Judge strikes down Wisconsin ‘perfection’ policy’ in win for school choice

School choice supporters in Wisconsin are cheering a new ruling that ends the state’s perfection policy.

A judge in Waukesha told the state’s Department of Public Instruction that its policy that requires parents to have an absolute 100% match on their legal records and school choice applications “is invalid as it has not been explicitly permitted by statute or properly promulgated as a rule.”

“This ruling is a win for parents, kids and school choice in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty Education Counsel Cory Brewer said.

WILL sued on behalf of a number of school choice parents, including those who go to Catholic Memorial High School of Waukesha.

“As we noted in our lawsuit, DPI has been exceeding its authority under state law in how it administers the parental choice programs and making up the rules as it goes along. These programs were created to be a simple, easy to use option for eligible families, and today’s ruling helps restore that goal” Brewer added.

WILL cited examples during a hearing in October that DPI rejected school choice applications based on relatively minor discrepancies.

For example, one father signed his application as Chuck, when his legal name is Charles. DPI also rejected applications when parents wrote their address as N. Prairie as opposed to North Prairie, or County HGW as opposed to County Highway.

School Choice Wisconsin Action Vice President of Operations Carol Shires said the ruling ends arbitrary hurdles for families who simply want to get a better education for their kids.

“This ruling removes roadblocks for families and recognizes the real purpose of school choice: to open doors for parents to find the best educational opportunity for their children,” Shires said in a statement. “Thankfully common sense and sanity prevailed in this case.”