Proposed Tax Deduction For Private School Parents Comes Under Fire

In addition to speaking out against voucher expansion, public school advocates questioned a tax deduction in the state budget proposal today.

The deduction would allow private school parents to deduct tuition expenses of up to $4,000 per year for elementary school students and $10,000 for each high school student starting next year.

Tony Evers, state superintendent of public instruction, says wealthy families will end up benefiting since there’s no income cap.

“A billionaire can receive this deduction – the most generous deduction of any state in the country for a private school tax credit.”

Governor Scott Walker earlier this week touted the new deduction at a school choice gathering. He says the deduction will provide financial help to those who don’t qualify for the income-dependent voucher program.

“Even for those who don’t meet the income qualifications – up to 185 percent of poverty in terms of the initial expansion – there is a benefit for those families who send their sons and daughters to any private school, not just the choice voucher participants.”

The private school tax deduction is estimated to cost about $30 milliona year.