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Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Are you been keeping up with the Wisconsin Budget as it relates to Education? If not---Do your self a favor! Get active because there is a definite degree of nonsense and misdirection by the Scott Walker Republicans. It is quite apparent that many GOP Representatives have no idea what Education is.
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck's Commentary:
Guest
commentary: Ensuring educational options
By Rep. Amy Loudenbeck
| Posted: Monday, June 15, 2015 4:00 pm
I have received
significant input on the 2015-2017 budget related to K-12 education. Ensuring
quality educational options for all children is a priority for me and for
Wisconsin.
One third of the
state general fund is spent on K-12 education, our number one
expenditure.
I am pleased to
report that the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) recently voted to
modify the governor’s proposed education budget by investing nearly $200
million in additional funding over the 2015-2017 biennium.
THE JFC voted to
level fund public schools in 2015-2016 and increase funding by $100 per pupil
in 2016-2017 for all Wisconsin public school students.
This is in
addition to the increases that were approved in the 2013-15 budget, when school
districts received a $75 per pupil increase in year one and another $150 per
pupil increase in year two.
IT IS important
to note that the choice program is available only to parents at or below 185%
of the federal poverty level.
The JFC also made
significant changes to responsibly limit the program after removal of the
statewide cap. For example, starting with the next round of applications, the
program is limited to prior year public school students, with the exception of
entry points for kindergarten, first and eighth grade.
THE BUDGET also
includes the expansion of independent charter schools in Wisconsin.
Under this
proposal, the proposed Madison Prep charter school, which is modeled on meeting
the needs of low-income minority students, could be authorized by the UW
System. Tribal colleges would also be allowed to authorize independent charter
schools. Wisconsin’s Native American tribes highlighted their desire for
charter schools that focus on preserving and revitalizing tribal languages and
culture as a priority at the recent State of the Tribes Address.
FINALLY, school
accountability is incredibly important. That is why under the JFC budget
proposal, all schools receiving public funding (choice, charter, public) will
be graded using the same five-star report card system that accounts for
students’ growth in reading and math skills, school poverty levels, and a
school’s ability to close gaps in achievement among groups of students.
Funding, flexibility,
and accountability are essential elements of a successful educational system
and this budget reflects these priorities.
And this one is offered by Rep Deb Kolste:
Rep. Debra Kolste: Budget proposal would severely damage
public schools
By Rep. Debra Kolste June 5, 2015
The Legislature’s budget-writing committee has written a
proposal that would cause massive damage to public schools; even more than the
original plan proposed by Gov. Scott Walker.
Public education built this state. Access to public
education has provided people from every economic stratum with a shot at the
American Dream. Most Wisconsin residents love their local schools and want to
preserve them.
Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance removed the
caps from the voucher program at the expense of public schools and created a
new, expensive entitlement. Up to $800 million and maybe more will be shifted to private
schools in the next decade. Voucher schools don’t produce better results. They take
public money but don’t answer to the public.
The Republican plan diverts even more money for
special-education vouchers. Private schools would take money for special-needs
students but won’t have to provide programming or specialized teachers. The
finance committee approved this proposal against the wishes of advocates for
special-needs students.
Standards for public school teachers will decline.
Bachelor’s degrees won’t be required for some, and others won’t need high
school diplomas. Specific teacher training will not be required.
Knowledge of a subject does not necessarily qualify one to
teach. Public school teachers learn classroom skills: organization, lesson
planning, and how to engage students of varying ability, preparedness and
motivation.
The plan also degrades academic standards. It awards
graduation credit through demonstrating competency or “creating a learning
portfolio.” Half of the credits for graduation could be earned this way. The
competencies would be listed on the student’s transcript.
The effect will be to diminish the value of diplomas from
Wisconsin high schools.
The plan opens athletic programs at public schools to
home-schoolers or private school students. Home-schoolers can join the Janesville
Craig football team under this scheme. Never mind academic standards at Craig
or adherence to the athletic code. Only students who actually attend Craig will
be subject to Craig’s standards and oversight.
The only valid purposes of school sports are to build
character and bring school communities together. A teammate won’t necessarily
be a classmate anymore.
Republicans have apparently designated public schools for
nearly complete destruction. The sad remnant schools will accommodate students
that private schools reject and will house expensive programs that private
schools won’t have to provide.
The only conceivable motive for vandalizing public education
is to create profits for private interests. The quality of education statewide
will decline. The prospects for graduates of our high schools will decline. The
economic outlook for our state will continue to decline.
Public schools have created a sense of community in cities
and villages everywhere in Wisconsin. We are on the cusp of losing the value of
those unifying institutions, along with the great opportunity that fine public
schools provide for everyone.
Rep. Debra Kolste, D-Janesville, represents the 44th
Assembly District. Contact her at P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708; phone
888-947-0044; email Rep.Kolste@legis.Wisconsin.gov.
The Commentary offered by Representative Loudenbeck is mostly a copy and paste job of bill highlights that have nothing to do with concerns of her district. This is totally disingenuous of a Representative or of the staff. She writes nothing about how it will impact her constituents. Representative Kolste makes it very clear how it will impact those she represents. Seriously, Representative Loudenbeck---You need a staff writer that has knowledge of your district that now comprises through nonsensical gerrymandering the following School Systems: Janesville, Beloit, Milton, Delavan, Walworth, and some may be in Lake Geneva. Perhaps you and your staff are unaware of the people you serve who live in Janesville, Milton, and Beloit. Or, perhaps you just don't care.
Representative Kolste responds to her constituents, has School Board and Commissioner experience and based upon these two Commentaries Representative Loudenbeck---you need to take a closer look at Education not to mention those who live in your district and whomever you assigned to write that Commentary----They need to return to school and write a Commentary; not just copy and paste a few passages from the ALEC Template and call it done.