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Effects of the Revenue
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Introduction and Summary of Significant Findings
This is the fifth study of the effects of the state revenue caps on the programs and services offered by school districts in Wisconsin. During each of the past five years the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators and the Wisconsin Education Association Council have surveyed public school superintendents to learn how districts have been affected by the revenue caps. The analysis was conducted by Russ Allen in the WEAC Division for Instruction and Professional Development.
The response rates of superintendents consistently have been high: 79% in 1994, 77% in 1995, 70% in 1996, 72% in 1997, and 74% in 1998. Over the five years, the average number of districts returning questionnaires has been 315. This year, 314 districts representing 722,000 of the state’s 881,000 students (82%) participated. The set of districts participating in each of the five years are not identical. Nonetheless, superintendents from the same districts have tended to participate during each of the five years.
The questionnaires sent to superintendents each of the past five years have been relatively short (two pages) and have included a core set of questions which have been nearly identical in wording. As appropriate, new questions have been included each year to obtain answers to specific and unique concerns. All responses have been treated anonymously.
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