Proposed Tax Deduction For Private School Parents Comes Under Fire

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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.

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“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.