Education Resources
Below are resources that we use to guide our discussion of public schools in Wisconsin:
Joint Finance Committee education package, Motion 538, passed June 5, 2013.
Democracy and Education Research Group, "What’s the Difference? Voucher schools, Charter schools, Milwaukee Public Schools" May 2012
ACLU and ten other organizations, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Defend Public Schools, Our Children, Our Democracy" Jan. 26, 2013
On School Funding:
Patti Zarling, Press-Gazette Media, "School vouchers take center stage at state budget hearing" April 8, 2013.
Scott Bauer, Associated Press: "Wisconsin floats private school tuition tax break" April 3, 2013.
Institute for Wisconsin's Future: "Governor’s K-12 budget starves public schools while private choice schools prosper" Feb. 18, 2013
Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance: "Governor’s Budget Proposals Continue Defunding of Public Education" Feb. 18, 2013
School Funding Reform for Wisconsin: "Central Wisconsin school funding reform community group gains support from around the state" Feb. 13, 2013
Institute for Wisconsin's Future: "Public school kids deserve part of projected state surplus" Nov. 25, 2012
Marcus Nesemann, Rhinelander Daily News, "District moves forward with referendum: Vote could take place as early as February" Nov. 15, 2012
Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, "Wisconsin residents would prefer state revenues to be spent on additional funding for education over receiving tax cuts by a 2-to-1 margin (56.9% to 27.3%)" Oct. 29, 2012
Institute for Wisconsin's Future: "Normal School District faces uncertain future" Sept. 14, 2012
Alan J. Borsuk, On Education, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Average school district will face rocky road" Aug. 11, 2012
Amy Hetzner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Some places' integration seats vanish: Aid formula makes big players prefer open enrollment to 220" Dec. 25, 2010
On Disability Rights:
Rebecca Kemble, The Progressive, "Walker’s Ploy on Special Needs Vouchers" Feb. 18, 2013
Disability Rights Wisconsin: "Disability Rights Wisconsin Shares Concerns about Governor’s Education Budget and Impact on Students with Disabilities" Feb. 18, 2013
Stop Special Needs Vouchers: "Parents of Children with Disabilities Travel to Madison to tell the Governor: Special Needs Vouchers are Bad News for Our Kids!" Feb. 18, 2013
ACLU: "Voucher Schools Have Created a Separate, Unequal System" June 20, 2011
ACLU: "Milwaukee Voucher Schools Discriminate Against Students with Disabilities, Allege ACLU, Disability Rights WI: Federal Investigation Requested Today" June 7, 2011
Institute for Wisconsin's Future: "New organization forms to fight against special needs vouchers" Dec. 14, 2012
On Charter & Voucher Schools:
Patti Zarling, Press-Gazette Media, "State poll reflects divisions, uncertainty over school vouchers" Mar. 31, 2013.
Lisa Kaiser, the Shepherd Express: "The High Cost and Low Benefits of School Vouchers: Walker wants to expand a low-performing, unaccountable program" Feb. 27, 2013
Patti Zarling, Green Bay Press-Gazette: "School voucher effectiveness questioned" Feb. 24, 2013
Hillary Gavan, Beloit Daily News: "Voucher debate churns" Feb. 19, 2013
Jason Stein, Patrick Marley and Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel, "Scott Walker proposes expanding voucher school program, raising taxpayer support." Feb. 18, 2013
Lisa Kaiser, Shepherd Express, "City Officials Limit Public Comment on Charter Schools: So what are they trying to hide?" Dec. 13, 2012
Dominique Paul Noth: "City charter system smells of insider trading cronyism" Dec. 13, 2012
Barbara Miner, JS Online: "Does City Hall have a clue what's going on at the city's charter schools?" Dec. 12, 2012
Erin Richards, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Poverty less damaging to public schools' scores than charters', report finds" Dec. 5, 2012
What Others are Saying:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board: "Walker's voucher plan goes too far, too fast" Feb. 19, 2013
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter Editorial Board: "Our view: School voucher expansion proposal flawed" Feb. 19, 2013
M.D. Kittle, Wisconsin Reporter: "Expert: Walker’s school choice plan could spark another Act 10-style battle" Feb. 19, 2013
Bar-Lev, Nissan, Green Bay Press Gazette: "Legislators should reject special education voucher legislation" Feb. 6, 2013
Miner, Barbara, The Cap Times: "Milwaukee example of Walker’s threat to schools" Feb. 5, 2013
Elliott, Patrick, JS Online: "School vouchers harm public education" Jan. 31, 2013
Alinder, Jasmine: "Wisconsin parents call for re-investment in K-12 public education: ‘Repair the damage’" Jan. 14, 2013
Ravitch, Diane, JS Online: "Invest in MPS, not voucher and charter" Jan. 10, 2013
Stevens Point, WI: "Central Wisconsin Community Group Tired of Waiting for State Legislature to Reform K-12 Public School Funding" Jan. 10, 2013