Contact: Alex Japko, [email protected]
Today, as Republicans hold a press conference to distract from Tony Evers’ forward-looking, student-first education priorities, Wisconsinites deserve answers for the eight years Scott Walker and his legislative allies failed to support Wisconsin students and Wisconsin schools.
The facts speak for themselves:
- One of Walker’s first moves in office was to slash $800 million in funding for Wisconsin schools.
- Despite Walker’s claims of record funding, funding remains below what it was in 2009.
- Wisconsin spends about $1,000 less per pupil than before Walker took office and ranks below six other Midwest states.
- Walker’s initial attacks on schools caused the teacher exit rate to nearly double from 6.4% to 10.5%, and it remains at an elevated level of 8.8%.
- To deal with the teacher shortage he created, Walker proposed cutting time in the classroom and lowering qualifications for new hires.
The record is clear. Walker slashed funding. Students have fewer resources. Teachers are looking for jobs elsewhere.
Now, Walker and his fellow Republicans are trying to pass the buck for their failures.
A budget is all about priorities. Under Walker, Wisconsin students and educators are clearly not a priority.
“Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans can’t erase their record of failing to support education in Wisconsin,” said DPW spokesperson Alex Japko. “They slashed funding, drove teachers out of the state, and now they’re trying to point fingers to distract from the mess they made. Wisconsin deserves leaders like Tony Evers who will make education a priority again in every year–not just Election years.”
For more on Scott Walker’s education record, read the back to school memo Wisconsin Dems release here.
