EDUCATION: Editorial from 2/21/15 CapTimes insisting that " any 'education reform'that shifts tax dollars away from public schools in order to fund private academies is not sincere and necessary reform. It is an attempt to fool some of the people some of the time with a promise of “reform” that will hurt students and communities."
ECONOMY: Republican leaders in the WI legislature, backed by Gov. Scott Walker, are going to fast track right-to-work legislation. It is going to be introduced on Feb. 23. How would our county and state be affected by such laws? The per capita income in Pierce County is $27,462; household income is $59, 226 (clearly indicating that two incomes are needed to support a family in this county). The fact that the average travel time to work in the county is more than 27 minutes also means that the majority of people living in the county work in Minnesota, not Wisconsin.
If Wisconsin becomes a right-to-work state, we can expect the average worker to earn $5,971 less than states without right to work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median family income will be 12% less than in other states. And 26% of the jobs in those states are low-wage occupations, compared to 18% of the jobs in other states.
In right-to-work states, there are more uninsured people because fewer companies offer insurance coverage, there are greater rates of poverty and infant mortality, and more than 30% less investment in education—when Wisconsin is already disgracefully leading the list of states disinvesting in education.
You might also want to read a report by Marquette University economist Abdur Chowdury providing specifics on how right-to-work laws would affect Wisconsin.
Many see budget cuts as presidential ploy, according to the New York Times
Wisconsin Budget Project's Summary of the effects of the governor's budget on K-12 education.
Op-ed piece in the New York Times by UW-Milwaukee History Professor Christine Evans discussing how important the Wisconsin Idea and the humanities are to WI students and to the state.
Digging into the details, Paul Fanlund finds the budget targets the DNR, K-12, UW, prisons.
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Many see budget cuts as presidential ploy, according to the New York Times
Wisconsin Budget Project's Summary of the effects of the governor's budget on K-12 education.
Op-ed piece in the New York Times by UW-Milwaukee History Professor Christine Evans discussing how important the Wisconsin Idea and the humanities are to WI students and to the state.
Digging into the details, Paul Fanlund finds the budget targets the DNR, K-12, UW, prisons.
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Walker's Proposed Cuts to SeniorCare: Being required to shift to Medicare Part D from Senior Care could cost seniors in one month of prescriptions the full cost of SeniorCare's annual fee.
At Dean Knudson's recent listening session, it was reported that the governor's budget cuts will cut River Falls schools more than $500,000.
Sheila Harsdorf remains vague about the governor's budget, urging citizens to contact her regarding their concerns.
At Dean Knudson's recent listening session, it was reported that the governor's budget cuts will cut River Falls schools more than $500,000.
Sheila Harsdorf remains vague about the governor's budget, urging citizens to contact her regarding their concerns.
Summary of the Budget (education starts on page 46). Thanks, Cheryl Maplethorpe.
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Summary of the budget was provided by WisPolitics
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the proposed budget is going to result in huge financial losses to Wisconsin's K-12 schools while allowing removing caps on taxpayer dollars to be used for vouchers at private and charter schools: "Wisconsin's public schools will posed $127 million in state aid in the first year of Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal, according to a provision that district administrators were starting to understand Wednesday." Additionally, according to Senator Chris Larson, the budget calls for cuts in school breakfast programs, school libraries, and school violence prevention programs.
Another Milwaukee JS piece maintains that the governor's budget would destroy the public school status quo by neglecting public schools and redirecting money to private, parochial, and voucher schools; by eliminating the state's achievement tests, which are consistent with the Common Core, and have been in place for several years; and by lowering standards for teacher licensure.
Specifics regarding public education in the bill:
• No increase is special education categorical aids (8th straight year) – eroded funding for 20 years
• No Increase in funding for high cost students (students over $30,000 annually)
• $150 cut per pupil (all pupils)
• No fix for open enrollment to stop the discrimination against students related to “undue financial burden” decisions
• Expansion of vouchers statewide with no limits on students or schools – income capped at 185% poverty level - No accountability or protections for students with disabilities in voucher schools.
• No new career and college ready supports for students with disabilities (no inclusion of youth employment Better Bottom Line Initiatives)
• Schools will be allowed to choose from multiple student achievement tests for accountability purposes (schools will get letter grades) – thus comparisons across schools will not be “apples to apples”
• Proposal that report cards may be “weighted” for students with disabilities – Report cards will be used to take funding away from school districts
• Creation of a State Charter Authorization Board that will be ran by government Appointees which takes away control from locally elected school board
The proposed budget will cut $15 million dollars over two years for Wisconsin's Senior Care.
The proposal calls for Wisconsin seniors to shift to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, which is more expensive than the current state coverage.St. Paul Pioneer Press
A recent report shows that UW-Madison is one of the top four research universities in the country, a status threatened by the current budget proposal.
Despite Walker's claim that language undercutting the Wisconsin Idea was simply a "drafting error," manuscripts show the deliberateness of the changes either by Walker himself or his staff
John Nichols writes in The Nation about Scott Walker's rejection of the Wisconsin Idea
Legislators of both parties are questioning Walker's budget: "unrest is growing among Republicans who control the Legislature about what Walker is asking them in what will be his final budget before the 2016 campaign."
• No Increase in funding for high cost students (students over $30,000 annually)
• $150 cut per pupil (all pupils)
• No fix for open enrollment to stop the discrimination against students related to “undue financial burden” decisions
• Expansion of vouchers statewide with no limits on students or schools – income capped at 185% poverty level - No accountability or protections for students with disabilities in voucher schools.
• No new career and college ready supports for students with disabilities (no inclusion of youth employment Better Bottom Line Initiatives)
• Schools will be allowed to choose from multiple student achievement tests for accountability purposes (schools will get letter grades) – thus comparisons across schools will not be “apples to apples”
• Proposal that report cards may be “weighted” for students with disabilities – Report cards will be used to take funding away from school districts
• Creation of a State Charter Authorization Board that will be ran by government Appointees which takes away control from locally elected school board
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The proposal calls for Wisconsin seniors to shift to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, which is more expensive than the current state coverage.St. Paul Pioneer Press
A recent report shows that UW-Madison is one of the top four research universities in the country, a status threatened by the current budget proposal.
Despite Walker's claim that language undercutting the Wisconsin Idea was simply a "drafting error," manuscripts show the deliberateness of the changes either by Walker himself or his staff
John Nichols writes in The Nation about Scott Walker's rejection of the Wisconsin Idea
Legislators of both parties are questioning Walker's budget: "unrest is growing among Republicans who control the Legislature about what Walker is asking them in what will be his final budget before the 2016 campaign."
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