MONROE - Two area parochial schools are not applying to be part of the state's voucher school program that helps parents pay for the cost of sending their children to private schools.
St. Victor School in Monroe and Holy Rosary School in Darlington are two of 45 schools in the Diocese of Madison that didn't apply for the state's expanded voucher school program this year.
"We are taking a wait-and-see stance," St. Victor Principal Joe Peters said.
Gov. Scott Walker's recently approved biennial state budget included an expansion of the voucher system. The program originally began as a means to give lower-income students in under-performing Milwaukee schools an opportunity to enroll in private schools. The program, which gives families a voucher of about $7,000 to be used for private school tuition, was then expanded to include Racine, and has now opened up statewide.
But only 500 students will receive vouchers this school year, followed by 1,000 students in the 2014-15 school year. There are currently about 25,000 students the program in Milwaukee and Racine.
The state Department of Public Instruction required schools that wanted to participate to apply by July 26. If approved, the schools could accept applications from families Thursday, Aug. 1 to Friday, Aug. 9.
Peters said the 25 private schools with the most applications from qualifying students will be allowed to participate in the first year of the expanded statewide program. Each of the schools will receive a minimum of 10 vouchers. The remaining 250 vouchers will be allotted to the same schools with a lottery.
"In reality that would not be us," Peters said of the provision that the 25 private schools with the most students applying would be approved as a voucher school. "When you compare us to places like Madison, Beloit and Janesville, Monroe wouldn't rank up there."
Holy Rosary School Principal Diane Smith-Hole said her school also considered applying, but she didn't think it would be approved as a voucher program. Holy Rosary School is a kindergarten through fourth grade school with an enrollment of 60. The school also serves as one of three locations for the community-based 4K program.
"I didn't feel that we would qualify," Smith-Hole said. "It doesn't mean we won't look into it in the future. I don't see people in the area qualifying for vouchers."
To qualify for the school voucher program, children must come from families that make no more than 185 percent of the federal poverty limit, or no more than $43,752 for a family of four.
Additionally, "you have to demonstrate a need that your child will get a better education," Smith-Hole said. "I would see those vouchers going other places."
Smith-Hole still sees the need for an expanding voucher school program across the state.
"The voucher program is certainly a benefit where the schools are not equally as strong and families want a better education for their kids," she said. "Darlington public schools is a blue ribbon school."
Both Peters and Smith-Hole see a bigger boost for families coming with tax-deductible tuition that begins in 2015. The tuition tax reduction will give families up to a $4,000 tax deduction for any tuition they pay during the 2014 school year.
St. Victor School, which has 140 students enrolled, charges tuition of $2,000 for parish members; tuition for non-parish members is $2,900.
"If you and I would make a donation to St. Victor's now it would be tax deductible," Peters said. "Tuition now is not tax deductible. Now that it is (on 2014 taxes), I think it will benefit a lot of our parents."
St. Victor School in Monroe and Holy Rosary School in Darlington are two of 45 schools in the Diocese of Madison that didn't apply for the state's expanded voucher school program this year.
"We are taking a wait-and-see stance," St. Victor Principal Joe Peters said.
Gov. Scott Walker's recently approved biennial state budget included an expansion of the voucher system. The program originally began as a means to give lower-income students in under-performing Milwaukee schools an opportunity to enroll in private schools. The program, which gives families a voucher of about $7,000 to be used for private school tuition, was then expanded to include Racine, and has now opened up statewide.
But only 500 students will receive vouchers this school year, followed by 1,000 students in the 2014-15 school year. There are currently about 25,000 students the program in Milwaukee and Racine.
The state Department of Public Instruction required schools that wanted to participate to apply by July 26. If approved, the schools could accept applications from families Thursday, Aug. 1 to Friday, Aug. 9.
Peters said the 25 private schools with the most applications from qualifying students will be allowed to participate in the first year of the expanded statewide program. Each of the schools will receive a minimum of 10 vouchers. The remaining 250 vouchers will be allotted to the same schools with a lottery.
"In reality that would not be us," Peters said of the provision that the 25 private schools with the most students applying would be approved as a voucher school. "When you compare us to places like Madison, Beloit and Janesville, Monroe wouldn't rank up there."
Holy Rosary School Principal Diane Smith-Hole said her school also considered applying, but she didn't think it would be approved as a voucher program. Holy Rosary School is a kindergarten through fourth grade school with an enrollment of 60. The school also serves as one of three locations for the community-based 4K program.
"I didn't feel that we would qualify," Smith-Hole said. "It doesn't mean we won't look into it in the future. I don't see people in the area qualifying for vouchers."
To qualify for the school voucher program, children must come from families that make no more than 185 percent of the federal poverty limit, or no more than $43,752 for a family of four.
Additionally, "you have to demonstrate a need that your child will get a better education," Smith-Hole said. "I would see those vouchers going other places."
Smith-Hole still sees the need for an expanding voucher school program across the state.
"The voucher program is certainly a benefit where the schools are not equally as strong and families want a better education for their kids," she said. "Darlington public schools is a blue ribbon school."
Both Peters and Smith-Hole see a bigger boost for families coming with tax-deductible tuition that begins in 2015. The tuition tax reduction will give families up to a $4,000 tax deduction for any tuition they pay during the 2014 school year.
St. Victor School, which has 140 students enrolled, charges tuition of $2,000 for parish members; tuition for non-parish members is $2,900.
"If you and I would make a donation to St. Victor's now it would be tax deductible," Peters said. "Tuition now is not tax deductible. Now that it is (on 2014 taxes), I think it will benefit a lot of our parents."