Latest news with #GreenBayAreaPublicSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Decoupling a common sense solution to Wisconsin school funding conundrum
Education is not a zero-sum game, but unfortunately divisive politics and ideologies are holding us back. At the end of the day, public schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, all offer unique choices for parents and families and should be seen as part of one education ecosystem. Funding education, however, is proving to be a difficult endeavor. And it's not a Republican or Democrat issue and, frankly, not just a problem here in Wisconsin. All 50 states are dealing with the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds and uncertainty over how federal education dollars will be distributed in the coming years. Additionally, choice schools and public schools are going to need to find a way to coexist. And it can happen as long as we have a sincere discussion about how education in Wisconsin is currently funded and what we can do to improve it. At the heart of this issue is what I believe to be a false notion that school choice 'siphons' money away from public schools. That's a political slogan—not a fiscal reality. When a student uses a voucher, the public school no longer incurs the cost of educating that child. While state aid to the district is reduced, the district can—and almost always does—raise its property tax levy to recoup the lost revenue. Giving the school the same level of funding to teach fewer students. About 1,153 students in the Green Bay Area Public School District use a voucher to attend a private school, amounting to $12 million in state aid. That's just 3.8% of the district's $311 million budget—even though those students represent over 6% of enrollment. A similar story holds statewide. On average, Wisconsin school districts receive $15,569 in state and local revenue per student, while choice schools receive $10,798. Statewide, spending on choice students represents about 4.6% of total educational spending even though choice students are about 6.5% of total enrollment. Bottom line: taxpayers are getting more value per dollar. Opinion: Wisconsin must follow the lead of Florida and Tennessee on how it funds schools Opinion: Wisconsin is failing to fund education. State budget must make this right. Some have raised concerns about the property tax implications. In fact, property taxes are the most hated tax, especially for fixed income households. But there's a solution: decoupling public and private school funding so one doesn't affect the other. The Legislature introduced such a reform last year. Gov. Evers, who supported the idea as state superintendent, can once again consider it in this year's budget. Decoupling means separating choice program funding from public school funding in Wisconsin. Instead of seeing their funding reduced and having the ability to make up for it through higher property taxes, public schools would see their funding exist entirely separately from private school choice and charter schools. Public school funding would be more stable, and property taxpayers would see their burden eased. Statewide, the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates decoupling would save property taxpayers more than $342 million. I learned more about decoupling's 'positive' effects at a Green Bay Common Council meeting where Council member Brian Johnson touted decoupling as a potential 'common sense' solution, because it provides stable and reliable funding from state coffers, not constant property tax increases on local residents. Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said. The policy solution exists, and it's been out there for quite some time. The question is whether lawmakers and the governor are willing to make a difference. Let's be clear: if you like your public school, nothing changes with decoupling. In fact, it provides the school with consistent state funding. And for thousands of families across Wisconsin — especially low-income and working-class families — decoupling keeps the ability to choose the best school with the family. Cate Zeuske is an education reform advocate, former elected official, and resident of Brown County. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Choice and public schools need to coexist. Here's how. | Opinion
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Green Bay school district cuts race-related language from two policies; second DEI change
Driven by federal funding threats, the Green Bay Area Public School District voted unanimously Monday to remove more language on diversity, equity and inclusion, this time from district policies. The two policies affected will cut provisions aiming to address achievement gaps and representation in high-level programs. These cuts, along with similar changes in late February, show the fear of losing key federal funding that's supporting programs across the district. At the February meeting, every board member spoke out about their disapproval of the change, even though a 4-3 majority voted in favor. This time, there was no discussion. The district changed two policies: one on reading instruction and another on gifted and talented programs. It also changed policies on grade promotion and retention, but it states in a memo that those changes are to meet state Act 20 requirements. The policy on reading goals eliminates a goal set less than a year ago for 10% more Black students in third through 11th grade to meet grade-level standards. The old version of the policy states the goal was set after data showed 'the district is meeting the needs of some student groups better than others.' The other policy, on gifted and talented students, cuts a requirement that the district self-assess and report on how its gifted student identification process could better respond to different demographic groups. Achievement gaps between Black and white students in Wisconsin are some of the worst in the nation. In 2024, 38% of white Wisconsin fourth graders tested 'proficient' or better in reading compared to 8% of Black students, according to results from the U.S. Department of Education's National Assessment of Educational Progress test. The changes are based on federal guidance issued Feb. 14 and clarified Feb. 28, saying school districts and colleges can't treat students differently based on race – that includes actions aiming to balance out historical inequities, like affirmative action. If schools don't comply, the guidance letter threatens federal funding. The Green Bay school district receives about $38 million in federal funding annually. Those dollars support programs like free and reduced lunch, Title I, special education and Head Start. Without that funding, some or all of those programs would disappear, district communications director Lori Blakeslee said. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay school district cuts race-related language from two policies
