• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Education / Alternative school advocates could rally to vote

Alternative school advocates could rally to vote

April 7, 2009 By WRN Contributor

WEAC could get a run for its money in today's state Superintendent election.

The outcome could boil down to the very organized teachers union (WEAC) versus the disorganized groups of individuals who are critical of the state education establishment, according to UW-Madison Political Science Professor Charles Franklin.

"What we see in the DPI race is Tony Evers, the current Deputy State Superintendent and really a representative of the established school system in the state versus Rose Fernandez who's coming in as an outsider and someone's who's worked hard and promoted virtual schools, alternative schools and so on."

One of the big debates in education policy in recent years, Franklin points out, is how much the state should support alternative education. The co-developer of Pollster.com says a big question is whether the advocates for alternative-schooling have grown to be a large enough segment of the population to really have an impact on the race.

"One of the advantages of home schoolers is that they tend to connect with one another — they share websites and emails — and as a result they're more connected to one another and that could conceivably have an effect of raising turnout among people who are particularly concerned for alternative schooling in the state."

Franklin says home-schoolers are withdrawn from the traditional brick and mortar public schools, but not from the state — they have a huge network of friends, community, curricula websites, and support from organizations, all in favor of alternative education.

"Whether that's enough to make a big difference in the election remains to be seen."

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:39 MP3)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Education



Featured Stories

UW System releases results of student survey on free speech and free expression

State Senate Natural Resources Committee gets PFAS update

Evers delivers State of the State address

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC