Badger Institute

Up to $26 billion per year in private scholarship money could follow children into any K–12 school — just not children in Wisconsin.

Billions in private donor support for students could be ‘largest investment in education ever’ in America - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Total potential private giving through the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit could be six times higher than previously estimated.

Wisconsin’s poverty rate declined for the second consecutive year in 2024 to 10.3 percent, data from the Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates show.

Wisconsin poverty rate falls for the second straight year - Badger Institute Wisconsin’s poverty rate declined for the second consecutive year in 2024, data from the Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates show.

Stewardship lands are just a part of the 5.9 million acres of undeveloped government-owned land in Wisconsin.

But then add in roads, government buildings and other acreage not on the tax rolls, and what’s left to support local government?

Is 5.9 million acres of government-owned land enough? - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Wisconsin’s northern counties’ budgets, economies are squeezed by how much land is undevelopable and off tax rolls.

Lowered standards might make Wisconsin students look good on paper, but high expectations serve them best for a life of success.

Wisconsin kids, teachers in public schools deserve restored standards - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Rather than simply putting more resources into a system producing disappointing results, policymakers should focus on reforms that improve how public schools function.

New proposed rules on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit set the $1,700 limit per individual — meaning that a married couple can steer up to $3,400 of their federal taxes toward the scholarship-granting nonprofit of their choice.

By the Treasury’s estimate, the tax credit now could mean up to $26 billion a year in additional education funding following children into any sort of K-12 school, all directed by individual donors.

Billions in private donor support for students could be ‘largest investment in education ever’ in America - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Total potential private giving through the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit could be six times higher than previously estimated.

Regarding Janesville’s development referendum: “No prospective developer is going to want to do business with us if they think everything they do will end up going to a direct vote,” says George Cullen. “This is going to handcuff the city.”

On Janesville’s November ballot: an ‘anti-development’ question - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Business and city leaders in Janesville are warning of the long-term economic damage of citizens taking direct control over major development in the city.

The median Wisconsin household had its best year yet with household income at $88,020.

Wisconsin median household income reaches record high - Badger Institute Wisconsin’s real median household income rose for the third consecutive year in 2025, reaching a record high of $88,020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Wisconsin kids and teachers deserve restored standards, not just more money poured into a system that’s not working.

Wisconsin kids, teachers in public schools deserve restored standards - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Rather than simply putting more resources into a system producing disappointing results, policymakers should focus on reforms that improve how public schools function.

Business and city leaders in Janesville are warning of the long-term economic damage of citizens taking direct control over major development in the city.

What began as a backlash to a proposal for a data center on the toxic and long-ignored site of a demolished General Motors plant — a proposal now withdrawn — led to a rarely used direct legislation petition that successfully sought a much broader referendum question on the Nov. 3 ballot.

On Janesville’s November ballot: an ‘anti-development’ question - Badger Institute Badger Institute : Business and city leaders in Janesville are warning of the long-term economic damage of citizens taking direct control over major development in the city.

In nominal terms, median homeowner equity in Wisconsin has increased about 75 percent since 2019 when it was about $115,100. Now it's $201,000. 🏡

Median Wisconsin homeowner has more than $200k in equity, tops in Midwest - Badger Institute The median Wisconsin homeowning household had approximately $201,000 in equity in its home in 2024, data from the Census Bureau show.