Education a Big Topic in Governor’s Address

WEAC was on-the-scene Tuesday night as Governor Tony Evers’ delivered his final State-of-the-State Address. The governor called on the Legislature to stay in session until Wisconsin priorities are addressed, including filling the public school funding gaps left by an insufficient state budget. Talks have been underway for over a week, with the governor proposing a $1.3 billion school funding/tax relief package, Senate Republicans proposing a one-time tax rebate. WEAC has been clear any deal would have to include funds that reach out classrooms and not bypass schoolhouse doors. After Evers’ speech, Republican leaders said they might be willing to make a deal that includes tax breaks along with some special education funding to make up for what was promised in the current state budget (but not delivered). Stay tuned on whether the talk will result in any sort of deal that makes a real difference in our classrooms.

Senate, Assembly Meet as Legislative Session Careens to an End 

The Senate and Assembly continued meeting, heading toward the end of what Republican leaders say will be the end of the legislative session. They are taking up a slew of bills, and about two dozen are heading to the governor.

Here are some of the more recent bills that passed out of the Assembly: 

Teacher Licensing for American Indian Language. This bill would empower federally recognized American Indian tribes to determine if an applicant is qualified for a lifetime license to teach their native language. If adopted, the DPI must receive tribal notification of approval before issuing these licenses. 

Open Enrollment for Military Families. This bill would simplify the school transfer process for children of active duty, National Guard and Reserve members. A key provision includes extending the open enrollment application deadline for military families from 30 days to 90 days after receiving military orders to change residence. 

Cameras on School Buses. This bill would allow the installation of cameras on school bus stop arms and the use of that footage to enforce laws against illegally passing a stopped school bus while the safety arm and lights are activated, addressing one element of a reckless driving scourge that nationally has claimed hundreds of young lives in recent years. 

 

Heading to the Governor’s Desk: 

WEAC has registered against these bills and is urging the governor to veto them. 

Eliminate “Race-Based” Programs. This bill impacts higher education, mirroring federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion. Programs eliminated include the minority teacher loan program and minority undergraduate grants. The bill would require higher ed programs to focus on “disadvantaged” students, meaning those who have “experienced any unfavorable economic, familial, geographic, physical or other personal hardship.” 

Speech on Campus. This bill creates restrictions that would bar UW institutions from restricting speech from a speaker, creating “free speech” zones, charging security fees as a part of a permit application and sanctioning people for discriminatory harassment unless the speech “targets its victim on the basis of a protected class under law, and is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively bars a student from receiving equal access to educational opportunities or benefits.” 

Gender Transition Lawsuits. This bill would create a civil cause of action against health care providers who perform gender transition procedures on someone under the age of 18 if the patient claims to be injured, passed along party lines.  

 

Other Bills We’re Watching: 

Fine Arts Teacher Mentorship. This bill would require the DPI to contract with a nonprofit organization to establish a fine arts teacher mentorship program to provide materials and services to beginning music, art and performing arts teachers. The nonprofit organization must match the amount provided by DPI for the mentorship program and provide a quarterly report to DPI. WEAC is analyzing. 

Uncoupling/Voucher School. WEAC continues to closely monitor a highly lobbied proposal to benefit Madison’s One City Schools, a privately run charter. The proposal has generated concern because of its unusually high payment level would double current voucher payments and would be paid from general state funds, effectively decoupling a voucher payment from the school funding formula. This bill would give more aid per pupil to One City Schools than any other school in the state. WEAC has registered against. 

Antisemitism Definition. This bill would establish a common definition of antisemitism for laws, ordinances, policies or criminal penalty enhancers. WEAC has registered against this bill, which is being pushed nationally by some groups, because it creates a very narrow definition of antisemitism and is not encompassing enough.  

Human Development Instruction. This bill would require schools that offer human growth and development instruction to include instruction on adoption as a mandatory subject, in addition to parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage. 

DPI Licensing Portal. Requires information about investigations of teacher license holders in an online licensing portal maintained by the Department of Public Instruction. 

DPI Licensure Surrender. This bill would regulate the voluntary surrender of a teaching license during an investigation of immoral conduct, prohibited agreements related to information related to an investigation of immoral conduct, and records related to an investigation of immoral conduct. 

District-Teacher Confidentiality Agreements. This bill would prohibit education employers from entering into confidentiality agreements related to information about alleged immoral conduct by an employee and civil immunity for information provided to a prospective employer. 

Wireless Prohibition. This bill is in addition to the cell phone ban in public schools signed into law this session. It would further prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during the school day. 

Financial Literacy. This bill would add personal financial literacy as high school graduation requirement.