Governor Signs Budget Adjustment Bill

Gov. Thompson signed AB-768, the budget adjustment bill into law June 2 during ceremonies in Waukesha County, Green Bay and Wausau. The bill becomes 1997 Wisconsin Act 237. Partial vetoes on education items are listed below:

EDUCATION AND TRAINING - Public Instruction

• National Teacher Certification Program (Sec. 361). Deletes limit of 20 teachers and eliminates annual $2500 state grants to teachers beyond 1999-01biennium.
• Professional Teaching Permits (Secs 362c and 362p). Deletes requirement for DPI to renew a permit or issue a regular teacher license at the direction of a local school board.

Talking Points: (WEAC PR and GR have constructed the following talking points on Act 237)

The budget contains confusing messages for public education and it’s full of contradictions. It dangerously undermines the integrity of teacher certification by allowing just about anyone to teach, while at the same time providing incentives for licensed teachers to go through a rigorous national certification process.

The bad news:

The governor did not veto language expanding alternative teacher permits, meaning people with no formal teacher training can teach public school. The provision expands alternative permits to cover people with five years of work experience to teach music, art, foreign languages and computer science.

The governor did partially veto language requiring DPI to give people permanent licenses if requested by local school boards.

• At a time when we are calling for higher teacher standards, the state is now adding a provision that undermines the integrity of teacher licensing.
• Teaching requires specialized education and training. Teaching demands more than knowledge of a specific field; teachers must know how children learn, how to handle children, pedagogy, and must keep up on the latest education issues and techniques.
• We are very concerned that allowing untrained people into the classroom will harm the quality of education children receive.

The governor also did not veto language allowing school districts to opt out of state exams tied to statewide academic standards.

• It makes no sense to remove some of the accountability for student achievement by allowing school districts to replace state tests with their own.
• At a time when we are calling for higher standards for schools and students, this measure allows districts to avoid setting and measuring standards.

It is ironic that state officials pushed so hard for statewide standards, and now appear to be backing away from them. We want all students to be held up to the same standards.

Other issues in the budget:

Social promotion ban: The budget bans social promotions. WEAC believes more needs to be done for students who are not keeping up: they need alternative education programs. Research shows holding students back does not improve achievement. Students who are held back suffer long-term negative effects, including a higher dropout rate.

Peer mentoring: WEAC strongly supported aspects of the teacher mentoring grant program in the budget, but we have concerns with the concept of peer review. Peer evaluations have the potential to compromise mentoring programs by creating an atmosphere of distrust. A more appropriate way to ensure that only the best and the brightest enter the classroom is to improve certification and licensure requirements and to foster the development of mentoring programs for new teachers.

The relatively good news:

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. The governor left most of the provision providing incentives for teachers to seek NBPTS certification. He vetoed funding for an eight-year continued bonus for teachers who achieve NBPTS certification. He also vetoed the 20-teacher limit which will allow an unlimited number of applicants toparticipate.

He left intact language providing $2,500 for teachers who achieve certification, and the $2,000 grant to cover the cost of certification for a total grant of $4,500 to anyone who achieves certification.

• This provision will go a long way toward encouraging teachers to seek certification.
• The program seeks to strengthen the teaching profession and thus improve student learning.
• The program sets high standards for accomplished teachers. Those who have achieved certification say it has made them better teachers.

It is unfortunate that the governor vetoed ongoing funding for teachers who receive certification. NBPTS certification means teachers are at the top of their profession and deserve extra compensation.

The budget also contains the QEO “tweak” which requires districts to pass savings in benefits to salaries under a QEO. This provision establishes a "true 3.8%" QEO. WEAC, however, remains committed to a full repeal of the QEO law.

Posted June 2, 1998