2011-12 WEAC Legislative Agenda
School Funding Reform
The Wisconsin Education Association Council believes Wisconsin’s public schools need a system of funding that provides
all children with the resources needed to provide them with equal opportunities for a quality education guaranteed by
the Wisconsin Constitution, the Supreme Court and federal and state statutes.
A new system of funding should guarantee sufficient resources to educate all students to high standards, including
additional, targeted funding for high-cost special education students, those who live in poverty, and English language
learners, as well as additional aid for small, rural school districts and those with declining enrollment. New school
funding resources should come from state – rather than local – sources in a way that lowers property taxes and
increases fairness for all taxpayers. The new system should build on Wisconsin’s successful tradition of local control
by trusting individual communities to decide how additional funding will be used, while assuring statewide
accountability for improved student performance.
To advance school funding reform, WEAC is a partner in the School Finance Network (SFN), a coalition of citizens, parents
and education groups that came together to make Wisconsin’s system of school funding more effective. Dedicated
to providing all children in Wisconsin equal educational opportunities, the coalition recognizes that 16 years of revenue
controls have undermined the quality of public education, forcing ongoing cuts in curriculum, programs and services.
All of the groups believe that new thinking and new ideas are needed to maintain our state’s strong tradition of
first-class education.
Under the SFN’s plan, all school districts would benefit, and money is targeted to where it is needed most. The SFN
proposes to build upon the existing system of school funding instead of simply rearranging the money within it, and the
plan invests in opportunities for all of Wisconsin’s students. As a result, no district loses money and every district gains
from the plan. Acknowledging that every child does not cost the same to educate, the SFN proposal targets money to
where it is needed most – to those with special needs, those who are English Language Learners, and those who come
from low-income families. The plan also directs new money to districts most in need, such as small, rural schools and
those with declining enrollment. To learn more about the School Finance Network and the coalition’s plan for school
funding reform, visit: www.sfnwisconsin.org.
These new investments are critical to securing a well-rounded education for all students. Without them, we risk losing
not only basic programs that improve reading and math, but a wide range of class offerings including art, music, foreign
language, vocational, business, and technical training programs. At risk, also, is our capability to employ high-quality
teachers and support staff and maintain viable schools in rural communities.
Investments in education are a proven path to help the economy grow. This is true for PK-12 schooling, higher
education, and technical colleges alike. In the face of a struggling economy, Wisconsinites turned to technical colleges
in record numbers for job retraining in 2009, straining the colleges’ capacity to meet demands. While many adults
need basic training and education services, technical colleges do not cover the cost of these classes through tuition.
To meet the growing need, WEAC supports creating a state categorical aid program to fund technical college basic skills
and adult basic education costs. This investment helps ensure that adults in need of additional training will get the
education they need, leading to high-skilled jobs that will help revive the economy. An independent 2007 study by the
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance found that each $1 invested in the Wisconsin Technical College System generates nearly
$4 in new state economic output. In the end, students increase their earning potential, businesses get a higher-skilled
workforce, and the state benefits from lower unemployment and a return on its investment.
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