Hundreds rally in Madison
for school-funding reform

Several hundred people showed up in Madison, Tuesday, to deliver a message to state government loud and clear: Enough is enough. It’s time to change Wisconsin’s school-funding system.

People from all over the state came together for the 10th anniversary of the Walk on the Child’s Side, an event first held in June of 1999 to draw attention to the effects of the way the state funds public education. At the time, walkers left Butternut and covered the 240 miles to Madison to build support for funding reform.

Between 300 and 400 school board members, parents, students, and educators walked from the University of Wisconsin Library Mall to the State Street entrance to the Capitol for a brief rally. The highlight of the noon event was the appearance by a handful of legislators that resulted in an ovation from the crowd.

» For more coverage of the Walk on the Child’s Side, click here

» See additional pictures of the Walk on the Child's Side

»Press release after the Walk

News coverage:

» Channel 27, WKOW-TV, Madison coverage
» WEAC website coverage
» Channel 3, WISC-TV, Madison
» Advocating on Madison Public Schools (AMPS)
» WisconsinEye coverage
» Wisconsin Public Radio

Videos track reform plan’s introduction
to the Assembly Education Committee

WAES members from around the state joined with other participants in the School Finance Network (SFN) to put a reform plan in the hands of the Legislature at a hearing of the Assembly Education Committee on April 21.

Since the present system was put into law, people throughout the state — spearheaded by WAES — have pointed out how the formula limits the educational opportunities of children and jeopardizes the security of communities around the state. This hearing was an acknowledgement by the Legislature that there is a better way to fund education.

You can see the full hearing on the WisconsinEye website (and scroll down to April 21, 2009). If you cannot see the video produced about the hearing on this website, click on the yellow bar in your browser and "allow blocked scripts" or you can see it at http://www.sfnwisconsin.org.

WAES presentation is first step
in joining funding reform effort

Funding reform is the 800-pound gorilla in the Wisconsin Legislature.

Schools and children are critical to the economic and social success of our state. As it should, the state makes a large investment in public schools. And, because so much research says an even larger investment is needed, elected officials have been reluctant to get anything done.

The only way we will finally get a finance system that builds opportunities for children and security for our communities is when the people of Wisconsin demand it.

That is the philosophy behind the educational outreach of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES). By taking a free presentation and discussion to anyone who asks, WAES is building the type of coalition that gives rise to political power. People want good schools and they want fair taxes, and that’s the message we deliver.

Since 2004, WAES has done at least 173 presentations for 8,224 people. That doesn’t include having booths at conventions and conferences, being part of panels and forums, organizing events, meeting with the media, or publishing research. When it comes to school-funding reform, WAES is the organization leading the pack in trying to bring various groups and individuals together for one purpose.

Wisconsin’s public schools are in a funding crisis-a crisis many have been in since the present school-funding system was implemented 15 years ago. If you want to be part of the solution and the effort to bring about change, now is the time. Click here to sign up for a presentation or contact Tom Beebe at 920-650-0525 or tbeebe@excellentschools.org.