Wisconsin Republicans ready to move ahead with Senate Bill 22: Destruction of Public Schools

[lutefisk]

Republican bill calls for a board of political appointees to authorize charter schools

"Under a Republican-sponsored bill, nine political appointees would get to authorize public charter schools while local school districts foot the bill. The creation of this state-wide charter school authorizing board — with members appointed by the governor and the leaders of the state Senate and Assembly — is a key provision of legislation authored by Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills that will get a hearing on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Capitol before the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Bill 22 not only de-emphasizes local control, but also creates changes in how teachers are certified and removes caps from the numbers of students who may enroll in virtual schools. A companion bill is also pending in the state Assembly.

Opponents say the proposed changes would not only eliminate local control in favor of a new, politically motivated bureaucracy but would also siphon general aid away from all of Wisconsin's 424 public school districts in favor of charters. But backers say it will remove current barriers that prevent charter schools from realizing their full potential."

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/article_a685fc34-5426-11e0-bd7a-001cc4c002e0.html

edit: Spelling correction- I intended to write "Public Schools," not "Pubic Schools":blush:

[yurbud]

1. what are the chances Obama will oppose this since he put a privatizer in as Sec of Ed?

[Sabriel]

2. Chances are low he'll do anything

Isn't this pretty much what Duncan's been moving toward, anyway?

I'm sorry I was here to see the end of public ed.

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. there now

I'm in the overflow room, waiting for my opportunity to speak. I testified about an hour ago about one of the other bills. I took the opportunity to tell sen darling that I was offended by her snide shot at the dems for leaving the state.

Hey, she opened the door by saying it.

[yurbud]

4. keep up the good work. It looks like it will all be bottom up and the top down action will only

come when we force their hand.

[Sabriel]

5. Thanks for speaking, LD!

Can you post an update after the event?

[Sabriel]

6. oops... never mind.

[lutefisk]

7. Thanks for your efforts in Madison! Please let us know how it goes...nt

:hi:

[madrchsod]

9. nil,zero,never ,and not in a thousand years

[Scuba]

8. See you in Madison on Saturday... and across this nation... TO THE STREETS

[lutefisk]

10. Here's a report on Wednesday's testimony at the legislative hearing on the bill...

"Some of the most moving testimony came from parents and teachers in hard hit rural districts who say there is nothing left to cut in their cash-strapped districts, and anything more that siphons students or funds from their schools will be disastrous.

Many questioned why the bill's authors feel it's preferable to fund innovations for independent charter schools when traditional public schools have had to cut programs like art, music, business and technology that once offered options beyond the basics for students in conventional classrooms."

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/blog/article_c406a4da-55b5-11e0-9c47-001cc4c03286.html