Governor's Milwaukee Plan Will Benefit Schools

The Milwaukee initiative unveiled Wednesday (February 7, 2007) by Governor Doyle includes provisions that "will go a long way toward closing the achievement gaps in the Milwaukee Public Schools," Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Dennis Oulahan said.

"We are pleased by the governor’s investment in student achievement initiatives in MPS," Oulahan said. "His continued commitment to small class sizes, early learning opportunities, students with special needs and our English language-learners is also significant and will better equip our members to serve Milwaukee children and families."

The governor calls his initiative "Growing Milwaukee for Wisconsin's Future." The education components include:

• Create the Office of the Wisconsin Covenant and increase financial aid by $44 million to prepare for the day the first Covenant scholars enter Wisconsin’s colleges and universities.
• Launch a $15 million partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools to support student math achievement initiatives, increase graduation rates, and keep kids competitive.
• Provide property tax relief to Milwaukee taxpayers by supporting 100% of the cost of new students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
• Provide $500,000 to support after-school programs at school-based sites of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

Oulahan said Milwaukee educators "will do what we can to make sure these proposals are implemented."

Dennis Oulahan

“The governor has clearly made it his priority to make sure every child in Milwaukee has access to a high-quality education in our public schools," Oulahan said. "He understands that we need to address our students’ health and safety needs before we can begin to address their academic needs. His dedication to increased funding for school breakfast, the expansion of BadgerCare, and making funds available for additional school nursing positions exemplifies that understanding.

“There’s no question that we need to continue to be vigilant about securing adequate funding for our public schools, so that our children can get a first-rate education," Oulahan said. "But Governor Doyle’s proposal is a strong and decisive first step in that direction. We believe the governor is committed to making sure that every child in Milwaukee has access to a high-quality education."

In addition to the $15 million partnership with MPS, the governor's plan includes:

• $6.5 million for special education.
• $6.4 million to reduce class sizes from kindergarten through 3rd grade by investing in the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program – plus the potential for additional funding if MPS contracts with the Department of Public Instruction to establish new SAGE schools.
• $908,500 for multilingual, multicultural aid.
• $661,500 to increase school breakfast reimbursements.
• $100,000 to make driver’s education more affordable for low-income families.

MPS also will have the opportunity to compete for additional grant funding to:

• Start 4-year-old kindergarten classes.
• Establish world language courses in elementary schools.
• Implement more innovative science, technology, engineering, and math courses.

The governor’s proposal will provide property tax relief to Milwaukee taxpayers by supporting 100% of the cost of new students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.

The governor's overall Milwaukee plan, which will be incorporated into his state budget plan to be presented to the Legislature February 13, also includes proposals to reduce crime, improve services for children and families, make health care more affordable, improve housing, invest in the city's infrastructure, support biotechnology and medical research, expand tourism, protect the environment, provide property tax relief while protecting local services, invest in job training, and promote economic development.

More detail is available on the governor's Web site.

Posted February 8, 2007