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Meeting Date:
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3/28/2019 - 6:30 PM
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Category:
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Reports and Communications from the Board Clerk/Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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1. Monthly Report, with Possible Action, on Legislative Activities Affecting MPS
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 1 Academic Achievement Goal 2 Student, Family and Community Engagement Goal 3 Effective and Efficient Operations
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Attachments
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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The budget debate is accelerating at the state level, with assertions being made that the Governor’s budget may be a non-starter. At the same time, there remains strong and clear support for many of the proposals put forward in the budget. Those tensions have been at play during recent discussions over the Blue Ribbon Commission’s report on K-12 Education. The question remains whether the Legislature will adopt the blue-ribbon-worthy options in the report or go in a direction that will offer less support to students in Wisconsin.
A number of important issues were raised and discussed at the Legislative Conference of the Council of the Great City Schools. Key among the points raised is the importance of the upcoming census: Historically, children have been undercounted during the census process, particularly those in the range of birth to four. A combined community effort to support an accurate count will be needed to help to ensure that the federal and state resources that follow are made available to the children of Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum has issued another education-related report that highlights Wisconsin’s last-in-nation levels of support for English-language learners. Wisconsin’s level of funding for students in this area has been described by a national expert as “pitiful.”
Disparities and unfairness in per-pupil revenue limits continue to be a growing concern. Currently, by law, the State of Wisconsin values the students of Milwaukee Public Schools as worth $1,159.65 less than students in Whitefish Bay. If, as a group, MPS students were valued at Whitefish Bay’s level, they would have access to an additional $89 million of support and programming on an annual basis. Simply funding MPS students in a fair manner and increasing support for students with disabilities to the 60% reimbursement level would provide $154 million worth of resources to the children of Milwaukee.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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This item does not authorize expenditures.
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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The district will continue to pursue appropriate support for students as part of the MPS Legislative Agenda.
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Recommendation:
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Chris Thiel - Legislative Policy Specialist
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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