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Senator Ron Johnson Wants More Information on Federal Investigation into Milwaukee Choice Program

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson will come to Milwaukee today Monday to host a hearing on the city’s school Choice program. He specifically wants information about a federal probe that’s been underway. It’s been looking into whether the voucher program has discriminated against students with disabilities. The investigation started nearly eight years ago.

Senator Ron Johnson says he has every right to demand answers from the Justice Department because he’s chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

“I have jurisdiction over the entire federal government, and we’re a little concerned about the Department of Justice investigation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice program,” Johnson says. 

The investigation dates back to 2007, when the ACLU filed a complaint. The group’s attorney, Karyn Rotker, says it was concerned that Milwaukee’s voucher program was discriminating against children with disabilities.

“There are children who are denied admission, who are not provided services and accommodations in the school, who are expelled or cancelled out of the school for reasons associated with their disability. And that’s what we’ve asked the Department of Justice to Investigate,” Rotker says.

As for the fact that it’s been eight years with no answers?

“We don’t have control of the investigation. The Department of Justice is doing their job,” Rotker says.

Rotker says nothing about the process has been secretive.

Yet Senator Johnson says he wants the DOJ to explain why the investigation is taking so long and what it has found.

“I think they’re right now operating outside the bounds. I’ve sent two letters now to Attorney General Lynch requesting just some basic information in terms of what’s the purpose of their investigation, what are the charges, what are the instances? And we’ve gotten nothing because they’re claiming it’s under investigation. I don’t think that passes the smell test quite honestly," Johnson says.

Johnson says because of Milwaukee’s history as having the first choice program, the country can learn a lot from the city’s experiences. He says today’s hearing on Milwaukee’s choice program will likely be the first in a series yet to be scheduled.

LaToya was a reporter with WUWM from 2006 to 2021.