Public education in Wisconsin is a critical element in personal, community and statewide prosperity. Over the past 20 years, public schools have been at the center of significant controversy involving cost, educational achievement, governance and teacher quality. Since IWF’s inception, education-related issues have been at the center of the organization’s research agenda.
School funding has been a priority since 1996 when IWF published an analysis of a Wisconsin policy that revised how state aid to school districts was distributed. Since that time, IWF has published a series of reports on the impact of school budget cuts, problems in the state aid formula and alternative plans for ensuring adequate state aid for schools.
In addition, IWF has done research on the economic impact of Milwaukee’s school voucher program on both Milwaukee Public Schools and city taxpayers. This assessment demonstrated that Milwaukee Public Schools were financially penalized by the current system for funding vouchers and that Milwaukee taxpayers are paying a substantially higher amount for education because of the voucher program.
A major part of the school quality debates has been the role of teacher unions. In 1996, IWF worked with local and national research specialists to examine the student test scores in school districts with and without teacher unions. The report found that student test scores were higher in states where teacher unions were present regardless of other factors such as family income or region.
Message delivered to Legislature:
Change the school-funding system
April 21 hearing will be historic day for school-funding reformers
On April 21 the Assembly Education Committee will hold a public hearing on the School Finance Network’s (SFN) funding plan. This momentous occasion is a significant step along the way to replacing Wisconsin’s school-funding system with a plan that actually works for kids, schools, and communities.
The committee will be gaveled to order by chairperson Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, from Middleton, at 1 p.m., in Room 413 North of the State Capitol. Committee members will be hearing testimony from students, parents, taxpayers, and educators from around the state and from members of the School Finance Network, including WAES.
SFN’s reform plan, two years in the making, was rolled out around the state during 10 press conferences early in the month of February. The plan was put together to hold the line on property taxes, be accountable to taxpayers and students, and to link revenue to the needs of students and their schools.
It will be a public session of the committee and everyone is invited to sit in. If you plan to attend-or even if you don’t-you should contact your elected state officials and ask them to be there.