Governor Jim Doyle supports a plan to keep millions of dollars worth of federal funding from Milwaukee Public Schools.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers wants to withhold up to $175 million in funding from MPS, citing the district’s failure to improve academically. Governor Jim Doyle says it’s within the Superintendent’s powers, and it should send a clear message that changes need to be made.Doyle says taxpayers have sent billions of dollars to MPS, but test scores continue to lag. He believes the threat of losing federal dollars will encourage administrators to make improvements.
Efforts to reform the school district have faced controversy at the Capitol, largely over a push to let Milwaukee’s mayor appoint the superintendent. Doyle says he’s “astounded” by the forces of the status quo in MPS. If any other school district in the state was performing as poorly as Milwaukee, Doyle says citizens would be demanding changes.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:11)