ACLU Urges An Open Mind on School Funding in Wisconsin

June 2, 2004

Milwaukee, WI - Early reaction to the as yet unfinished recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence needs to be constructive, said the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin today.

Chris Ahmuty, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin observed that, "Despite years of debate neither the Legislature nor the Governor have been able to make school funding in Wisconsin fair, affordable and effective. Neither will be able to do so without the other. The ACLU of Wisconsin hopes that a non-partisan solution can be found."

Assembly Speaker John Gard, according to the media, has said of the Governor's Task Force, "They've built up all these expectations and then, in the end, really just want more money. It's really a disappointment."

Ahmuty continued, "Except for some residents of property wealthy school districts, most Wisconsinites agree that the current system of school funding does not provide an adequate education for far too many of our students."

"Children in districts that have high concentrations of poverty, English language learners, and students with special needs have been robbed of an adequate education by the status quo. Regardless of one's politics or the wealth of one's own school district everyone needs to keep an open mind and roll up their sleeves to get the job done," he continued.

"In many states the courts have ordered state and school district officials to change the way schools are funded. The American Civil Liberties Union has been involved in several of these lawsuits. Litigation would be one of the few options left, if special interests foreclose on the serious debate about school funding that the Governor's Task Force is advancing," Ahmuty suggested.

"The critical question now is whether the Governor's Task Force, Governor Doyle, and concerned legislators, including Speaker Gard, will come up with a plan that will truly make a difference," Ahmuty concluded.