Monthly Archives: May 2009
Breaking — Doyle Says Yes to More Cuts, No New Taxes
Watching the budget “fix” press conference via WisconsinEye. Mark Pocan and Mark Miller are by Governor Jim Doyle’s side, so little hope for Joint Finance action. 5% across the board cuts to most state functions; 2.5% cut to education, 2.5% … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Budget, education, Local News, School Finance, Uncategorized
Data Driven Sanity
Diane Ravitch has some more words of sanity on Data Driven policy making at the Bridging Differences blog. Click the link for the entire post; here is an excerpt: This approach rests squarely on the high-stakes use of testing. One … Continue reading
Filed under Accountability, Best Practices, education, National News, nclb, No Child Left Behind, Uncategorized
Quotes of the Day — A Tale of Two Governors
[Illinois Governor Patrick] Quinn laid out what a “doomsday” budget might look like if lawmakers “slash and burn” their way to close a deficit of at least $11.6 billion instead of going along with his plan to boost taxes. “In … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, National News, School Finance, Uncategorized
Cherry Pick’n, Or When Scott Milfred Does Data Driven Policy
Scott Milfred’s column in the Sunday May 17, 2009 Wisconsin State Journal is a textbook example of the kind of foolishness people indulge in when they are dazzled by data that seems to support their favored policies. Mr. Milfred likes … Continue reading
Filed under Accountability, Best Practices, education, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, Uncategorized
Action Alert
You can make a difference by letting the members of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee know you expect them to use common sense and take a balanced approach to working through the state’s financial crisis. We solve nothing if we … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Budget, education, finance, School Finance, Take Action, Uncategorized
Sow and Reap – More on the Wisconsin State Budget
You can only reap what you sow and it looks like Governor Jim Doyle’ s reluctance to reap and sow may be leading Wisconsin to more hard times and lean years. In a statement today reported by the Journal Sentinel, … Continue reading
What Is Wrong With Data Driven Accountability — 17 Paragraphs, 4 Students (at most)
Some good news on the most recent WKCE scores from Nuestro Mundo, as covered in a 17 paragraph Capitol Times story. Good news, which like much achievement data is of limited use. The headline trumpets “Promising” gains and the big … Continue reading
Filed under Accountability, Best Practices, education, Local News
Letters to the Editor — School Finance (and the QEO)
Many good letters to the editor in response to a recentWisconsin State Journal editorial. QEO repeal alone would make situation worse In 1993, Wisconsin adopted a “temporary” formula for funding public schools based on revenue caps, the QEO and a … Continue reading
A Message to State Officials — My Budget Letter
There are lots of ways to get a message to elected officials. You can march and rally, like many of us did on May Day in support of a variety of causes and many more of us will on June … Continue reading
WAES School-Funding Update, the Week of May 11, 2009
From the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools. Headlines/index below, click here for a pdf of the full update, click on the linked items for related posts on AMPS “Walk on the Child’s Side” reunion event in Madison on June 16 … Continue reading
