Madison, WI—Representative Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac) released the following statement after the Assembly passed several bills to improve K-12 education in Wisconsin:
“Today, I joined my Republican colleagues on the Assembly floor to pass bills to preserve and promote K-12 education in this state. While a first step, these bills are essential to restoring accountability, discipline, and excellence in our education system.
First up was Assembly Bill 1, which will reverse the State School Superintendent’s actions to lower the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. She wanted to artificially make failing schools look like they were performing better than they actually were. Our bill mandates that we take the state back to its previous performance-measuring standards.
Assembly Bill 2 requires school boards to adopt policies prohibiting wireless communication devices during instructional time. Numerous scientific studies show the psychological and performance declines that come with phones in classrooms. This bill was needed, yesterday.
Assembly Bill 3 requires cursive writing to be taught in elementary grades. Studies show that teaching cursive improves memory, spelling, and reading skills.
Assembly Bill 4 requires civics instruction in elementary and high school. Future generations need to know how our government was designed, what our constitutional rights are, and why we have the best government model in the world.
Assembly Bill 5 requires school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents in a timely manner. Parents and the public have an absolute right to know what is being taught in our schools.
Assembly Bill 6 requires a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and limit annual pay increases for school administrators. Our dollars must be targeted to the classroom if we want a great education.
I was proud to vote for each of these proposals. These reforms will put students first and restore accountability, discipline, and excellence to our schools, ensuring that Wisconsin children receive the best possible foundation for success.”
