Legislative News Update

Madison Metropolitan School District

Last update: October 04, 2005

Letter from MMSD Board of Education to the Madison Legislative Delegation - June 20, 2005

Useful Legislative Information Web Sites

Number 2 - October 4, 2005

Legislators Look to Odden School Finance Study
Sen. Luther Olsen: "If TABOR gets on the ballot, it will pass"

Number 1 - July 27, 2005

Doyle preserves revenue limit increase
Says budget protects schools, property-tax payers

Number 4 - June 13, 2005

GOP guts Doyle's education budget
JFC proposes revenue limit increase below inflation

Number 3 - April 12, 2005

K-12 dominates JFC hearings
Burmaster testifies before JFC

Number 2 - February 14, 2005

Doyle throws GOP a "tax freeze" curve
Budget adds $850 million in school aids to reduce property taxes

Number 1 - January 18, 2005

Doyle highlights education initiatives in state address
February 8 budget will provide K-12 details
4K grants
Three vie to knock off Burmaster

Number 10 - November 9, 2004

GOP picks up one seat in both houses
Leaders say property tax "freeze" tops 2005-07 agenda
TABOR and "tax freeze"
2005-07 budget
Erpenbach steps down as Senate leader, Pocan on JFC

Number 9 - September 30, 2004

Burmaster sends 2005-07 budget request to Governor
GOP Leaders Send Mixed Message on TABOR

Number 8 - July 1, 2004

Education Task Force Recommendations Go To Doyle
TABOR Tabled

Number 7 - March 29, 2004

TABOR Threatens Wisconsin's Future

Number 6 - November 4, 2003

Doyle's Educational Excellence Task Force Begins Work
Assembly Unanimously Endorses Youth Options Changes

Number 5 - July 25, 2003

Doyle protects, defends budget priorities with vetoes
Revenue limits for schools will keep pace with inflation

Number 4 - June 6, 2003

Schools spared from levy freeze
Allowable revenue limit increase is cut in half

Number 3 - April 14, 2003

K-12 Education has strong presence at Finance hearings
Rainwater advocates for Doyle's K-12 funding provisions

Number 2 - February 21, 2003

Budget Ends 2/3 Funding Commitment
TEACH grants eliminated; a $532,000 loss to MMSD

Number 1 - January 31, 2003

Doyle says deficit pain to be shared by all
He says, 'Schools have to be part of the solution'
Legislators Weigh In

Number 7 - November 13, 2002

Doyle Elected Governor, GOP Controls Legislature
Capitol Scandal Sinks Senate Dems

Number 6 - September 23, 2002

Burmaster Avoids Budget Fracas
DPI budget "is in technical compliance" with Governor's request
Two-thirds funding
Medicaid Reimbursement

Number 5 - July 22, 2002

Burmaster Says End QEO, Revenue Limits
Cites Need to Reduce Achievement Gap as Key Issue

Number 4 - July 10, 2002

Budget Repair Bill Finally Sent to Governor
Predictions Dire for Huge 2003-05 Deficit

Number 3 - April 9, 2002

Senate Adds $27.4 Million for Special Ed.
Conference Committee to Reconcile Assembly-Senate Differences
MMSD's Budget

Number 2 - February 21, 2002

Rainwater Tells Finance Committee To Spare K-12 Education
Burmaster's School Finance Madison Session Highlights Student Equity

Number 1 - January 22, 2002

Schools Mostly Spared As Budget Ax Falls
2/3 BOE Vote Needed for Revenue Limit Increase
Bipartisan School Finance Task Force Will Meet in February

Number 8 - November 6, 2001

State Revenues Potentially off by $1.3 Billion
$5.1 billion school aids a possible target
Chvala Creates School Funding Task Force
Funding in Limbo, but HS Graduation Test to go Forward

Number 7 - August 31, 2001

McCallum Signs Status Quo Education Budget

Number 6 - July 26, 2001

Compromise Emerges from Conference Committee

Number 5 - July 2, 2001

House Differences Sets Up Conference Committee Collision

Number 4 - June 1, 2001

SAGE Unanimously Clears Committee Hurdle
Statewide Education Rally, Wednesday, June 13

