Education News

Walker’s Track Record on Education Cannot Be Overlooked When it Comes to “Read to Lead”

Posted: 1/4/2012 1:39:20 PM

WEAC President Mary Bell, a high school English teacher and library media specialist, issued a statement today in response to the Governor’s Read to Lead initiative.

“We support the goal of this Task Force – to ensure that every Wisconsin student can read proficiently by the end of the third grade – but question the Governor’s track record when it comes to ensuring Wisconsin students maintain a high-quality public education system.

“The Governor’s rhetoric implies this initiative is a priority for his administration, but his track record proves otherwise. The facts speak for themselves. Consider the following:

• Governor Walker cut $1.6 billion from school funding (over $800 million less in state aid and a 5.5 percent reduction in school revenue authority) – the deepest cuts since the Great Depression.
• Class sizes for kindergarten to third grade are on the rise across the state, affecting the educational attainment of our state’s youngest children. This happens while the research and data suggests that if you want to help students succeed, you start with smaller class sizes.
• Teacher and staff layoffs across the state mean students will receive less individualized attention, another factor proven to have a powerful influence on student outcomes. In fact, across the state, 9 out of 10 students are affected by staff reductions in their school district.
• As a result of state budget cuts, 18% of school districts reduced reading specialists, affecting a full 21% of Wisconsin’s students.   
• And more than 25% of school districts have decreased their library and media staff.

“As a high-school English teacher and library media specialist, I know reading is an essential skill to prepare students for their chosen profession and support life-long learning, but plans to improve student outcomes require a holistic approach to the educational experience – and the Governor’s track record cannot be overlooked.

“It’s also hard to deny the contradictions between his budget priorities and rhetoric in this report when it comes to actions to help counteract the social conditions, like poverty, that hinder learning. Under Governor Walker’s watch, Wisconsin has made some of the deepest cuts to social services, jeopardizing the health care for tens of thousands of Wisconsin families, including 29,000 children.”