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School funding changes take ‘huge first step’
Posted: 6/24/2010 4:02:19 PM
State Superintendent Tony Evers unveils his plan for school funding changes in Madison joined by WEAC President Mary Bell and other education advocates.
The educators of the Wisconsin Education Association Council stood with State Superintendent Tony Evers on Thursday (June 24) to usher in a new proposal to change school funding. Evers’ proposal – which he plans to submit to the Legislature in the fall along with his first Department of Public Instruction budget – addresses key components of the state’s school funding formula, including providing a minimum level of state aid for every student and using poverty as a factor in determining state aid.
“It’s a first step, but it’s a huge first step,” Evers said Thursday.
WEAC President Mary Bell said educators look forward to working with Evers along with parent, business, community and other education groups to advance the school funding reform plan.
“Wisconsin’s current school funding system treats all children as if they cost the same to educate and doesn’t take into account the unique needs of our varied districts,” Bell said. “This framework takes us a step in the right direction, allowing school boards to accurately budget from year to year and providing a minimum level of support for every child in the state.”
The “Fair Funding for Our Future” framework creates a fair and sustainable way to fund public schools, with emphasis on accountability for results. The plan calls for a minimum level of state aid for every student regardless of where they live. It also proposes using student poverty, not just property values, as a factor in a portion of state aid.
“Currently, our public schools are struggling to make ends meet,” Evers said. “Across our state, school boards are cutting budgets, closing schools, laying off teachers, raising class sizes, and eliminating educational programs. This is too much turmoil for our children. Our funding system is broken, and we must start the process now to fix it.”
Evers’ plan also calls for predictable growth in state support for schools and expanded sparsity aid and transportation funding to support rural schools.
A crucial component of the plan allocates the School Levy Tax Credit, valued at $900 million, to general school aid. The School Levy Tax Credit currently is never used to educate children. The change will not result in a net property tax increase, but will instead direct funds that already are part of the school funding system into the schoolhouse doors.
“We support this framework because it helps decrease the uncertainty of school funding for local schools year to year and allows teachers and education support professionals to put the focus where it needs to be – in the classroom,” Bell said.
