Youth ROC

Fed up with budget cuts, 200 students attend first Statewide Youth Summit on Education

Kaylannie Acosta and Maya Mazul rally for more school funding.

Exclaiming the Summit theme, “No Funding, No Future,” students from across the state came to Madison last week, demanding a quality education.

The students, members of Youth Reclaiming Our Communities (Youth ROC), a statewide network of high school students, attended the first Statewide Youth Summit on Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Union South on April 28-30, 2006.

“The summit couldn’t have come at a more important time. With so many different kinds of students here, we had an extraordinary opportunity to organize students and fight to change the school-funding system into one that will ensure that students in every school in the state receive a quality education. It is a change that’s long overdue,” said Kaylannie Acosta, a senior at Washington Legal Education and Public Service (LEAPS) High School in Milwaukee.

Members of Youth ROC planned the summit that brought together a diverse group of students from all over Wisconsin to address on a statewide basis the problems they face individually every day. More than 200 youth from 26 schools—ranging in size from 100 to 2,500 students—took part in the event.

A highlight of the three-day summit was a walk from Union South to the Memorial Library Mall to let everyone know Youth ROC is serious about reforming Wisconsin’s school-funding system. Signs talking about the statewide crisis and red summit shirts lined the sidewalk at noon on Saturday.

Rep. Spencer Black told the crowd that it was time for the Legislature to forget about the divisive debates that have been held for years on issues that are more about politics than good public policy. It’s time to talk about reforming the school-funding system, the Madison Democrat said.

Attorney General Peggy Lauthenschlager was also on hand. She told the students that it was time for the state to do the right thing and figure out a way to deliver the constitutional guarantee of a quality education to all students in Wisconsin, no matter where they live or what their special circumstances.

Elizabeth Burmaster, state superintendent of schools, talks with students about school issues.

Elizabeth Burmaster, superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, gave the keynote address at the Summit and participated in a dialogue session with students. At the dialogue session students formed an agenda on school finance reform with Superintendent Burmaster to take back to their communities. In addition State Representative Josh Zepnick (D- Milwaukee) took part in a legislative dialogue session.

“We invited every single legislator to participate. It meant a lot to us that Rep. Zepnick drove all the way from Milwaukee to participate, but where were his colleagues? It just shows us where we fall on our legislators’ priorities and how much work we still have to do to make sure our voices are heard,” said Monique Sartin a junior at Rufus King in Milwaukee.

Thumbs up to Justin Chartier from Niagara High School, as he demonstrates his artistic talents preparing for the action rally.

“This was not just a conference for cute kids to learn about schools and politics,” said Maya Mazul, a student at Germantown High School, in Germantown. “The summit was designed to develop concrete solutions to the problems we are facing. It’s the next step in our movement.”

Last year, members of Youth ROC issued a report outlining the most important issues facing Wisconsin high school students. They included large class sizes, poor facilities, high student fees, insufficient supplies and not enough course options. The Youth Summit on Education grew out of those findings.

“What’s so unique about this summit is our commitment to action. Never before have students from urban, rural, and suburban areas joined forces and committed themselves to working together on these issues,” said Justin Chartier, a student at Niagara High School, in Niagara.

State Representative Josh Zepnick (D- Milwaukee) listens to students concerns in a legislative dialogue session.

The students attending believe they must help find solutions to Wisconsin’s school-finance crisis. “We’ve all heard about the problems young people are facing, but we never hear from young people. We believe the people most affected by a problem must be empowered to find the solution. In this case, students are most affected by budget cuts and the only way we can stop them is if students are leading the fight,” said Montreal Cain a senior at Bradley Technical and Trade High School.

The summit was co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Great Lakes Higher Education Guarantee Corporation, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Admissions and School of Education, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Alliance for Attendance Student Campaign, 100 Black Men of Greater Milwaukee, Inc., the Youth and Service Fund, Brighter Futures, and Impact.

Youth ROC is a program of the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF), a Milwaukee-based non-profit doing research and public education on matters of state public policy. Information on IWF is available at www.wisconsinsfuture.org.