Education

GOP throws UW students another $3

Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, calls the tuition freeze a “great idea” but says Republicans have only expressed outrage over high tuition as an excuse to cut the UW’s budget. [Capital Times]

One Wisconsin Now Travels to Iowa to Share Walker “Resume of Failure”

DES MOINES — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is traveling to Iowa today to address a gathering of Republican Party activists in another of an increasing number out-of-state sojourns as he ponders a bid for national office. Also making the trip is One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, along with copies of the Walker “Resume […]

Sen. Rick Gudex Wants to Require More Qualifications for Some Professional Licenses, But Not the Private School Voucher Program He Has Pledged to Expand

MADISON, Wis. — New legislation being proposed by State Senator Rick Gudex would require an individual to have two years of experience as a real estate salesperson before they could become a real estate broker. Meanwhile, the unaccountable private school voucher program that Gudex is demanding be expanded statewide, does not require individuals teaching children to […]

Right-wing groups made Wis. their testing ground for school choice

One Wisconsin Now recently published a detailed report on the Bradley foundation. Scot Ross states that Bradley is “the most powerful organization in America that no one seems to know about.” One Wisconsin Now calls the Bradley Foundation a “massive, pro-priviatization propaganda campaign” that attempts to turn people against the public school system. [Isthmus]

Prelude to a Raid?

Right-wing finger-pointing over reports of University of Wisconsin System surpluses is distracting from the real crisis, the trillion dollar plus student loan debt crisis.

Kenosha School Board Candidate William Mauer III’s Permanent Record: Multiple Arrests, Criminal Convictions for Disorderly Conduct, Drunk Driving and Possession of Drugs

MADISON, Wis. — Generations of school children have been discouraged from misbehaving by threats that their transgressions would be added to their “permanent record”. Such exhortations apparently had no impact on William Mauer III, a candidate for the Kenosha Unified School Board, whose permanent record is a lengthy criminal one. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director […]

Candidate for Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Uses Campaign Cash to Pay for Tickets to Event Hosted by Proponents of Radical Privatization

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding the revelation that Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Don Pridemore reported spending $475 on February 5th, 2013 from his campaign account for tickets to an ALEC event: “There’s great irony in Don Pridemore using campaign funds from his run for […]

A Call to Action in Defense of Education

Democrats, Republicans and independents certainly have different views on many of the challenges facing our state and nation. There is one thing we all can agree on, however - we love the University.

Roggensack’s Excuse for Failure to Report $20,550 in Campaign Cash Doesn’t Add Up

MADISON, Wis. — State Supreme Court candidate Patience Roggensack deployed her campaign spokesperson, also a registered contract lobbyist, to attempt to explain away her failure to report over $20,000 in contributions from out-of-state backers of the private school voucher program. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross declared Roggensack’s claims don’t add up. “It’s unseemly […]

The Case of the Missing Contributions: Roggensack Fails to Report Big Money From Out-of-State Private School Voucher Backers in Latest Campaign Finance Report

MADISON, Wis. — A review of campaign finance reports by One Wisconsin Now has uncovered that State Supreme Court candidate Patience Roggensack failed to disclose $20,550 in campaign contributions bundled by backers of the private school voucher program on her latest campaign finance report. While Roggensack’s campaign failed to report the contribution, a separate report […]

Pridemore Proposes Armed Volunteers for School Patrols

MADISON, Wis. — Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rep. Don Pridemore has reached a new level of hypocrisy and inanity according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross with his proposal to solicit armed community volunteers to patrol schools. Ross commented, “Rep. Pridemore not only voted to slash school funding by a record amount, […]

Conservative enters state school superintendent race

Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, citing Pridemore’s immigration bill and voting for nearly $2 billion in education funding cuts last year, said “Pridemore may have the worst resume on education and children that Wisconsin has ever seen.” Evers has said accomplishments during his first term include adoption and implementation of new state standards, the […] [Green Bay Press-Gazette]

Candidate for Wisconsin schools chief backed biggest education spending cuts in state history, liberal group says

The liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Nowhas long been critical of state Rep. Don Pridemore, especially when blasting bills he authored that would affect police treatment of immigrants and require voters to present photo identification. Now that Pridemore, a Republican from suburban Milwaukee, is challenging state schools superintendent Tony Evers in the April 2013 election, One Wisconsin Now has […] [PolitiFact]

Does Rep. Pridemore’s Vision for Wisconsin Education Include Barring Certain Children from Public Schools?

MADISON, Wis. — Republican Assembly Rep. Don Pridemore today announced his campaign to be State Superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Given that Pridemore’s most notable “accomplishments” as an elected official have been to author a racist, Arizona-style “papers please” attack on immigrants and the unconstitutional voter identification bill, One Wisconsin Now has […]

Simple Questions Rick Gudex Must Address

There’s no question Rick Gudex supports some of the most extreme policies we’ve seen in recent memory in Wisconsin. He needs to come clean and explain to the public why he does and why he’s been lying to them about it.

Gudex Scrubs Campaign Website

State Senate candidate Rick Gudex has re-written a key section of the “policy” page on his campaign’s website, raising questions about what he’s trying to hide from the public.

John Macco’s Vision: Less Math & Science In Our Schools?

