I posted earlier today about the menu of budgets cuts and lowered standards that the Wisconsin legislature has prepared in its quest to assault public education. Just one hour ago, this story was posted (an attentive reader sent the link to me).
GOP legislators want the University of Wisconsin to authorize additional charters in districts with more than 25,000 students—that means Madison and Milwaukee. The UW charter institute may authorize charters even if the local school district objects. That shows you how much these GOP legislators care about local control. This is definitely an ALEC attitude; ALEC encourages state authorizers that can override local school districts’ decisions.
”
Bob Delaporte, who works for Joint Finance Committee co-chairwoman Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said the intent behind the proposal is “to leverage change in large urban school districts with systemic rates of failure,” and based, in part, on the State University of New York’s Charter Institute.
“We are confident the proposal can fundamentally transform the educational opportunities that are available to students in Wisconsin’s two largest school districts,” he said, pointing to Department of Public Instruction data that shows just under 40 percent of Madison students have tested proficient in reading in recent years.
But Madison School District superintendent Jennifer Cheatham blasted the proposal, saying in a statement “We are incredibly determined, and we are making progress on behalf of all children. But at every step of the way, the legislature puts more barriers in our way and makes our jobs more difficult.”
Madison School Board member Ed Hughes called the proposal “breathtaking.”
“It looks like the UW President is required to appoint someone who could then authorize as many publicly-funded but potentially for-profit charter schools in Madison as that unelected and unaccountable person wanted,” he said.
The proposal requires the DPI to reduce a school district’s funding by the same amount that is paid per student to independent charter schools, which is currently about $8,000.
“And under another budget bill provision, we’d have to provide these students with sports and extracurricular activities for free,” said Hughes, referring to a previous committee-approved provision that would require school districts to allow students not attending public schools to participate in after-school activities.
Ignore the rhetoric. This is a proposal to defund public education and transfer money and control to private entrepreneurs.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The idot Governor (aka Scott Walker) is a tool of the Koch Brothers. I’m ashamed of my place of birth.
LikeLike
Report estimates the transfer of public funds at $800 million a year. Anything that destroys public discussion and debate about the fate of schools in local communities is on the legislative agenda in ALEC-addicted legislatures.
LikeLike
It is not related to Wisconsin but I just saw this story from South Carolina. Nice to see students fighting to keep their school a true public school.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150526/PC16/150529416/1177/burke-students-march-in-protest-of-charter-school-concept
LikeLike
What a shame that Wisconsin lawmakers are eliminating public schools. I guess it will be up to the public to stop them.
Do ed reform lawmakers do any work besides opening charter schools and funding private schools? I know public schools are unfashionable, but this is ridiculous. They devote entire legislative sessions to charter school expansion and private schools.
LikeLike
Here’s a Arne Duncan and Scott Walker joining hands to privatize Wisconsin schools:
“You’ve done some things we agree with, and you’ve done some things that we don’t agree with,” Duncan said, addressing Walker. “Limiting collective bargaining rights is not the right way to go,” he added, garnering applause.
Duncan did not further address Walker’s union-busting laws, except to laud Senate Bill 7, legislation Illinois passed in May with limited union collaboration that makes teacher tenure harder to obtain, gives districts the ability to fire teachers for poor performance and allows Chicago to lengthen its school day. “They made it much much tougher to get tenure,” Duncan said.”
That’s the extent of the Obama Administration’s passionate commitment to collective bargaining rights. A throwaway line from Duncan followed by some anti-labor campaigning and charter school promotion. They’re agnostics on the rights of working people, as on everything else.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/09/arne-duncan-rahm-emanuel-scott-walker-bus-tour_n_956291.html
LikeLike
The power of ALEC, big money in politics.
Until enough people rebel it will continue. Unfortunately the media is owned too by big corporations so people get high powered propaganda.
The good news is that some places people ARE rebelling enough to get the attention of the politicians. The battle is never easy. Freedom is not won easily nor retained. Eternal vigilance the price of liberty.
LikeLike
By the way, Diane, I am so excited to have found your book, “Reign of Error” yesterday. I can’t wait to read it, but first reading the one by Michael Gurian. Thanks for being the educator you are!
LikeLike