Opening the Doors of Opportunity to Every Student
Students from across Wisconsin, particularly those in communities furthest from opportunity, should have equitable access to a high-quality public education. Excellent public schools have the potential to be a major engine of Wisconsin’s economic growth, by providing Wisconsin with the kind of skilled workforce that the state needs to be competitive in the global economy.
Right now, our schools too often fall short in offering academic opportunities to students of color and encouraging them to reach their full potential. We owe it to Wisconsin’s students, and to our own future, to ensure that Wisconsin’s school system becomes a major force in dismantling the systemic oppression that has harmed African Americans and other people of color for generations.
To make sure that the doors of opportunity are open to everyone, Wisconsin needs to ensure that public schools can hire dedicated teachers, connect with parents and the community, and keep school buildings in good repair. These important priorities take resources, and yet in 2021 the state will invest less in public school districts than it did in 2011, something that was true every year in between as well.
Instead of focusing on making investments in public education, Wisconsin lawmakers have allocated an increasing amount of public resources to tax cuts, many of which disproportionately benefit the wealthy and well-connected. Severe cuts to education were made in 2011, in the aftermath of the Great Recession and during a time of decreased tax revenue. But as the economy improved, state lawmakers focused on continuing to cut taxes rather than restoring state support to educate students in Wisconsin’s school districts.
Wasteful tax cuts that funnel money to those who need it the least are one of the main reasons that Wisconsin is spending less on public education than a decade ago, but it is not the only reason. Another reason is that the state has fueled the growth of separate school systems that are funded in part by reducing resources for public school districts.
Here are five ways Wisconsin can ensure that students from across the state can attend public schools that fully support their academic achievement:
Increase resources for students with disabilities
The state should increase the amount of resources it provides to school districts to provide special education services. Right now, the state only covers about a third of these costs, leaving local districts to cover the remaining share -- and to dig into general education funds if the special education money doesn’t cover the services students need. The state should aim to cover $6 out of every $10 local districts spend on special education services.
Provide more general aid to school districts, in a way that accounts for poverty rates
The state funds about $6 out of every $10 spent on public education in Wisconsin, with the remaining amount raised from the property tax in each district. Most of the support the state provides for K-12 Reimagine Wisconsin: Opening the Doors of Opportunity to Every Student October 2020 2 education is distributed through a formula aimed at ensuring that school districts with low property values are able to provide students with the same high-quality education as property-rich districts. This approach helps equalize educational opportunities for students in different areas of the state.
Wisconsin should increase the amount of general aid districts receive and improve the distribution formula to take poverty into consideration, so that districts that serve large numbers of students from families with low incomes receive additional resources.
Boost services for English-language learners in schools
About 50,000 students in Wisconsin public schools are English-language learners, a number that has increased over time. But state support for bilingual-bicultural education is at its lowest point in more than 25 years, after taking inflation into account. The state should increase resources to K-12 schools for students who have recently arrived to the United States and are still learning the language.
Expand mental health resources for students
The state should provide additional aid to districts to allow them to hire social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals to provide services to students. Stem the flow of public resources to private schools The state should cap the number of publicly-funded tuition vouchers to attend private schools and religious schools. Non-public schools participating in this program do not need to meet the same accountability measures as public schools, and money is diverted from public schools to fund this program.
Conclusion
Wisconsin’s goal for funding public school districts should be to insure that all students have access to an excellent public education. Investments made in Wisconsin’s students today will yield significant returns down the road, and as we invest, we must take steps to make sure our public schools equitably support and encourage our students of color.