MADISON, Wis. — John Macco recently invited the public to share a “fresh vision for Northeast Wisconsin”. But according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, Macco’s “vision” could mean children are less prepared for careers and get less instruction in critical subjects like math and science. Ross commented, “It’s hard to imagine parents […]

Anti-public school props pays off for Gudex campaign

Spending more state taxpayer dollars on private school vouchers in Milwaukee while hitting K-12 public schools with record budget cuts isn’t paying off for public school children. But, according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, supporting these policies is paying off for Rick Gudex’s political campaign. “Rick Gudex has publicly said he supports […]

Support for Private School Vouchers in Milwaukee, Cuts to K-12 Public Schools Pays Off for Gudex’s Campaign

MADISON, Wis. — Spending more state taxpayer dollars on private school vouchers in Milwaukee while hitting K-12 public schools with record budget cuts isn’t paying off for public school children. But, according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, supporting these policies is paying off for Rick Gudex’s political campaign. “Rick Gudex has publicly […]

In recall, union group says Walker cut school funding to give tax breaks

Critics of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have condemned his funding cuts to schools and tax breaks for businesses and wealthier individuals… We rated Half True a claim by the liberal One Wisconsin Now group that tax breaks approved for corporations and the rich would cost taxpayers $2.3 billion over a decade. The changes aren’t a cost to taxpayers in […] [PolitiFact]

Gov. Walker’s Cross Country Cash Grab Takes Off As Wisconsin Economy Crashes and Burns

MADISON, Wis. — Under Gov. Walker, Wisconsin’s economy has tanked, ranking dead last in the nation for job creation and suffering the ignominy of being the only state in the nation with statistically significant job losses over the last year. Meanwhile, Gov. Walker’s cross country cash grab has been a stunning success, netting two-thirds of […]

Gov. Walker: New TV Ad, Same Falsehoods and Failed Policies

One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne made the following statement regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s latest special interest funded campaign ad: “Governor Walker’s new special interest funded TV ad is selling the same falsehoods and failed policies. The facts are that Gov. Walker’s policies have cost us jobs, hurt public schools, increased taxes on seniors […]

Dems look to close voucher school loophole

Democratic lawmakers are requesting the Assembly close a loophole in the state budget that would allow for the expansion of school voucher programs across the state. When the Legislature passed the budget last year, it included a provision permitting the school voucher program to expand. However, after passing the budget, lawmakers then decided to limit […] [Badger Herald]

Why Are Republicans Gutting MATC Board? Power, Money, Control – Take Your Pick

Why do Wisconsin’s legislative Republicans and Governor Walker do what they do?  Looking at their track record it is clear that they’re motivated by campaign cash and political power. If legislation privatizes public assets to help donors, prevents the public from holding them accountable, or places their hand-picked cronies in positions of power, you’ll find […]

2010 ‘Lie of Year’ Award Winner in Madison to Address Gathering of Corporate CEOs

MADISON, Wis. — 2010 Politifact “Lie of the Year” award winner, GOP pollster Frank Luntz, addressed a gathering of CEOs sponsored by the state’s big business lobby today in Madison. One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne said Luntz will have his work cut out for him trying to boost Gov. Scott Walker’s record of […]

Scott Walker’s Rhetoric Versus Reality

MADISON, Wis. — Governor Scott Walker failed to tackle Wisconsin’s jobs crisis – posting six straight months of job losses here while nationally jobs are being added – and is now poised to take on “the truth” in his second State of the State address. In Gov. Walker’s one year in office he has failed […]

D is for Dismantle

There is a long-held belief among many conservatives that public schools are simply not an appropriate role of government and should be privatized through the use of vouchers. One of the staunchest supporters of this extreme view is Gov. Scott Walker.

One Wisconsin Institute Report: ‘D is for Dismantle’

A comprehensive analysis entitled “D is for Dismantle,” authored by the non-partisan One Wisconsin Institute shows that despite claims from Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin schools are not failing, instead his budget cuts and disastrous education policies endanger our proud tradition of excellent schools.

Facts Tell Different Story Than Deceptive Walker Education Ad

MADISON, Wis. — The Monona Grove school district cited in Gov. Scott Walker’s latest deceptive television ad as being a success story, has lost teachers, seen higher class sizes rise throughout the curriculum as result of Walker’s historic $1.6 billion gutting of public education. “Gov. Walker can’t tell the truth about his record of failing […]

Walker acknowledges his ‘reforms’ have hurt schools

Gov. Scott Walker would like to think that his agenda has been good for Wisconsin schools. He issued a release on Monday claiming just that. But as the Capital Times points out today, he is actually — and perhaps unknowingly — acknowledging that his reforms are not working for schools. Among the effects of Walker’s […]

One Wisconsin Now Prevails in Open Records Lawsuit Against Alberta Darling

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now has settled a lawsuit filed in August in Dane County Circuit Court against state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) over her office’s refusal to release correspondence sought under the state’s open records law detailing her office’s communications with private school advocates. The settlement requires payment of One Wisconsin Now’s […]

Wisconsin From A-Zia: Walker Cuts to UW System Top $300 Million

Cuts are happening right and left in the state of Wisconsin, and the UW system is getting hit especially hard. Between 2011-2013 Walker will force the UW system to cut $65.8 million, and this does not include the $250 million base budget reduction. Overall, there will be about $300 million worth of cuts to the […]

Bill to repeal Healthy Youth Act is latest attack on children and schools

On Wednesday October 19th, Walker’s Legislature will hold a hearing on a Bill to Repeal the Healthy Youth Act. Just one more attack on Wisconsin children and schools. The Healthy Youth Act provides for sex-education in the classrooms and has contributed to lowering teen pregnancy in Wisconsin to the lowest it has been since the […]

Legislature to Debate Vouchers: A Cornerstone of Walker’s Strategy to Privatize Schools

A Committee of the WI State Senate will meet Wednesday Oct 5 to discuss a proposal which would prohibit further expansion of school vouchers. The move is a response by a bi-partisan group of Senators to stem the advance of the school voucher program. The existing Milwaukee school voucher program was expanded from Milwaukee to Racine […]