By Ola Lisowski – State spending on school aids has become a major debate across Wisconsin. Many facets of the issue have entered the complicated conversation—including how much money districts receive, how they spend it, and whether the funding formula itself should be changed. Read More The Truth About Education Spending in Wisconsin
Special Guest Perspective by Dan O’Donnell – Our response to tragedy has over the past decade or so become sadly predictable: Watch the events unfold, tweet half-hearted concern for those affected, and then, before the dead are even identified, search for something, anything about the tragedy to use as a political bludgeon. Read More Rhetorical Questions
A new video by the Association of Independent Doctors offers a great explanation of why health care costs in the U.S. have spiral out of control. We don’t necessarily endorse everything in the video, but it’s an excellent reminder of the many flaws in our health care system and a glimpse into how to fix it. Read More Why Have Health Care Costs Spiraled Out Of Control?
Special Guest Perspective by Dan O’Donnell – By giving districts that financial flexibility and also pumping more state money into their coffers, while simultaneously holding the line on state taxes through what Walker calls the “prosperity dividend” of his restoration of fiscal sanity in Wisconsin, the state’s education budget is healthier than ever…and it no longer needs to rely on federal handouts. Read More The ABCs of Governor Walker’s Education Spending
Eric Holder was in Milwaukee on Sept. 18th to endorse Tony Evers for governor and Mandela Barnes for Lt. Governor. “These are men who will focus on those people – the average citizens here in Wisconsin. Not the special interests – not the folks who come from out of state and pour huge amounts of money into campaign coffers,” Holder said. Ironically, there is a great deal of out-of-state money from special interest groups supporting the Evers-Barnes campaign – including from groups affiliated with Holder himself. Read More Update: National Liberal Network Working To Take Back Wisconsin
Analysis by Ola Lisowski – A massive data release from Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Tuesday showed mixed results for K-12 students across the state. On the Forward Exam, math, science, and social studies scores all rose slightly, yet remain dismal. Only 43.8 percent of students are currently proficient at math. English scores are worse, and trending in the wrong direction. Last year, proficiency was at 44.4 percent. This year, it is 42.4 percent. Read More Analysis: Achievement Gaps Persist in Wisconsin’s Large School Districts
By Ola Lisowski – A new data release from Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction shows that 42.4 percent of 3rd to 8th grade students are proficient in English language arts, and 43.8 percent are proficient in math. Students improved in math by one percentage point over last year, when 42.8 percent were proficient. At the same time, they fared worse in English language arts. Last year, 44.4 percent of students were proficient on the same exam. Read More Data Release: School Choice Students Outperform Peers on ACT
By M.D. Kittle – Tony Evers wants more money for government – a lot more. Just how Evers plans to fund it all remains a bit murky, but one thing is certain: Somebody would have to pay for the candidate’s government expansion plans. Read More Tony Evers’ Tax Increase Ideas: Shifting ‘Priorities’ Or ‘Recipe For Economic Disaster’?
By Ola Lisowski – The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) budget, submitted by Evers on Monday, would spend $1.4 billion in state funding more than current levels. The plan amounts to a 10 percent increase over funding levels in the 2017-19 state budget. Read More Analysis: Evers DPI Budget Request Would Spend $1.4 Billion More
It’s the first day of school for most kids across the state, which means it is time for MacIver’s annual look at the state of education in Wisconsin and how our children are faring. Much of this data – especially that on remedial education – is information you won’t see elsewhere. We believe that in order to make real progress on the state of education, you simply can’t sugarcoat the tough issues. Let’s dive in. Read More The MacIver Institute’s State of K-12 Education: 2018 Edition