Conservative Republican Sen. Steve Nass, points out correctly that this is still more dollars going into public schools with no requirement for better results. But Madison senator and gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys also blasted the deal as irresponsible and she has been endorsed by the state’s largest teachers union. She wouldn’t have made that statement if WEAC disagreed. Two other Democratic hopefuls, David Crowley and Joel Brennan, were also critical of the deal as was Senate Democratic leader Dianne Hesselbein.
Given the very blandness of the compromise, it’s not clear what’s going on. Does WEAC want even more?
Things are complicated by the fact that Evers, Vos and LeMahieu have all announced that they’re retiring. So, they have no leverage. They won’t be around to punish the opponents to their grand deal.
Also curious is the absence of any money for the Stewardship land conservation program. Democrats, including Evers, turned down $28.5 million on offer from Republicans in the budget, meaning that the program will go dark at the end of June. But none of the critics mentioned that, suggesting that it’s not an item of political leverage. Those environmentalists who thought that they’d win a game of brinksmanship here have, it appears, been proven wrong once again.
As a matter of politics, this doesn’t look like it will have much impact on the fall elections. The refund checks aren’t big enough to get noticed much and what property tax relief might occur won’t show up until December.
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Notes on growing redistributed state taxpayer funds and k-12 systems
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Early Literacy Screener Map.
3,887 Madison 4 year old to third grade students scored lower than 75% of the students in the national comparison group.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average k-12 tax & $pending. This despite our long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
A.B.T.: “Ain’t been taught.”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?