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Questionnaire results
This report is based on the responses of 327 of Wisconsin's 426 school
superintendents. Many of the 46 questions were used previously. This was
done in order to collect valid and reliable time-based information about
the experiences of districts under the revenue caps legislation.
The results for the two previous studies (1999-2000 and 2000-2001) included detailed information about individual districts; the 1999-2000 study was a 485 page report with information about 124 districts, while the 2000-2001 study contained results for 162 districts.
The current paper reports only statewide results. In the questionnaire
that follows the totals are not always 100%, due to rounding.
Effects of the revenue caps on programs and student services: 2001-2002
school year
Note: All figures on the questionnaire represent the percent of respondents selecting each option.
Directions: Listed below are some actions that school districts
have taken to comply with the state revenue caps during the past school
year. For each, circle one of the choices available. If your district
took no action in 2001-2002, circle "No Action." If your district
took action, circle the number which best describes the effects: (1) "Very
Negative," (2) "Negative," (3) "No Difference,"
(4) "Positive," or (5) "Very Positive." If you don't
know the effects, circle (6) for "Don't Know." Please answer
all questions on this survey.
Action was taken and the effects were:
|
% taking action
|
v. neg
|
neg
|
no diff
|
pos
|
v. pos
|
dk
|
|
| 1. Delayed building maintenance or improvement projects |
73%
|
19%
|
59%
|
19%
|
2%
|
1%
|
0%
|
| 2. Spent less for maintenance of buildings and grounds |
0
|
79
|
16
|
59
|
23
|
2
|
0
|
| 3. Spent less for improvements of buildings and grounds |
79
|
17
|
60
|
20
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| Delayed or reduced the purchase of curricular materials |
73
|
17
|
47
|
34
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 5. Delayed or reduced purchase of consumable supplies, such as paper |
71
|
9
|
41
|
48
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 6. Delayed or reduced the purchase of computers, other technology |
75
|
17
|
51
|
30
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
| 7. Offered fewer staff development opportunities for teachers |
71
|
16
|
49
|
34
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 8. Laid off teachers |
67
|
33
|
31
|
36
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 9. Laid off teacher aides or other support staff |
66
|
30
|
39
|
30
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
| 10. Laid off administrators or supervisors |
47
|
22
|
26
|
51
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
| 11. Reduced counseling or similar services |
49
|
19
|
23
|
57
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 12. Delayed hiring of new staff |
62
|
19
|
46
|
33
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 13. Reduced extracurricular programs |
48
|
11
|
23
|
65
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 14. Reduced programs for students who are at risk |
51
|
13
|
29
|
56
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
| 15. Reduced programs for gifted and talented students |
55
|
19
|
29
|
51
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 16. Offered fewer courses |
55
|
16
|
36
|
46
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
| 17. Reduced transportation services for students |
50
|
7
|
31
|
62
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 18. Reduced summer school programs |
44
|
6
|
22
|
70
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 19. Offered fewer field trips for students |
59
|
9
|
48
|
41
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 20. Increased class sizes |
64
|
19
|
42
|
38
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 21. Increased teacher workload |
61
|
14
|
49
|
36
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| 22. Increased administrator workload |
74
|
26
|
49
|
24
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 23. Increased student fees |
65
|
13
|
39
|
44
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
| 24. Used fund balance to support budget |
64
|
30
|
33
|
35
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
| 25. Reduced number of academic courses offered to students |
50
|
9
|
33
|
58
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| 26. Reduced courses in art, music, theater, vocational, etc. |
48
|
10
|
27
|
63
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 27. Did not replace departing staff |
61
|
25
|
44
|
28
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
28. Due to the revenue caps, has your district during the past or current school year eliminated, reduced, or decided not to offer certain classes, programs, or services? If so, please list some of the most significant examples below.
29. What have been the long-term effects of the revenue caps on your
district's programs and services?
30. Does your district's census predict decreasing, increasing, or about the same enrollment over the next 4-5 years? (Check one)
For each of the statements on this page, circle the number that best expresses your opinion.
|
St. agree
|
Agree
|
Neutral
|
Disagree
|
St. disagree
|
DK
|
|
| 31. Keep the revenue caps law as it is -- make no changes for the forseeable future. |
3%
|
6%
|
7%
|
34%
|
48%
|
2%
|
| 32. Keep the revenue caps in place, but allow greater increases in spending from year to year. |
12
|
42
|
14
|
20
|
9
|
2
|
| 33. Change revenue caps law to allow school boards greater flexibility to exceed the cap. |
34
|
49
|
7
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
| 34. Repeal the revenue caps law. |
13
|
20
|
26
|
23
|
13
|
5
|
| 35. Keep the state's two-thirds commitment to fund education. |
52
|
29
|
12
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
| 36. Districts should be allowed to increase spending by 1 or 2 percent without having to pass a referendum. |
51
|
40
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
| 37. Districts should be allowed to increase spending to maintain facilities without having to pass a referendum. |
51
|
41
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
| 38. Any district that increases spending should receive a corresponding increase in "equalized" state aid. |
20
|
24
|
23
|
21
|
5
|
7
|
What has been the effect of the revenue caps on your district's capacity to:
|
v. pos
|
some. pos
|
no effect
|
some. neg
|
v. neg
|
dk
|
|
| 39. Improve teachers' knowledge and skills in subject/ content areas? |
0
|
2
|
38
|
44
|
15
|
0
|
| 40. Meet the needs of both regular and special education students? |
0
|
3
|
23
|
48
|
26
|
0
|
| 41. Attract quality staff? |
1
|
2
|
26
|
40
|
20
|
0
|
| 42. Retain quality staff? |
1
|
2
|
40
|
41
|
15
|
1
|
| 43. Implement the professional development requirements of the SAGE program. Note: If you are not a SAGE district, place a check mark in the space below. |
5
|
8
|
38
|
35
|
9
|
5
|
39% indicated that they were not part of a SAGE district.
In the future, what will be the effect of the revenue caps on your district's capacity to:
| 44. Train/ prepare staff for implementation of the new licensure rules (e.g., mentoring, released time, training or professional development teams, etc.)? |
3
|
3
|
9
|
31
|
52
|
4
|
| 45. Fully implement all requirements of the newly passed Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including student testing? |
3
|
3
|
6
|
27
|
56
|
6
|
End of questionnaire
Special thanks to Denise Maney (WEAC), who worked extensively on this project and also to Miles Turner, Executive Director of WASDA, and to the 327 district superintendents who participated in this study.
Posted March 10, 2003