JFC Extends Vouchers to Green Bay
By John Forester(Don't Use) | June 6, 2011
In a disappointing turn of events, late on Friday night, the Joint Finance Committee approved a motion authored by Senator Luther Olsen and Representative John Nygren authorizing the creation of a Green Bay Parental Choice Program. The motion, adopted by an 11-5 vote, does the following:
- Specifies that the program would be created if a petition is signed by a sufficient number of electors in the Green Bay Area School District. The threshold would be equal to 25% (5,143) of the number of pupils enrolled in the Green Bay School District in 2010-11. The group initiating the petition would be required to file a registration statement with GAB. For your information, 25% of the GBSD enrollment (5,143) is less than 7% of the eligible voters in Green Bay.
- Specifies that no more the 250 full-time equivalent pupils in the first school year of operation and 500 full-time equivalent pupils in the second school year of operation may participate in the program. No limit on pupil participation in the third year and beyond.
- Specifies that a pupil must live in the Green Bay Area School District to be eligible.
- Creates a sum sufficient appropriation from the general fund to make the payments to private schools under the Green Bay program.
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Voucher Program Expanded to Racine; Green Bay Still In Play
By John Forester(Don't Use) | June 3, 2011
Last night, amid the protests and arrests, the Joint Finance Committee took a series of votes on Public Instruction – Choice, Charter and Open Enrollment. Here is the link to the major motion adopted by JFC on the School Choice issue.
The JFC action included the following:
Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
- Set the maximum per pupil choice payment at $6,442 for 2011-12 and 2012-13.
- Set choice program family income eligibility at 300% of federal poverty level. Family income for a married couple would be reduced by $7,000 before applying the income eligibility limits.
- Remove the limit on the number of pupils that may participate in the choice program.
- Allow schools outside the City of Milwaukee to participate. (Pupils must still reside in the City).
Racine Parental Choice Program
- Create a Racine Parental Choice Program for pupils residing in the Racine Unified School District (RUSD).
- Limit the program to 250 FTE pupils in 2011-12 and 500 in 2012-13. Beginning in 2013-14, there would be no pupil limit.
- Create a sum sufficient appropriation from the general fund estimated to provide $1.61 million in 2011-12 and $3.22 million in 2012-13.
- Reduce general aid to Racine Unified by $618,400 in 2011-12 and $1.237 million in 2012-13.
Other Issues
- Remove the Independent Charter School Expansion language from budget bill. (This issue will move forward in SB 22).
- Remove the pupil participation limit for Virtual Charter School Enrollment.
- Remove the SB 2 language on Open Enrollment from the bill. (SB 2 will be the vehicle for this issue).
- Approved a study of Open Enrollment Transfer Aid amount.
- Essentially codified the DPI timetable for replacement of the WKCE. All students (including Choice) will take the WKCE until it is replaced.
Finally, in a procedural maneuver, Co-Chair Vos left open the possibility the committee would vote to expand Choice to Green Bay in the face of significant legislative opposition.
The combination of the impending Senate recall elections and the enormous money behind the Choice advocates is making it very difficult for K-12 advocates to prevail on this issue.
I will inform the membership of additional Budget developments as they arise.
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JFC Adds $116 Million In Allowable Revenues For Schools
By John Forester(Don't Use) | May 31, 2011
As you probably know, the Joint Finance Committee took action on K-12 finance issues last Friday May 27th. Many of the early news accounts were faulty so here is the straight scoop as I know it.
On a 12-4 vote (with all GOP members voting “yes” and all 4 Dems voting “no”), the JFC added about $116 million in allowable revenues for schools in the 2011-13 biennium. Of this amount, $67 million will come from local property taxes and $48.7 million from state aid.
The adopted motion does the following:
- Sets the low revenue ceiling at $9,000 per pupil in 2011-12 and in 2012-13, and $9,100 in 2013-14 and annually thereafter.
- Creates a one-time general aid appropriation funded at $6.2 million in 2011-12. This aid would be provided to each district that qualifies for the low-revenue ceiling in an amount equal to 40% of the amount of the low revenue adjustment increase under the motion. State aid could not exceed $40 per pupil.
- Provide a $50 per pupil adjustment under revenue limits in 2012-13.
- Create a one-time categorical aid appropriation funded at $42.5 million in 2012-13. If a district levies the maximum amount under revenue limits in 2012-13, excluding the carry over adjustment, in the November certification of the districts levy, the districts aid payment would equal $50 per pupil multiplied by the districts current year 3-year average enrollment under revenue limits.
- Specify that the DPI will prorate payments from both of these appropriations if aid entitlements exceed available funding.
The only K-12 education items awaiting to receive JFC action are Choice, Charters, and Open Enrollment. These items are on the agenda for Thursday June 2nd.
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Uncertainty Reigns on K-12 Finance, ACT 10
By John Forester(Don't Use) | May 27, 2011
To say that the situation inside the Capitol is fluid is a monumental understatement. The Joint Finance Committee did not act on the school finance portion of the budget yesterday. JFC is scheduled to take up the K-12 items today beginning at noon.
However, as of this writing, committee members have yet to reach agreement on the K-12 package. The SAA continues to push for a softening of the aid cuts and cap reductions.
On a related note, JFC Co-chair Robin Vos said yesterday that Judge Maryann Sumi’s ruling against ACT 10 does not alter the committee’s schedule. Vos said he does not expect the JFC to insert the collective bargaining changes into the budget bill before the JFC wraps up it’s work on the budget next week. Senate Co-Chair Alberta Darling said that Judge Sumi’s ruling adds to the uncertainty for school districts and teachers. “It (ACT 10) has to become law”, she said.
Stay tuned.
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Priority Budget Alert: Your Immediate Action Needed
By John Forester(Don't Use) | May 25, 2011
THIS IS A PRIORITY LEGISLATIVE ALERT ON THE STATE BUDGET FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Republican members of the powerful Joint Finance Committee will meet early this afternoon to craft the K-12 Finance Package for the committee’s action tomorrow. My Capitol sources suggest the GOP committee members are divided into two camps on K-12 finance issues. The first group sees no need to soften the huge school aid cuts and allowable revenue deductions proposed in Governor Walker’s budget plan. The other group is holding out and fighting hard for a $100 per pupil adjustment in the second year of the biennium supported with an $85 million dollar increase in general aid.
This is your last opportunity to contact Republican members of the JFC before the K-12 budget agreement is crafted. PLEASE PHONE OR EMAIL IMMEDIATELY in support of the $100 cap adjustment and $85 million dollar general aid increase in the second year of the biennium. You can contact the committee members easily using the Key Committees section on our website. Just below that, in the Elected Officials section, I have also provided links to the Senate Directory, the Assembly Directory and Who Are My Legislators.
Thank you.
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