Collective Bargaining Certificate Program
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What is the QEO?

The Wisconsin Legislature enacted the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law in 1993. The QEO law - and the revenue controls that restrict the amount of money school districts can raise - were enacted in order to limit school spending. Those measures were combined with a commitment that the state would provide two-thirds of the costs of schools on a statewide average (this figure varies by community).

Under the QEO, school boards have the option of unilaterally limiting pay and benefits for K-12 teachers so long as the combined increase is 3.8%. The law allows school districts to avoid true collective bargaining regarding compensation and important school quality issues.

As rising health insurance costs have eaten up most of the 3.8% total compensation target, teacher salaries in Wisconsin have stagnated and even declined. As a result, Wisconsin teacher salaries fell 5.5% from 1995-96 to 2005-06, when adjusted for inflation. For 2005-06, Wisconsin's average teacher salary was about 5.4% below the national average teacher salary of $49,026.

Collective Bargaining Links

2005-07 settled teacher locals

2007-09 settled teacher locals

Great Schools paper: "A Better Way"