Governor
Signs Budget; It Boosts SAGE, Modifies Revenue Controls, QEO
1999-2001 Budget Bill Signed Into Law as 1999 WI Act
9
Governor Thompson signed the budget bill into law
on Wednesday, October 27, 1999. What follows is a summary of the veto
action he took on education items and a summary of other key items lobbied
by WEAC that were untouched by vetoes.
Summary of Governor's Veto Action:
- Foreign Language: The governor vetoed a provision that would
no longer require school districts to offer foreign language instruction
in 7th and 8th grades. Gov. Thompson said that he believes foreign
language should be offered at these grades as well as lower grade
levels. "The earlier we can expose children to foreign languages,
the better off they will be in preparing for the global workplace
as adults," he said. WEAC/WFT supported this action.
- High School Graduation Test: Gov. Thompson signed most of
this provision, reinstating a mandatory graduation test in Wisconsin
but allowing schools to also consider academic performance and teacher
recommendations in determining graduation. The governor made a partial
veto to eliminate the use of "other criteria" which will
limit school boards from using non-academic criteria in determining
graduation. The budget includes $4 million to start development of
a model statewide graduation test. WEAC/ WFT supported this action
- Milwaukee Neighborhood Schools: The governor signed parts
of the program that allow Milwaukee Public Schools to use intradistrict
Chapter 220 money to support $170 million in bonding for construction
of new schools and renovation or expansion of existing schools in
low-income Milwaukee neighborhoods. The governor also vetoed several
provisions that include: creating a Milwaukee school construction
board to oversee decisions made by the school board; allowing the
Assembly and Senate education committees to review construction decisions;
mandating how MPS holds its public hearings on construction plans;
requiring MPS to develop a plan for complying with current 220 programs;
dictating what types of schools can be constructed; providing that
at least 50 percent of construction contracts go to minority contractors.
WEAC/WFT are analyzing the impact of this action. Milwaukee Voucher
Program: The governor vetoed a provision that would have allowed
students to remain in the voucher program if their family income exceeds
the income eligibility criteria after they are accepted into the program.
WEAC/WFT supported this action.
- SAGE Program: The governor deleted $318,300 from the SAGE
appropriation that funded three new staff positions to administer
the program. The new positions must now be funded through an internal
allocation of staff resources within the Department of Public Instruction.
WEAC did not support that veto action. The governor also made a series
of technical vetoes in the SAGE program language to remove any arbitrary
barriers to allowing schools to participate in the program. WEAC supported
those veto actions.
- Technical College Substitution for W-2 Work: The governor
partially vetoed the WTCS W-2 sections of the bill to remove the ability
of W-2 participants to initiate the education program. The veto also
ensures that any participant wishing to engage in technical college
must work 25 hours per week. His action also enhances the role of
W-2 financial employment planners in determining the education program
for W-2 participants. WEAC is analyzing the impact of this veto.
The 1999-2001 state budget bill was passed by both
houses of the Legislature on Wednesday (October 6, 1999). WEAC supported
final passage of the bill.
WEAC Issued the Following Statement to all Legislators
Prior to the Vote:
The Wisconsin Education Association Council and the
Wisconsin Federation of Teachers urge your support for final passage
of the conference committee report on the 1999-2001 budget.
We believe that great schools are built on the premise
that we have quality schools, that they got that way because of the
involvement of citizens at the local level, and that they can only remain
that way through the support of citizens and elected officials. To strengthen
that involvement and support, WEAC and the WFT are working to create
a vision of schools that can best meet the needs of all children.
The 1999-2001 budget bill will foster greater support
for schools by increasing funding for the SAGE class size reduction
program; providing grants for alternative education opportunities; funding
summer school programs; maintaining the state's commitment to fund its
share of school construction costs; continuing incentives for teacher
certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards;
providing additional funding for special education programs; and by
providing some relief from revenue caps and the Qualified Economic Offer
Law.
WEAC and the WFT see these components of the 1999-2001
budget as steps in the right direction to maintain the quality of public
schools in Wisconsin. We urge you to support final passage of the bill.
* * *
The budget passed the State Assembly by a vote of
82-17 and the Senate passed it by a vote of 18-15.
Following is a brief summary of key items contained
in the budget. (The X indicates specific items supported by WEAC).
