A key problem: lowered state expectations+ a sliding scale weighting of Achievement (proficiency) & growth, hard-wired into state law, means that low-poverty schools see 9x the benefit from the changes than high-poverty ones.

We shouldn't expect less from our kids because of their families' income.

Our state’s students cannot afford for political leaders to let perfection become the enemy of progress. In a political climate that amplifies the extremes, WI's leaders once again chose the harder, more courageous path of compromise—and all of our schools are better for it."

Governor Evers and legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle...deserve credit for courageously and pragmatically leading from the center, rather than being held hostage by ideology and unreasonable partisanship from the fringes of their caucuses.

The final budget includes a generational, half-billion dollar increase in public school special education funding, the long-overdue $50 million for early literacy efforts—now unlocked from litigation—and real resources to address pressing student mental health challenges.

"By any reasonable measure, securing $1.75 billion in new funding dedicated to education – $1.4 billion for K12 schools, plus $330 million more to address early childhood — is a win."

No one got everything - and there's work left undone to address per-pupil funding gaps in MKE - but once again, everyone got something.

As I said in May, WI needs more of this kid-first pragmatic policymaking, & less ideology-driven partisan politics in K12 edu

www.jsonline.com/story/opinio...

Our full take next week; some highlights here:
- $1k per-pupil in charter/choice increases
- 45% public + charter sp.ed reimbursement
- 90% guarantee for high-cost sp.ed, matching SNSP voucher provision
- full release of remaining literacy funds
-$50M to address student mental health

It requires courageous leadership and a willingness to embrace true accountability: transparency AND action. And yes, it requires bold, hard choices.

But, from FL to DEN to NOLA and DC, we’ve seen this approach yield meaningful, sustained gains in student outcomes & school performance.

Here's City Forward Collective's take on the real issues with WI's school funding approach, including the antiquated special education model - and why the Special Needs Scholarship Program is the wrong target in this fight.

www.jsonline.com/story/opinio...

The question ahead is whether new MPS leadership can continue to work with urgency to translate its newfound transparency into the sustained transformation Milwaukee's students and families deserve.

We commend Superintendent Cassellius for maintaining focus on students and classrooms, even in the face of loud opposition from leaders of special interest groups defending the status quo.

In our assessment, this budget provides a promising directional framework for the district's more than 58,000 students, and represents a strong start to the long-term work of righting the ship.

The road ahead requires sustained urgency and realistic expectations. MPS didn't get into any of its myriad messes in one day, and it will take time to undo the consequences of past mistakes, missteps, and deferred decisions.

As the Superintendent aptly put it, "MPS must make systemic changes to ensure students – particularly the most vulnerable, are at the center of every decision." It's both an entirely accurate statement and a long-overdue sentiment.