Number 3 - April 26, 2001

McCallum Education Proposals Axed from Budget
Community members testify on budget
SAGE is focus of news conferences

Number 2 - March 29, 2001

MTI, District Join Forces on State Budget Lobbying
Republicans Support Changes to Milwaukee Voucher Program
Rainwater to Testify Before Assembly Ed. Committee
Fiscal Bureau Identifies "Policy" in the Budget

Number 1 - February 22, 2001

Budget Short-Circuits SAGE Program

Number 8 - December 22, 2000

Kettl Commission Drops Foundation Plan

Number 7 - November 29, 2000

Lobbying reaps over $5.4 million for 2000-01
Legislature Remains Divided
Commission Drops 100% State Funding Plan

Number 6 - October 16, 2000

Commission Examines Full State Funding of Schools

Number 5 - September 5, 2000

Committee Asks for Changes to Special Ed. Rules
Regional Forums to Highlight Revenue Limits
Four Candidates for State Superintendent

Number 4 - August 10, 2000

Supreme Court Upholds School Financing System, 4-3
Court Also Sets "Sound Basic Education" Standard
Politics Puts Special Ed. Study in Limbo
Special Ed. Criteria Rules Forwarded to Legislature

Number 3 - April 17, 2000

Feingold Attempt to Fully Fund IDEA Fails
Legislative Session Ends
Two-thirds Funding in Jeopardy?

Number 2 - March 13, 2000

Education Committees Urge Study on Special Education
Rainwater asks Gov. Thompson to Raise SPED Profile
SAGE Conference Attracts Over 1,100
Legislative Session Ends March 30, Special Session Looms

Number 1 - February 8, 2000

Teacher Licensure Rules Adopted Despite Cost Concerns
Governor's State of the State speech promotes 'pay for performance'
Rainwater urges comprehensive review of special education funding system
Special Education Coalition Urges Council Study

Number 10 - December 17, 1999

Madison Delegation meets with School Board
Ellis Unveils School Funding Plan
BOE Weighs in on Teacher Licensure Rules
Governor Signs $4 Billion Pension Bill

Number 9 - October 27, 1999

Governor's Education Vetoes are Minimal
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin Listens to Special Ed. Funding Issues

Number 8 - October 7, 1999

Both Houses Finally Approve Budget, Send to Governor

Number 7 - July 23, 1999

Biennial Budget Reaches Impasse Again
School Funding Coalition Urges Increased Education Spending

Number 6 - June 24, 1999

Assembly GOP, Senate Dems Put Finishing Touches on Budget

Number 5 - May 25, 1999

Joint Finance Approves $35 Million for Special Education
Other Committee Changes to Governor's Proposed Budget
Special Education Coalition Lobbies Legislators

Number 4 - April 22, 1999

Parents, Teachers and Students Ask Finance Committee for Relief
Madison Students Lead
Policy Still in Budget
Hearing Set on Bill to Modify Social Promotion, Graduation Tests

Number 3 - March 30, 1999

MTI-MMSD Join Forces to Address Special Education Funding Shortfall
Fiscal Bureau Identifies 'Policy' to Remove from Budget
Strong Bipartisan Support for Overhaul of 4th, 8th and Graduation Tests
Budget Hearings Slated

Number 2 - February 23, 1999

Governor's Budget Continues Funding Freeze for Handicapped Aid
Local Control Issues
Social Promotion/Graduation Test
SAGE, Head Start
Revenue Limits
Teacher Licensing
Electronic Alert

Number 1 - January 23, 1999

School Funding Tops List of Critical Issues for MMSD
Declining enrollments, special education
Local Control
Students Work to Reform Revenue Caps
In Brief...

Number 4 - November 11, 1998

Democrats Recapture Control of State Senate
Thompson Congratulates Dems
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Voucher Case
Legislative Council Examines School Safety, Discipline
Electronic Call to Action!

