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Madison—Today Governor Walker’s office released the results of all the school district surveys done in the last decade and a comparison to this year’s Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) survey data. Previous surveys were conducted by WASDA and the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
“Survey data compiled by WEAC and others shows that our budget reforms are working,” said Governor Walker. “This year we saw better class sizes, fewer teacher layoffs, and property taxes were kept in check. Most importantly educational opportunities for students were the best they have been in a decade.”
The released survey data shows that this year school districts are facing the best outlook in at least a decade. The 2011-12 WASDA survey showed overwhelmingly positive results for districts using collective bargaining reforms.
In the most recent survey the Milwaukee, Janesville and Kenosha school districts accounted for more than two thirds of all teacher layoffs even though they serve fewer than 13% of public school students. These three districts did not utilize Governor Walker’s budget reforms.
WEAC, WASDA, and DPI were unwilling to provide previous survey data after repeated requests from the Governor’s Office. Although the survey data was scrubbed from websites, copies were located elsewhere.
“It’s unfortunate that big government union bosses are hiding their very own survey data in an attempt to hide the truth—that our reforms are working,” said Governor Walker. “A review of WEAC’s surveys shows that they are deliberately trying to keep the public in the dark and refusing to acknowledge that we can improve education and protect taxpayers at the same time.”
The school district survey was not conducted in 2009-10 and 2010-11, when Democrats controlled the legislature and Governor’s office. Links to all of the surveys can be accessed by clicking the links below:
2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2011-12 (Act 10 reforms)
WEAC/DPI/WASDA Fact Sheet
Historical data shows the following:
|
School Year |
Laid Off Teachers |
Increased Class Size |
Increased Student Fees |
Reduced Extracurricular Programs |
|
2002-03 |
69% |
68% |
75% |
55% |
|
2003-04 |
69% |
68% |
73% |
51% |
|
2004-05 |
70% |
70% |
65% |
53% |
|
2005-06 |
62% |
74% |
67% |
54% |
|
2006-07 |
62% |
75% |
67% |
56% |
|
2007-08 |
64% |
69% |
68% |
53% |
|
2008-09 |
64% |
70% |
* |
* |
|
2009-10 |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
2010-11 |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
2011-12 (Act 10 reforms) |
31% |
59% |
22% |
8% |
|
* = Data not available
+ = survey not conducted
Percentages are of districts responding who reported taking the action listed. |
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