Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: February 15, 2024 Contact: Katie Bender-Olson, Principal Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 900
Assembly Substitute
Amendment 1
CURRENT LAW
Private schools participating in the Racine Parental Choice Program, the Wisconsin Parental Choice
Program, or the Special Needs Scholarship Program (“parental choice programs”) receive state
payments that are offset by funds deducted from the state aid received by the school district in which a
particular choice school student lives for students who entered the program in the 2015-16 school year
or later. School districts include parental choice program students in their membership count for
general aid, and receive a revenue limit adjustment equal to the aid reduction.
Similarly, independent charter schools authorized by certain entities receive state payments that are
offset by funds deducted from the state aid received by the school district in which a particular
independent charter school student lives. School districts include these students in their counts for
general aid and revenue limit purposes.
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 900
Assembly Bill 900 eliminates the reductions school districts receive to their state aid based on students
participating in a parental choice program for students entering a program in the 2024-25 school year
or later. This change is commonly referred to as “decoupling” the funding of parental choice students
from the funding process for public schools. The bill creates a 13-year phase-in period after which all
students attending a parental choice program are fully funded by general purpose revenue (GPR).
ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 provides for “decoupling” of state payments for both parental choice
students and independent charter school students
1
from the funding process for public schools. These
students would no longer be included in enrollment counts of school districts for revenue limits and
general aid, and will be fully funded by GPR beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Unlike the original
bill, the substitute amendment funds parental choice payments with GPR immediately, rather than
implementing a 13-year phase in period.
The substitute amendment also creates a one-time recurring revenue limit adjustment for school
districts based on 25 percent of the levy impact of the changes made within the amendment. This will
allow school districts to raise additional funds via the property tax they would not otherwise be able to
raise under the current revenue limits.
1
The provisions of 2023 Assembly Bill 688, which relate to the funding of independent charter schools, are
incorporated into Assembly Substitute Amendment 1. - 2 -
BILL HISTORY
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 was offered by Representatives Schutt, Kitchens, and Maxey on
February 5, 2024. On February 14, 2024, the Assembly Committee on Education adopted the substitute
amendment and passed the bill, as amended, on votes of Ayes, 10; Noes, 5.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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