Number 3 - October 7, 1998

Benson Outlines Agenda for the 1999-2001 Biennium

Number 2 - June 1, 1998

Contentious Milwaukee Schools Reform Bill Fails
Extraordinary Session Bills
School Board to Honor Retiring Legislators
Special Education Task Force

Number 1 - March 30, 1998

Extra Session Looms Pending April 7 Election
Last Minute Rush
Budget Review Education Proposals
Four Madison Legislators Leaving

Number 10 - November 18, 1997

Impact of MMSD's lobbying efforts exceeds $37 million over 4 years

Number 9 - October 15, 1997

Governor announces vetoes; state budget finalized
Lobbying effort saves SAGE funding
Other State Budget Items of Interest to Madison Schools

Number 8 - September 30, 1997

Legislature finally passes state budget; spending plan now in governor's hands
Budget makes improvements in state cap on school budgets
Other Education Highlights in 1997-99 State Budget
1997-99 State Budget - Results of MMSD Lobbying Efforts

Number 7 - July 8, 1997

Budget process moves at snail's pace in Senate, Assembly
Committee actions beneficial to Madison remain intact as houses mull budget

Number 6 - June 4, 1997

Finance committee provides full funding for SAGE program
Budget-writing panel approves help for districts with declining enrollment
Public school choice removed from budget bill

Number 5 - May 21, 1997

Lobbying efforts yield changes in TEACH Wisconsin technology plan
Legislative study committee endorses new aid program for low-income students

Number 4 - April 7, 1997

Distribution of TEACH Wisconsin technology grants unfair to Madison

Number 3 - March 31, 1997

Legislative Support for SAGE Builds
Finance Committee to Hold Budget Hearings Statewide

Number 2 - March 18, 1997

Governor's technology initiative falls short for Madison
Budget ignores flaws in revenue cap on school budgets

Number 1 - February 21, 1997

Governor's budget plan abandons school funding commitment
SAGE funding frozen; class size experiment at Glendale could suffer
Budget restricts local school referenda
"10 letters on property taxes for every letter on school quality," lawmakers say

Number 7 - December 9, 1996

State legislative elections yield more of the same, unless...
SAGE making a difference at Glendale
McCabe named to state study committee on school aid formula
Quick joins district's legislative office

Number 6 - October 1, 1996

DPI budget request highlights accountability, technology

Number 5 - June 10, 1996

State cost controls create growing financial dilemma for schools
Racine recall election sets stage for fall elections
Federal budget battle continues; Congress to consider 1997 funding levels

Number 4 - May 17, 1996

MMSD's proposed budget shows impact of increased state aid
Grassroots efforts lead to victory for public schools
Proposal to create new school districts dies
Other education bills that failed to pass before adjournment

Number 3 - April 9, 1996

Fitchburg, Maple Bluff to break away from MMSD?
School boards already have authority to require uniforms, but....
Effort to make English state's official language appears derailed
Public school choice bill remains stalled

Number 2 - February 22, 1996

Education Funding Alert - Action Needed Before March 15
Help Save Education from Unprecedented Cuts
Business Interests Dominate 'Top Ten' List of Lobby Groups
Citizen Group Launches Campaign Finance Reform Effort; Offers Chance to Get Involved

Number 1 - February 12, 1996

Governor Thompson proposes graduation exam
Congress, White House still at loggerheads over federal budget

Number 11 - November 14, 1995

Finance Committee Delays Action on Public School Choice Bill
Phonics Bill Passed by Assembly
Chvala Elected Minority Leader; Decker Added to Finance Panel
MMSD Legislative Office Goes On-Line

Number 10 - October 25, 1995

Assembly Committee Endorses Public School Choice
Choice Debate Moves to Finance Committee

Number 9 - August 28, 1995

Lobbying Effort Pays Dividends
Madison to Qualify for Children's At Risk Aid

Number 8 - July 28, 1995

Governor Signs Budget Pact; Lawsuits to Follow

Number 7 - July 6, 1995

Legislature Adopts Key Elements of Governor's Budget Plan
GOP Approves Far-reaching Educational Policy Changes

For More Information

Madison Metropolitan School District
Customer Service Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
Email: jquick@madison.k12.wi.us