Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Opposing any legislation or other effort by the Wisconsin Legislature to expand a voucher program in the Madison Metropolitan School District or any program that would have an effect similar to that of a voucher program.
Body
WHEREAS, public schools in the State of Wisconsin are held to strict accountability standards in an effort to measure student achievement and academic progress, unlike private and parochial schools which are not required to give state assessments or publish student achievement data; and,
WHEREAS, public school districts in the State of Wisconsin accept and educate children regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, special needs, religion or academic talents, as opposed to those institutions that are able to reject applicants based on low academic performance, discipline issues, special needs, or any number of factors; and,
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Legislature reduced public education funding for the 2011-13 biennium; and,
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Wisconsin recommends the expansion of vouchers and special needs vouchers in his 2013-2015 biennial budget; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Metropolitan School District is one of the districts in the State of Wisconsin recommended for voucher expansion against the wishes of the governing body of the School District; and,
WHEREAS, there is no consistent evidence to demonstrate that students who utilize vouchers make better academic progress; and,
WHEREAS, the implementation of a voucher program that takes any financial resources away from MMSD’s neighborhood public schools is unacceptable; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Metropolitan School District’s focus on equity among all schools would be seriously jeopardized by a voucher system,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council oppose any legislation or other effort by the Wisconsin Legislature to expand a voucher program in the Madison Metropolitan School District or any pr...
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