Doyle Vetoes Expansion of School Voucher Program
Governor Jim Doyle has vetoed several bills that would
have expanded the state's private school voucher program.
The bills would have:
- Eliminated the cap on the number of participants in the Milwaukee
voucher program.
- Allowed any private school in Milwaukee County to participate in
the voucher program.
- Changed family income requirements.
- Set up a private study of the program that critics said would have
been biased because it would not have been based on the same accountability
measures applied to public schools.
Doyle urged the Legislature to work with him to improve schools for
all children, not just those attending private schools.
"Any changes to the voucher program must be part of an overall
package that improves education for everyone and addresses serious concerns
that have been raised about accountability within the voucher program,"
Doyle said.
WEAC President Stan Johnson said the vetoes keep the
reins on a program that is dividing the education community.
"Gov. Doyle recognizes these bills would inflict severe damage
on public education throughout Wisconsin," Johnson said. "Vetoing
these measures protects our great schools in every community. The voucher
debate has focused attention on using tax dollars to fund an unaccountable
program in the name of helping children, instead of focusing on education
reform that is proven to work and is accountable, like the state's SAGE
class-size reduction program.
"WEAC believes the Milwaukee voucher program should be accountable
to the state's taxpayers as well as parents and the community,"
Johnson said. "This program is not accountable for the millions
of dollars it receives every year."
WEAC proposes that all voucher schools participate in the same state-level
testing that is required of other publicly funded schools, he said.
"The comparisons should be 'apples to apples.' The taxpayers of
Wisconsin deserve to know whether they are receiving results for their
investment in this questionable program."
WEAC is calling for a law requiring voucher schools to adhere to the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act guidelines: test 95%
of students, report the test scores to parents on a school report card,
make the results of testing public, employ only "highly qualified"
teachers, employ only "highly qualified" paraprofessionals
for instructional work, and meet the requirements of Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP).
In addition, voucher schools should be required to:
- Process background checks on teachers.
- Employ a certified reading specialist, and develop reading programs
with annual evaluations.
- Adopt a written policy for promotion from 4th and 8th grades, including
Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exams as part of promotion criteria.
"If true accountability is to exist in the Milwaukee voucher schools
– accountability so that parents can make a truly informed choice
of schools – standards for voucher schools and public schools must
be identical," Johnson said. "WEAC is dedicated to making
sure every child in Wisconsin attends a great school. The voucher program
is not the way to make sure every child in Milwaukee attends a great
school. We recognize Milwaukee has unique problems and we are committed
to help solve those problems."
The governor also vetoed expansions of Milwaukee and Racine non-instrumentality
charter schools, which are not under the control of locally elected
school boards. Johnson said the veto prevents a diversion of already
limited state funds from public schools to the charters.
Resource page on private school
vouchers
Posted December 2, 2003