- SAGE: $47 million - Expand the SAGE class size reduction
program by $47 million to a total funding amount of $77.3 million
for the biennium. This funding will expand the program from the current
78 schools to as many as 400 more throughout the state. Provide position
authority for 3 new staff in DPI to administer the expanded program.
In addition, provide $3 million in a new annual appropriation for
a categorical aid to reimburse school districts, except MPS, for 20%
of debt service costs associated with SAGE building projects. The
SAGE funding is a categorical aid distributed outside of the revenue
caps.(X). Note Governor's Partial
Veto: The governor vetoed the funding but not the authorization
of the three new positions in DPI. The governor also made a series
of technical vetoes to remove any arbitrary barriers to school districts
to participate in the program.
- Restore funding for school construction costs: $13.3 million
- Maintain the state's commitment to fund two-thirds of referenda-approved
school district debt levy costs (X).
- Restore funding for increasing enrollment districts: $14.4
million - Delete the provision that would have placed a cap on increasing
enrollment school districts under revenue controls (X).
- Summer school pupil counts under revenue caps: $2.6 million
- Beginning in 2000-01, the pupil enrollment used for the calculation
of revenue caps will increase from the current 20% to 40% of summer
school enrollment. This funding item will grow substantially in coming
years as districts double the current number of summer school students
counted under revenue caps (X).
- Modifications to the Qualified Economic Offer law: 1.
No longer count the cost of education attainment (lane movements)
in a QEO; 2. Revise the definition of "economic issues"
under a QEO by deleting the current broad-based language to more narrowly
define what issues will be considered economic under a QEO. These
changes will be first effective for contracts that cover periods after
June 30, 2001 (X).
- Special education categorical aid increase: $46.7 million
- Provide new funding for categorical aids to maintain a state reimbursement
of approximately 34% for local special education costs. These aids
have been frozen since 1995. Special education aids are distributed
outside of revenue caps (X).
- Alternative education grants: Provide $5 million in a new
annual categorical aid appropriation for grants to school districts
and consortia of school district for alternative education programs.
The new grants will be distributed outside of the revenue caps. (X).
- Inflationary indexing of revenue caps: $6.5 million - Provide
an inflationary index to revenue caps to raise the allowable per-pupil
expenditure from $208.88 to $212.43 in 1999 and $216.68 in 2000 (X).
- Revenue cap relief for declining enrollment districts: $23.9
million - Continue the 75% hold harmless relief under revenue caps
for declining enrollment districts (X).
- Revenue cap low revenue adjustments: Provide $1.5 million
to increase the low revenue adjustment to $6,300 in 1999-00 and to
$6,500 in 2000-01 to aid low spending poorer school districts under
the caps (X).
- National Board for Professional Teaching Standards grants:
$162,500 annually - Continue the incentive grant program for NBPTS
which includes a $2,500 per year salary bonus for the length of certification
for educators. The program was set to end in 2001 (X).
- WTCS general aid increase: $7.3 million - Provide funding
for annual increases in state aids of 2.1% for the WTCS(X).
- WTCS W-2 Participation: Allow W-2 clients to complete technical
college education programs under certain provisions with work hours
required. Provide child care services to those who are working to
complete a technical college degree under W-2 (X). Note
Governor's Partial veto: The governor made a partial veto
of this section the increase the role of W-2 financial planners and
their determination of education programs for W-2 participants. WEAC
is analyzing this action.
- Prevention of smoking by minors: Create a 20-member Tobacco
Control Board and provide $2.4 million in 1999 and $23.5 million in
2000-01and each year thereafter. The funds will be used for education
prevention programs, a smokeless tobacco campaign, grants to the UW
and Medical College of WI and for administrative costs. Grants will
be available in future years for the Board to award to public and
private organizations for tobacco presentation/cessation purposes.
Note Governor's Partial veto:
The governor partially vetoed the overall funding and structure of
the new Tobacco Board.(X).
- Repeal of 7th and 8th grade foreign language instruction:
Eliminate current requirement for school districts to offer foreign
language instruction in 7th and 8th grade. Note
Governor's Veto: This item was vetoed by the governor.
WEAC supported the veto action (X)
- Scheduling of school district referendum: Maintain current
law allowing school districts to choose when to schedule school district
referendum elections (X).
