Tony Evers on Education

	Tony Evers on Education

Invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming

We're going to make targeted investments to improve reading and literacy outcomes and expand financial literacy curriculum across our state. We're going to invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming and implement evidence-based reading practices across Wisconsin. And our "Do the Math" initiative will help ensure our kids have the tools and skills to make smart budgeting and financial decisions to prepare for their future. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature , Jan 24, 2023

Teach a full accounting of history in our schools

One question addressed the issue of how to teach history in light of widespread Republican criticism of academic lessons on systemic racism. Evers said teachers should continue to provide a full accounting of history, citing the World War II-era internment of Japanese Americans as an example.

Republican challenger Tim Michels blasted "woke educrats" being gatekeepers to such decisions and said parents should decide how history is taught.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race , Oct 14, 2022

Tuition freeze at state university for in-state students

I'm also announcing I am providing a $25 million investment in our University of Wisconsin System so that they can use these dollars to fund the tuition freeze through the end of the biennium. With these additional funds, the UW System and Board of Regents can ensure that tuition prices for our in-state students will not go up for the next two years, giving our students and their families one less thing to worry about. Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature , Feb 15, 2022

COVID: Hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions

I am recommending $647 million to restore funding to school systems across our state, fully fund enrollment growth, and hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions - with $573 million allocated to continue those efforts in next year's budget as well. Those funds mean schools will be able to prioritize our students' safety, ensure quality instruction continues, and stand with our educators in the months and years to come. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Georgia legislature , Jan 14, 2021

Education debt affects not just students, but their families

We can't continue to ignore the elephant in the room of student debt. I will be creating a Task Force on Student Debt in Wisconsin. We have to work on making higher education available to more folks in our state. We have to understand how education-related debt affects not just our students, but their families, too. And we have to address the fact that student debt is preventing folks from buying a car, starting a business, saving for retirement, and starting a family. Source: 2020 Wisconsin State of the State address , Jan 22, 2020

$600M to restore special needs funding

We're going to make sure that we have resources to support our kids with special needs. For the past decade, we've not only cut funding for public schools, we've failed to fully fund services for special education. This has forced local school districts and taxpayers to squeeze resources from other areas to provide these critical services. Our budget will provide an unprecedented $600 million-dollar increase in special education funding. Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Wisconsin legislature , Jan 22, 2019

Increase school funding $1.4B; freeze charters

Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Tony Evers (D): Yes. Increase by $1.4 billion. Increased $ for special education, kindergarten for 4 year olds, & teachers who work in high-poverty districts.

Scott Walker (R): Major cuts in 2011.

Q: Support expansion of charter schools & vouchers?

Evers: No. Would freeze enrollment in school choice programs & phase out unless public schools were fully funded.

Walker: Yes. Has expanded both charter schools & voucher programs.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

Increase investments in our technical schools & UW system

Q: Increase state funding for higher education?

Tony Evers (D): Yes. Will Increase investments in both our technical schools & University of Wisconsin (UW) system.

Scott Walker (R): Froze UW tuition. Cut $500 million from higher ed support. Recently restored $100 million.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

AdWatch: should have fired teacher caught viewing porn

The main attack line from the Republican Party of Wisconsin against Evers during the primary race has been about Middleton-Cross Plains School District science teacher Andrew Harris who was caught viewing pornographic materials on his work computer during the school day.

The state party already made the Harris case into a $500,000 ad buy purchased before the race was even called, signaling the case will be a cornerstone of Republicans' strategy to beat Evers.

Republicans have argued Evers should have revoked Harris' teacher's license, but Evers has said state law wouldn't allow him to at the time Harris' case came before the Department of Public Instruction because students were not exposed to the material.

Evers and lawmakers worked to change state law to give Evers the authority to revoke teaching licenses in cases like Harris'.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 2018 Wisconsin governor race , Aug 15, 2018

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