Washington, D.C. Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, released the following statement today regarding the enactment of 2015 Wisconsin Act 55:
“We thank Governor Scott Walker for signing into law a budget that makes necessary improvements to the states public charter school law, which is one of the weakest in the country.
“Of the several improvements made in the states budget, the most notable changes include:
New pathways to approve independent public charter schools in the state, most notably via the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents in Madison and Milwaukee
Additional per-pupil funding for independent charter schools by $120 per pupil over the two years of the budget (from $8,075 to $8,195)
Greater access for independent public charter schools in Milwaukee to vacant and underutilized school district buildings
Allowing independent public charter schools to be eligible for state transportation aid
A more sustainable approach to funding the independent public charter schools created under the new authorizing entities
Lifting the states caps on the authorizing activity of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Strengthening charter school and authorizer accountability
Increasing the independence and the autonomy of charter school governing boards
“Looking ahead, we are hopeful that state lawmakers will build on these improvements by allowing independent charter schools statewide, funding independent charter students equally, and fixing the antiquated approach to funding the existing independent charter schools.
“The National Alliance is grateful for the leadership of several legislators, especially Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Dale Kooyenga, who have demonstrated a strong and unwavering commitment to Wisconsin students by supporting high-quality public charter school options.
“Finally, we recognize our partners who have worked with us on this legislation, including the Wisconsin Coalition for Public Charter Schools, the Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, National Heritage Academies, the American Federation for Children, Hispanics for School Choice, the Association of American Educators, and the Wisconsin Institute of Law & Liberty.”
About Public Charter Schools
Public charter schools are independent, public, and tuition-free schools that are given the freedom to be more innovative while being held accountable for advancing student achievement. Since 2010, manyresearch studieshavefound that students in charter schools do better in school than their traditional school peers. For example, one study by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University found that charter schools do a better job teaching low income students, minority students, and students who are still learning English than traditional schools. Separate studies by the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Mathematica Policy Research have found that charter school students are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to college, stay in college and have higher earnings in early adulthood.About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the public charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. For more information, please visit www.publiccharters.org.
