Wisconsin Republican legislators in the Assembly have introduced a proposal to open many more charters across the state, as well as to increase the number of authorizers of new charters. The new charters would take funding away from existing public schools and would be non-union. This legislation continues the radical assault on public education in Wisconsin and the extremist drive to privatize public education.
At present, most of the state’s nearly 200 charter schools are operated by districts and staffed with district employees. The proposed legislation would eliminate these charters, which might become magnet schools.
Similar legislation was previously rejected by the Senate Republican caucus.
There is always hope that moderate Republicans will slow the radicals’ efforts to destroy public education in Wisconsin. In most towns, the public school is a traditional, revered institution. True conservatives don’t blow up traditional institutions.
Think about it:
“When you wage war on the public schools, you’re attacking the mortar that holds the community together. You’re not a conservative, you’re a vandal.”
― Garrison Keillor, “Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts from the Heart of America”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Public school parents should ask themselves what will happen to their existing public schools when political leaders who prefer charters get their new privatized school system.
I can tell them what will happen, what has happened in Ohio: public school students become second class citizens. Political leaders will abandon their public schools.
Every existing public school in the state will suffer.
These schemes never, ever benefit the majority of kids who attend existing public schools. Ed reformers aren’t about “improving” existing public schools. They’re about abandoning existing public schools, in favor of a new system of privatized and private schools.
Their kids won’t have an ally or advocate in government, and their schools will suffer.
“The proposed legislation would eliminate district-staffed charters and empower a new slate of authorizers to approve independent charters: all four-year and two-year University of Wisconsin System institutions, as well as all the state’s regional educational service agencies and technical college district boards.”
I’d like more information on the relationship between “authorizers” and charter schools. There is no transparency or (enforced) reporting rules for charters in Ohio so it is impossible for an ordinary person to untangle the various contracts.
How much are the authorizers getting for privatizing public schools? Are they taking a cut of the public school dollar too?
I think this has to be discussed. I’d like to know why colleges and universities are promoting privatizing public schools.
Another interesting question is why are two of the lead authors of the proposed legislation representatives of two of the highest scoring public school districts in the state? Both districts have 100% of their schools scoring in the top two categories in the state report card system. One of the districts has 4 out of the top 20 scoring schools in the state. Both districts have over 7000 students.
Are these legislators representing their constituents or just “slaves” to the ALEC ideology?
“Another interesting question is why are two of the lead authors of the proposed legislation representatives of two of the highest scoring public school districts in the state?”
Because it was never about improving existing public schools.
This started with “children trapped in failing schools” but it has expanded way, way beyond that, we’re they’re now actually harming and weakening strong public schools.
There’s no benefit to existing public schools from “ed reform”. It’s ALL downside for kids in existing public schools.
Which is really remarkable, considering that the vast majority of US kids attend existing public schools.
Parents need to stop hiring and paying people who will damage their schools. If we hire people who prefer privatized and private schools over public schools, public school students (so most students) lose.
The article refers to charter schools as “the darlings” of powerful business interests in the state. If politicians join business leaders in their preference for and promotion of privatized schools, public school kids don’t have an advocate in government. We’ve seen this happen in Ohio and they’ll see it happen in Wisconsin.
Love that Garrison Keillor quote.
One school board member in Buffalo has purchased the building of a recently closed Catholic High School. He’s teaming up with another developer and they are planning on renting to a Charter School. Conflict of interest?
Oh, and by the way, he once ran for Governor of NYS.
I just posted this analysis of Wisconsin’s newest charter school expansion bill and the likely negative impact it would have on student’s with disabilities. http://systemschangeconsulting.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/wisconsin-charter-school-bill-exacerbates-failure-to-serve-students-with-disabilities/