MADISON, Wis. — As August comes to an end and September begins, children across Wisconsin are returning to school for another year. Amidst the usual buzz of new No. 2 pencils and seeing friends again, there are other issues on the minds of parents, students, teachers, and administrators. From the Legislature’s failure to fully fund our schools—nearly costing the state billions in federal funds, a crisis averted thanks to the efforts of Governor Evers and Democrats in the legislature— to the conflicts over common-sense public health practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 among children, a handful of politicians are holding us back from the feeling of potential and excitement that ought to greet a new school year.
A Better Wisconsin Together Executive Director Chris Walloch commented, “We all want our schools to be places where our children can learn and grow to their highest potential in a safe environment. But instead of working together to create the best outcomes for kids, some elected leaders are playing political games with the health of our children and school funding that belongs in classrooms. They’re defying the will of Wisconsinites, the vast majority of whom support following expert advice to keep kids safe and ensuring that our next generation gets the education they need to grow and thrive. We can and must do better.”