Legislature Will Vote on Major Education Proposals This Spring
Five major education-related proposals will go before the Legislature
this spring.
The governor’s State of the State address contained proposals
dealing with teacher certification, peer mentoring, Milwaukee Public
Schools, social promotion, and education tax deductions or credits.
The governor called for action on the programs this spring.
Four of the proposals will be part of a mini-budget introduced next
month:
- State payment for half the cost of certification by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and a one-time $3,000 bonus
for teachers who achieve certification;
- A $500,000 pilot peer review/mentoring program for teachers;
- A prohibition on social promotion if students don’t pass the
4th and 8th grade Knowledge and Concepts exams or locally-developed
standards;
- $100 million in tax credits and deductions for certain education
costs paid by parents of K-12 and college students.
The governor’s plan for Milwaukee Public Schools will be in a
separate bill. The plan sets criteria for improving schools:
- Improving the graduation rate to 90%,
- Improving the attendance rate to 91%,
- Improving the dropout rate to 9%, and
- Increasing to at least 90% of the statewide average the number of
students who score basic or better on the 3rd-grade reading exam.
If the criteria are not met, control of MPS would be turned over to
a three-person commission to run MPS as a charter school district. The
MPS superintendent would also be allowed to reassign staff without regard
to seniority in services. The plan:
- Allows private schools to convert to charter schools,
- Provides funds to create after-school education, recreational and
health programs, and
- Increases funding for the Higher Educational Aids Board’s Minority
Teacher Loan Program.
The Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association issued a news release
stating the governor’s goals were laudable, but MTEA was disappointed
the governor did not address issues key to significantly raising student
achievement, such as:
- Class size reductions through expanding the SAGE program and funding
a general reduction in class size,
- Summer school,
- Vocational and technical education,
- Alternative programs, and
- Full funding of early childhood students.
“WEAC is closely studying all proposals,” President Terry
Craney said. “We have questions and concerns with several that
must be addressed before we take formal positions. It will take time
to sort through the proposals and decide which ones will do the most
for students and public education.”
Craney said the governor’s proposal for NBPTS certification incentives
mirrors WEAC’s Legislative Agenda item on national certification.
“We are gratified the governor recognizes the value of teachers
going through the arduous and challenging NBPTS process,” Craney
said. “Certification benefits teachers and students alike.”
Posted January 22, 1998