- Maintain current law for bargaining the school calendar: Maintain
current law requiring that the school calendar be a mandatory subject
of bargaining. The Assembly attempted to make the school calendar
a permissive subject of bargaining (X).
- September 1 school start date: Prohibit a public school from
starting the school year prior to September 1, beginning in 2000.
Allow a school district to opt out of this provision, if the school
board holds a public hearing and adopts a resolution to start school
prior to September 1. Provide that this opt-out would have to occur
each year. Specify that this provision would not prohibit a school
board from (1) holding athletic contests or practices before September
1; (2) scheduling in-service or work days prior to September 1; or
(3) holding school year-round.
- School safety and discipline: Adopt recommendations of the
Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on school safety and discipline
which establishes new guidelines for school safety plans and collection
of new information on pupil suspensions and expulsions. Remove provisions
relating to creating a new felony and toll-free hotlines (X).
- High school graduation test - no longer a "high stakes test":
$4 million - Restore the high school graduation test as follows: (1)
administer the test in grades 11 and 12 beginning in 2002-03; (2)
require it to be given in charter schools; (3) require school boards
to adopt written policies specifying criteria for granting a diploma
and require that a pupil's scores on the HSGT be printed on their
transcripts. In addition, maintain current law parental opt out provision
allowing parents to pull their children out of the test for an alternative
assessment developed by the school board. Note
Governor's Partial Veto:The governor made a partial veto
of this to make sure only academic criteria are used to determine
graduation status of pupils. WEAC supported that veto action (X).
- 4th and 8th graduation examinations - no longer "high stakes
tests": Provide the same set of criteria for local school
districts to administer the "no social promotion" tests
that was applied to the HSGT (X).
- Charter school petition process: Delete a provision that
would allow those denied a charter to appeal to the state superintendent
(X).
- Federal Reimbursement for School Based Medical Services: Greatly
expand the ability of school districts to receive reimbursement for
school based medical services from the federal government (X).
- School breakfast funding: $742,100 -- increase funding for
the school breakfast program. This will be added to the existing program
funding of $150,000 (X).
- Pesticide sales and use reporting: Place $400,000 into a
fund for the development of a new pesticide sales and use database
reporting system. This will help track the use of pesticides on school
grounds (X).
- Maintain current law on for-profit charters in MPS: Require
for-profit charter schools established by the City of Milwaukee to
be instrumentalities of the school district (X).
- Work Based Learning Board: Approve the creation of a 17 member
Work Based Learning Board attached to the Department of Workforce
Development. The Board will administer youth apprenticeship and school-to-work
programs for at-risk children.
- Milwaukee voucher program modifications: Provide $1.3 million
for voucher summer school programs and allow a family that has an
average total family income over a four-year period that does not
exceed 1.75 times the federal poverty level to continue participating
in the voucher program. Note Governor's Partial
Veto:The governor vetoed the provisions allowing families
to exceed income eligibility limits in the voucher program. WEAC supported
that veto action.
- Milwaukee voucher program funding: Require that half of the
voucher program costs be drawn proportionately from state aid to schools
statewide and the other half be funded from the Milwaukee schools
appropriation.
- MPS neighborhood schools and intradistrict transfer aid: Provide
for Senate and Assembly committee review of neighborhood schools plan;
create a four-member Milwaukee school construction board; provide
that the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority may issue up to $170 million
in bonds to finance school construction; establish a legislative declaration
for new construction projects; and establish public hearing requirements
prior to final approval of the plan. Note
Governor's Partial Veto: WEAC is analyzing the impact of
the governor's partial veto of this item.
- Aid for School Districts with a Large Area: Provide $125,000
annually as a categorical supplemental aid for school districts that
satisfy certain criteria. The criteria includes: (a) fewer than 500
enrollment; (b) 200 square miles in area; and (c) at least 65% of
the real property is exempt from property taxation, owned or held
in trust by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or owned
by the federal government (X).
- Direct Instruction Pilot Program: Require DPI to award a
grant of $80,000 annually from 1999-00 through 2002-03 to the UW-Milwuakee
to conduct a direct instruction pilot program. Require that the funds
come from DPI federal appropriations.
For More Information:
For additional information please feel free to contact Bob
Burke in the WEAC Government Relations Division.
Last updated November 10, 1999
