Wisconsin private schools receiving full tuition vouchers operate with minimal oversight, investigation finds
Thirty-nine institutions in Wisconsin took in approximately $87 million in state vouchers last year while exempt from open records laws and strict conflict-of-interest regulations that apply to public schools.
A ProPublica investigation has identified 39 private schools in Wisconsin, referred to as “100% schools,” that received approximately $87 million in state tuition vouchers during the most recent academic year. These institutions educate 7,923 children but operate with significantly less oversight than public schools, as they are exempt from open records laws, mandatory transparency measures, and strict conflict-of-interest regulations.
The report highlights Atlas Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee, which received over $4.3 million in vouchers for 357 students despite low test scores and declining enrolment. The school’s governance structure has drawn scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest, including its board chair, Steven E. Menden, serving simultaneously as an administrator and receiving significant compensation.
According to fiscal year 2025 IRS filings, Menden earned $132,505 in pay plus $19,916 in additional benefits for a 40-hour workweek. His accounting firm, Menden & Associates, secured an $87,250 contract with the school. Menden’s daughter, Kaitlyn Menden, received $127,674 in salary and benefits for a role in business services, which she described as involving human resources and technology oversight.
Unlike public schools, these voucher-funded institutions are not subject to Wisconsin’s open records laws. ProPublica requested Atlas Prep’s conflict of interest policy and its contract with Menden’s accounting firm but did not receive them by mid-August. In contrast, public schools in the state must make such records available to the public.
Experts and officials noted that the governance practices at Atlas Prep diverge from standards applied to public education. Dan Rossmiller, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, stated that a public school board member cannot simultaneously hold a district management job under legal doctrines regarding incompatible roles. Michelle Lukacs, Atlas Prep’s executive director, denied voting on her own salary or situations involving conflicts of interest, asserting that board members model strong personal leadership.
A 2011 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction research paper suggested that low-performing choice schools might need financial sanctions or closure, but such accountability measures do not currently exist. While Atlas Prep’s website includes a tab for curriculum information that does not load, public schools are required to provide detailed agendas, minutes, and performance statistics.
