10 Schools May Be Cut From Choice Program

By Sarah Carr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Aug. 24–The state has barred 10 schools from participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program this school year, according to preliminary orders signed last week.

The schools were barred for a variety of reasons, such as failure to file a certificate of occupancy, lack of insurance or not submitting evidence of sound fiscal practices.

The schools are: Xcellar8, Executive Kids Preparatory School, Joshua Elementary, The Young Women’s Institute for Global Studies, Amazing Grace Christian Academy, Focus Academy, Ke’Laff’s Academy of Children, SMI Early College Preparatory High School, Garden Homes Community Montessori School Inc. and Woodson Academy.

They have until Monday to appeal the orders, according to officials at the state Department of Public Instruction.

The voucher program enables low-income families in Milwaukee to send their children to participating private schools with state-funded tuition vouchers. Those schools that appeal will be able to argue for reinstatement at a hearing within 20 days of the time they request one.

While many of the schools barred from participating are new, some of them are longtime recipients of vouchers.

Woodson Academy is among the latter. In the order barring Woodson from receiving state voucher money this school year, DPI officials allege that the school failed to submit an independent auditor’s report from the 2005-’06 school year by the required date and owes the state $17,465.25 for a past overpayment.

This year, between five and 10 new schools are expected to join the voucher program.

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