Madison, Wis. — Moments ago, the Wisconsin Senate passed historic legislation supported by IRG Action that would break up Milwaukee Public Schools. The Senate is also set to pass legislation that would dramatically increase educational options for children throughout the state.
“The Senate is to be applauded for putting kids and families ahead of the education establishment. It’s time to end the failed school district in Milwaukee and break up MPS. The establishment may be stuck on defending the status quo, but parents and families demand action,” said Chris Reader, Executive Vice President of IRG Action Fund. “These are groundbreaking reforms and we urge Governor Evers to sign them all into law.”
Chris Reader along with Michael Brickman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Reforming Government, testified or showed support during the Senate and Assembly Education Committee hearings on the following bills that were approved today:
1. School Choice for All (AB 970/SB 974) Read our full testimony here. Read testimony from Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist here.
2. Splitting Milwaukee Public Schools into smaller school districts (AB 966/SB 963) Read our full testimony here. Testimony from AEI Senior Fellow Howard Husock explaining the positive outcomes from breaking up urban school districts here.
3. Expanding Independent Charter Schools (AB 967/SB 964 & AB 968/SB 965) Read our full testimony here.
4. Parental Bill of Rights. (AB 965) This bill enshrines the rights of parents into state law, including in many aspects relating to education. IRG Action helped over 200 parents sign a letter in support of this legislation here.
5. End DPI Manipulation of School Report Cards (AB 965) This bill would reverse DPI’s manipulation of the school report cards from last year.
6. Microschools. (AB122) This bill would formalize the use of microschools in Wisconsin.
Press release can be viewed here.
