Special Needs Scholarship Program
Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP)
- Allows a student with a disability who meets certain eligibility requirements to receive a state-funded scholarship to attend a private school that participates in the SNSP.
- No income requirements.
- No participation cap.
Read our research on students with disabilities:
- Wisconsin School Choice Programs Serve Thousands of Disabled Students
- New SCW Report Highlights Schools’ Work with Students with Disabilities
Funding
- The SNSP base scholarship for 2024–25 is $15,409 for K–12 students; K–4 students receive half that amount.
- An optional, high-cost provision exists for students with greater needs.
- Students who no longer need special education services receive a scholarship equal to the voucher in the statewide program: $10,237 for K-8 and $12,731 for 9-12.
How it Works
- Parents may view a school’s SNSP profile on DPI’s website describing the types of services the school provides and the qualifications of its staff.
- Student applications and transfer requests are accepted throughout the year, from July 1 to June 30.
- To qualify, a student needs an IEP or Service Plan that was developed within the past three years. An IEP is an individualized education program, a written statement for a student with a disability that outlines an educational plan for the student.
- Schools and parents must agree and sign off on the types of services that will be offered to the student before a scholarship is finalized.
By the Numbers
- Students for 2024–25: 3,069
- Schools: 206
- History: Launched in 2015

