Wisconsin February 2015 Budget Address - National Council of Teachers of English

Reports

Wisconsin February 2015 Budget Address


State: Wisconsin
Level: Higher EducationP12
Analyst: Cody-Johnson, Kris

In his February 2015 Budget, Governor Scott Walker laid out significant changes to public education.

  • While Gov. Walker states that funding for public schools would remain level in his next budget cycle following the 1.6 billion hit from the last cycle, that statement has been widely disputed. According to the Wisconsin Budget Project, “the Governor’s budget essentially reduces support for public schools by $98 million over the two year budget period.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Walker’s proposed budget eliminates $150 in state aid per pupil for the next school year.”

  • Governor Walker’s budget will expand the voucher program, allowing families making 185% the federal poverty rate to send kids to qualifying private schools. Originally slated for the Milwaukee/Racine area, then limited to 1,000 students outside of that area, Walker’s plan dramatically expands the reach of the voucher program.

  • Governor Walker will cut $300 million from the University of Wisconsin system.

  • Governor Walker proposed loosening requirements to be a 6-12 teacher, so that anyone with a bachelor’s degree, relevant experience, and demonstrated proficiency in a subject could obtain a teacher’s license for that subject. No teaching degree or training would be required.

  • Schools will be graded A-F, with results published.

  • A new state standardized achievement exam aligned with the Common Core academic standards will be gone, but $5 million will be marked to have ACT tests implemented.