MILWAUKEE – Hispanics for School Choice (HFSC) met with Governor Walker yesterday to discuss upsizing the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP). Milwaukee’s 20 year old program has had a positive impact on the Hispanic community ensuring a safer learning environment and improving graduation rates.

Zeus Rodriguez, President of Hispanics for School Choice, said “No other group in the country needs to improve their graduation rates more than Hispanics. It would be a shame to prevent a program, effective at retaining their students, from expanding to more families and graduating more children.”

Hispanics for School Choice and other school choice groups are calling on the State Legislature to remove MPCP’s income eligibility requirements. In a meeting with the Governor, Zeus Rodriguez made clear that the Latino community doesn’t want educational attainment confined to a poverty program.

Aaron Rodriguez of HFSC, said “There is no reason to cut out the middle class taxpayers. Experience with independent charters suggests that removing income eligibility requirements will not edge out low income families.”

Quite the contrary, allowing more parent participation in MPCP improves choice schools. Ivan Gamboa, of HFSC, told the Governor that expanding the program to middle income parents will have a positive effect on the quality of education offered by a choice school.

Governor Walker said he was “happy to meet with Hispanic leaders who recognize the potential of school choice for their communities and for all families.”

Those who attended the meeting from Hispanics for School Choice were Zeus Rodriguez (President), Ivan Gamboa (Treasurer), Aaron Rodriguez (Secretary), Yesenia Rodriguez (Outreach Coordinator), Jose Delgado (Board Advisor).