Journal Sentinel Opposes Voucher Expansion
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 1, 2013
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has issued yet another editorial in opposition to Governor Walker’s proposed expansion of private school vouchers in Wisconsin. The SAA encourages all members to forward this editorial to your legislators saying, “This is an important editorial on a very important educational issue in Wisconsin and I thought that you would like to see it. I would be happy to discuss it with you if you so desire.”
I know you are extremely busy, but please make this a priority. The next six weeks are for all the marbles. The future of public education in Wisconsin hangs in the balance.
Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the children you serve. They need your leadership now more than ever.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Ellis/Olsen Plan Cost Less Than Anticipated
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 1, 2013
A memo released by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau outlining a number of options to modify per pupil revenue limit adjustment indicates the cost of some proposals under discussion in the legislature may be lower than was presumed earlier.
According to the memo if a $150 per pupil adjustment were allowed in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, statewide revenue limit authority would increase by $82 million in 2013-14 and $207 million in 2014-15 compared to the $0 adjustment provide in the proposed budget (2013 Assembly Bill 40). According to the memo, under the $150/$150 increase school district revenues would increase by $289 million over the biennium. (Initial estimates of the “Ellis-Olsen” proposal, as described by Sen. Mike Ellis ( R- Neenah), had pegged the increase in school district revenues at about $382 million.)
This additional revenue limit authority would be funded from some combination of state general aid and local levy. If the full amount of funding would be provided as general aid under the $150/$150 option, there would be no property tax impact on a statewide basis. If no additional general aid funding were provided, districts would have the ability under revenue limits to raise, in total, those amounts from property taxes. More likely, some combination of state general aid and local levy would be provided.
The memo also outlines the cost of modifying the low revenue adjustment along with the general revenue limit adjustment. Since 1995-96, the state has established a per pupil ?low-revenue ceiling amount—currently set at $9,100 for 2013-14 and thereafter ($100 above the 2012-13 level)–that allows (low spending) districts to increase their per pupil revenues up to that ceiling without having to go to referenda. Use of the low-revenue adjustment is not required; rather, it is an option for districts to increase their revenues if they so choose.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Ellis: “The voucher program stinks.”
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 29, 2013
In a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on Saturday, April 27, Senate President Mike Ellis is quoted, “Here’s the bottom line. The voucher program stinks.” See the full article here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
John Forester Guest Column
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 24, 2013
SAA Director of Government Relations, John Forester, has repackaged his testimony before the Joint Finance Committee into a guest column that has now been distributed to media outlets statewide.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Voucher Students Lag in Latest WKCE
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 23, 2013
Students attending private voucher schools in Milwaukee and Racine scored lower than their public-school counterparts in Milwaukee Public Schools and the Racine Unified School District on the latest state standardized achievement test, according to results released by the state Tuesday.
And scores statewide plummeted – the effect of newly raised benchmarks for determining whether students are considered proficient or advanced in reading and math.
See Miwaukee Journal Sentinel Coverage
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »