Questions to ask a choice school
Program rules set the basics, but each school runs its own admissions, schedule and policies. Before applying, it helps to ask:
- Which application periods does the school accept for your program, and how many choice seats does it expect to have?
- What fees, if any, apply beyond the state payment, and are they listed in writing?
- How do students get to and from school? DPI’s FAQ has a section on transportation and school policies, and arrangements vary by school and district.
- What does the school’s day look like, including any religious activities, and what are its attendance and discipline policies?
- For high school students, does the school charge tuition above the state payment for families over 220% of the federal poverty level?
Writing down each school’s answers makes it easier to compare options during a short application window.
The Special Needs Scholarship Program
The SNSP is a separate program for students with disabilities, open to families at any income level.
Who qualifies
DPI’s 2026-27 SNSP application page says a student must be a Wisconsin resident and either have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or services plan that is currently being implemented, or have an IEP or services plan developed no earlier than September 15, 2023, without a later finding that the student no longer has a disability. Age rules match the choice programs.
How to apply
SNSP applications for 2026-27 can be submitted from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Parents submit a paper application and a residency document directly to the participating private school. DPI says schools accept SNSP students in the order complete applications are received, may give preference to siblings of current students, and place students on a waiting list when seats run out. Eligibility review can take about five weeks.
Payment amounts
DPI’s SNSP payment page lists a 2026-27 full scholarship amount of $16,477, with per-FTE partial amounts of $11,305 for grades K-8 and $13,799 for grades 9-12. Schools may also choose to submit a statement of actual cost for some students, which can change the payment. As with the choice programs, money is paid to the school.
Rights to consider
Families should ask each school, in writing, how it will meet the needs described in their child’s IEP or services plan, what staff and services are available, and how progress will be reported. DPI’s choice FAQ also has a section on special education and the SNSP that explains how the programs interact.
What Homeschool Families Should Know
Wisconsin’s programs fund private school enrollment, not home education. In Wisconsin, homeschools are called home-based private educational programs, and families report them to DPI each year on form PI-1206 by October 15. Choice and SNSP funds are paid to participating private schools, so they are not available for homeschool curriculum or expenses.
Homeschooling can still matter for eligibility. DPI’s FAQ lists “was not enrolled in school,” including homeschooling for the entire prior school year, as one way to meet the prior-year requirement for the RPCP and WPCP. A family that homeschools one year and wants a private school the next may therefore qualify, subject to income and other rules.
Families who want state funding they can use for homeschooling would need to live in a state with a program that allows it. Our guide to whether homeschoolers can use state education funds explains which kinds of programs allow home education and which do not.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wisconsin have an education savings account?
No. As of October 2026, Wisconsin’s state-funded options are the three Parental Choice Programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, which pay participating private schools directly.
What is the income limit for the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program?
For new WPCP students in 2026-27, family income must be at or below 220% of the federal poverty level, for example $70,730 for a family of four. Married parents subtract $7,000 from income before comparing it to the table.
Do I have to reapply every year?
Yes. DPI requires every student, including continuing students and waitlisted students, to apply each year through the online parent application.
Can a choice school charge tuition on top of the voucher?
Not for grades K-8. For grades 9-12, a school may charge tuition only if family income is above 220% of the federal poverty level.
Is there an income limit for the Special Needs Scholarship Program?
No. The SNSP is available at any income level to Wisconsin residents with a qualifying IEP or services plan.
Can homeschoolers use Wisconsin choice funds?
No. The funds are paid to participating private schools. Homeschooling for a full prior year can, however, satisfy the prior-year requirement for the Racine and statewide programs. N: Last verified October 2026 against Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction pages. This article is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm current rules, limits and dates with DPI at dpi.wi.gov/choice and with each participating school.
