SAA Following the Work of Two Study Committees
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | July 12, 2018
The SAA is following two Legislative Council Study Committees as they meet over the next several months (the web page links below will allow you to follow the work of these important committees):
Legislative Council Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds
Legislative Council Study Committee on the Identification and Management of Dyslexia
The Committee on Dyslexia held its first meeting on July 9th. It’s next meeting will be held on August 29th in Room 411 South, State Capitol. Michael Weber, Superintendent of the Port Washington – Saukville School District is a member of the Committee.
The Committee on School Trust Funds will hold its first meeting on August 16th in Room 411 South, State Capitol.
The SAA will keep the membership informed of any important developments from these study committees.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
SAA Member Jeff Wright Running for State Assembly
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | July 11, 2018
For the past 16+ years that I have served as the SAA’s lobbyist, SAA members have talked about the importance of school administrators getting elected to the Legislature.
Yet, during that time, we haven’t had many administrators step up to run. In 2016, Jeff Wright, assistant superintendent for the Sauk Prairie Schools, ran a strong but unsuccessful campaign for the State Assembly. Jeff is running again this year for the State Assembly (51st Assembly District) as a Democrat. Jeff’s career as an educator began as a history, government and world affairs teacher. He also served as a high school principal on the south side of Chicago. I first connected with Jeff several years ago when he delivered extremely effective testimony on the state budget before the Joint Finance Committee. He is a strong advocate for Wisconsin schools and Wisconsin school children.
Needless to say, the SAA is very excited about Jeff’s candidacy. If you would like more information about his campaign, including information on making a campaign contribution, I have provided a link to Jeff’s campaign website below.
Please note: The State Elections Commission has advised that SAA members should access campaign donation pages from a personal computer and not on school servers.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
School Law Update: Recent Matters of Interest
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | July 10, 2018
From the Legal Side . . .
In its most recent newsletter, Boardman Clark provides an update on a number of court decisions or other matters that have been in the news recently.
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of Boardman Clark.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »
SAA Re-Issuing Priority Legislative Alert on PI 34 Rule
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | June 27, 2018
The SAA is re-issuing its Priority Legislative Alert on the Educator Licensure Rule Changes (PI 34). The licensure flexibility that WASDA, WASBO, AWSA, WCASS and WASPA worked so hard to achieve in the PI 34 rule is in jeopardy.
The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) held a public hearing last Thursday, June 7th on the stakeholder workgroup revisions to licensure. The Committee called the hearing because of opposition from the Reading Council to Tier 1 licensees being able to teach without having passed the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT). Following the hearing, the Committee decided to “hold” the rule and meet again on July 13th, at which time they will likely seek modifications to the rule. These modifications could weaken the licensure flexibility afforded under the PI 34 revisions.
We urge all SAA members to take action now! Please contact the members of JCRAR, in support of CR17-093, the PI 34 rule revision.
In your communication, please consider using the talking points listed below. Also, it is critical that you share with JCRAR members the challenges that you face in hiring high-quality educators in this environment and that your district needs the flexibility afforded under CR 17-093.
Talking Points:
- Wisconsin school districts are facing growing school staffing issues including high turnover, fewer applicants for positions, and candidate shortages in a variety of disciplines. With fewer new teachers entering the profession, new approaches to educator recruitment and retention are critical to ensure all children have access to high-quality educators.
- The licensure flexibility afforded under CR17-093 is universally supported by school leaders in their effort to address the growing workforce challenges faced by Wisconsin school districts.
- We must also point out that districts are currently operating under these proposed rule changes as part of the current Emergency Rule. These proposals are already making a positive difference in meeting these workforce challenges in districts throughout Wisconsin.
- School administrators support all aspects of the proposed rule but, of particular importance are the flexibilities and candidate expanding aspects in the Tier 1 license. This will allow for a much-needed district sponsored pathway to licensure, immediate licensure for out of state candidates, licensing for speech and language pathologists with a Department of Safety and Professional Services license and licensing for individuals coming into a district on an internship or residency status. These are effective, no-cost solutions to a significant workforce need in Wisconsin school districts.
- Educator licensure is simply a minimum requirement. District leadership is responsible for hiring and developing successful educators, and ultimately determining educator quality based on actual teacher performance and student outcomes.
- Reducing the Tier 1 license flexibility in the rule has the potential to impact as many as 2,400 teaching licenses, many of which are FORT-related stipulations. Any portion of these licensees that lose their ability to teach will exacerbate an already troubling workforce challenge and reduce educational opportunities for children.
For your convenience in contacting the JCRAR members, we have provided a link to the JCRAR webpage (which includes contact information for each committee member). We have also provided direct email links to each committee member below.
Representative Ballweg (Co-Chair)
If you should have any questions please email me. Thanks for listening and, as always, thank you for everything you do on behalf of Wisconsin school children.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Supreme Court Dismisses Wisconsin Redistricting Case
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | June 18, 2018
From WisPolitics.com …
The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed the state’s redistricting case, sending it back to federal district court.
The decision, though, doesn’t address the broader issue of partisan gerrymandering, and the court noted providing a remedy to the issue doesn’t “necessarily require restructuring all of the State’s legislative districts.”
Today’s opinion comes after the court heard oral arguments in the case last October. Before that, a three-judge panel in 2016 had ruled the maps Republicans drew in 2011 amounted to an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.
Chief Justice John Roberts in the opinion wrote the court will return the case to the lower court for the plaintiffs in the case to provide “concrete and particularized” evidence that would show Wisconsin’s political lines affect their votes.
See the opinion here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »