A bill allowing for expansion of charter schools in Wisconsin has cleared the legislature’s budget panel. Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Representative Robin Vos, noted charter schools have bi-partisan support. “Actually I just read a story talking about President Obama’s strong support for charter schools,” said Vos. “He actually said money without reform doesn’t fix the problem. There’s something I actually agree with President Obama on.” But the bill received no support from Democrats on the committee, including Senator Bob Jauch, who said the charter expansion “benefits the few at the expense of the many.”
State Representative John Nygren is a Marinette Republican with two kids in school. “Does this shake things up a little bit? Sure it does. But for their sake and for every other kid that’s coming through our system, I think we need to do that.” The bill would allow charter schools to operate in Wisconsin districts with two thousand or more students, or about one-quarter of the state’s districts. The measure now moves to the full legislature for consideration.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60)
