MMSD Today

News and information for staff members and the Madison community

Vol. I No. 2 - December 19, 2005

Lawmakers Propose UW System Dane County Charter School

$story_data->{subheadline}

Joe Quick, Legislative Liaison

Two Milwaukee-area legislators have proposed allowing the UW System to operate or contract for the operation of a charter school with the approval of the Board of Regents. According to the Legislative Reference Bureau analysis, "the school must be located in Dane County and may accept any pupil who resides in Dane County. The school may accommodate up to 700 pupils in its first school year (which may be no sooner than 2007-08), and up to 1,400 pupils thereafter."

AB 768/SB 302 is being advanced by a group interested in establishing the International Academy: Madison Campus in 2007-08; however, the legislation simply gives chartering authority to the UW Board of Regents and makes no mention of any specific charter school. Neither of the bill's two authors, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), or any of the co-sponsors of the bill, represent Dane County.

At a public hearing before the Assembly Education Reform Committee, Dean Gorrell, Verona district administrator, said, "What concerns me greatly is that this school won't have any accountability (without school board oversight)." Gorrell said transportation was a critical issue. "If parents must provide transportation, I have concerns this will be de facto segregation."

Gorrell asked how students would be selected and charged that "it doesn't seem the information has been forthcoming" from proponents. He also wondered if students in special education would attend the proposed school.

UW-Madison or the UW System has not requested charter school authority. In a letter provided to Assembly Education Reform committee members, UW System President Kevin Reilly said, "The primary mission of the University of Wisconsin System administration is to facilitate public higher education campus synergies, review and approve academic programs, and achieve administrative efficiencies through collaboration. Up to this point, chartering K-12 schools has been a campus decision, based on enabling legislation."

Reilly said the Board of Regents is neutral on the issue, but wrote, "The University of Wisconsin System administration does not seem to be an appropriate sponsor of an independent K-12 charter school." The committee must vote on the measure before it can be referred to the full Assembly for debate.

The bills are opposed by the: School Administrators Alliance, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Milwaukee Public Schools, Janesville and Madison Schools. As of December 15, no lobbying group or individual registered with the State Ethics Board has indicated support for the measure.

Web Version

Last Updated: Tue Mar 28 12:17:36 2006
Comments: comments@madison.k12.wi.us
Web Publisher: Chris Burch, cburch@madison.k12.wi.us
Technical Issues: webmaster@madison.k12.wi.us