MADISON – During Wednesday’s floor session, Representative Benjamin Franklin (R-De Pere) supported a series of education bills aimed at prioritizing student success including Assembly Bill (AB) 6, which he authored. AB 6 would require school districts to move towards spending 70% of tax dollars they receive in the classroom. Additionally, it would ensure school administrators do not receive pay increases unless teachers’ salaries also increase by the same percentage.
“While seeking office to the State Assembly last year, I had the opportunity to speak with thousands of people throughout the 88thDistrict, said Rep. Franklin. A recurring concern I heard was the decline in the quality of education and the need to increase the pay for our teachers, AB 6 helps accomplish that by directing more resources into the classroom. This approach will help improve the quality of education provided to our children.”
Additionally, the Assembly passed AB 1 which aligns Wisconsin’s test scores with those of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to ensure consistency in scoring. The Assembly also acted on several other important bills including, banning cell phone use during instruction periods, requiring cursive writing instruction, mandating civics education, and ensuring that parents receive curriculum information promptly.
“As Governor Evers declared earlier this year, 2025 is “The Year of the Kid”. The legislation passed today would ensure our children are put first, said Rep. Franklin. As fourth-grade reading proficiency continues to decline, we, as elected officials, have a responsibility to adopt higher educational standards, ensure transparency, and adequately fund classroom resources.”
