Republican majority gets an “F” for its handling of public education

March 12, 2024

CONTACT:
Sen. Chris Larson
(608) 266-7505

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MADISON, WI - The end of a legislative session is a bit like the end of a school year. As ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, if I had to give a letter grade to the Republican majority this session for its handling of public education, the grade would be “F.”

The Republican majority failed to make our schools whole from the crippling impact of inflation. Nearly one-quarter of state residents live in districts that are holding $1.6 billion worth of school referendums this spring to try to make up the difference. 91 of our school districts advanced 101 referendum questions this spring - the largest number ever requested in a single election period.

They also failed to provide free healthy school meals for all students, meaning that “school lunch debt” is a phrase we unfortunately still have to deal with in 2024 and beyond. Not only did the Republican majority not hold a single public hearing on the Healthy School Meals for All bill; but when Democrats forced a vote on the floor of the Assembly and Senate, Republicans unanimously rejected the idea.

Republicans did all this with a multi-billion dollar state surplus. Instead of investing in all students, they chose to give a record increase in funding to voucher schools and push tax cut after tax cut for the rich and corporations.

Despite all of this failure, our teachers remain resilient and continue to do the best that they can to educate our future leaders. But they can’t hang on forever. Next session, we need to do right by our educators, our public schools, and in turn our kids.

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