Legislature OKs Standards Council, NBPTS Grants

The Legislature has passed several pro-public education initiatives, along with some proposals WEAC opposes.

“Public education saw some significant victories last week,” WEAC President Terry Craney said. “The Legislature also made some decisions that will harm education, children, and teachers. We hope the governor will veto the regressive measures.”

Legislators gave final approval to a budget adjustment bill which includes a minor change to the Qualified Economic Offer law. It requires school districts to apply any savings in benefit packages to salaries under the QEO.

The budget contains grants for teachers seeking and receiving National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, a ban on social promotions, and grants for teacher mentoring programs.

The budget also includes two provisions strongly opposed by WEAC. One expands alternative teacher certification in the Department of Public Instruction. The other allows districts to opt out of statewide standardized fourth and eighth grade tests tied to state academic standards.

Legislators last week approved a bill creating a Professional Standards Council for teachers. The Legislature also passed bills relating to a study of the physical condition of school buildings, the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and truancy abatement. The bills were all part of WEAC’s legislative agenda.

A bill expanding the charter school law, strongly opposed by WEAC, was also approved.

“The good news is that the state showed its commitment to higher standards for teachers by creating a Professional Standards Council and providing grants for teachers seeking NBPTS certification,” Craney said. “The bad news is that the Legislature took the state’s efforts to improve standards and accountability backward by expanding the charter school law to allow just about anyone to run a charter school; by allowing non-teachers to teach certain subjects; and by allowing school districts to replace standardized fourth and eighth grade tests with their own exams, only months after the state adopted academic standards for students.”

Craney called on the governor to veto the charter schools, alternative teacher permit and testing opt-out provisions.

“It makes no sense to enact laws that step away from our commitment to standards and accountability in education,” Craney said. “Charter schools need to have high standards for students and they must be accountable to the public. Public schools must have highly-trained teachers who know how children learn. Schools must be held accountable for complying with academic standards.”

Craney urged members to contact the governor and urge him to veto the three measures, and to sign the Professional Standards Council and child abuse prevention bills into law.

Legislators wrapped up most of their work by May 7. They will return to Madison the week of May 11 to finish a special session that includes the governor’s proposal to take over Milwaukee Public schools, and a campaign finance reform plan.

Posted May 8, 1998