See all bi-weekly Wisconsin Public Education Network Action Newsletters on our website at WisconsinNetwork.org/Action-News. If you have news, actions, achievements, or updates you’d like us to include in our next newsletter, submit them at this form!
Read on for news that matters to Wisconsin kids and their public schools, action opportunities you can take right now, and local action spotlights.
NEWS THAT MATTERS TO KIDS & PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- LOCAL ELECTIONS GROW NEAR
Voters will choose a new state superintendent, as well as judges, school board members, and other measures in the April 6 spring election. For some offices, including state superintendent, there will be a primary election on February 16. REMINDER: IF YOU REQUESTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR EVERY ELECTION IN 2020, YOU NEED TO REQUEST ONE AGAIN FOR THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR. Visit MyVote.WI.gov to check your registration status and request your absentee ballot! - CANDIDATE FORUM RECAPPED ON BustED PENCILS PODCAST
Missed our State Superintendent Candidate Forum earlier this month? Want to hear what others have to say about it? BustED Pencils podcast went over it last night at 7:00 with guest host Teacher Joanna. - GOV. EVERS’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Governor Evers delivered a virtual State of the State address on January 12. It is archived on YouTube.
ACTION OPPORTUNITIES
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- JAM-PACKED SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
There are a L O T of workshops, meetings, events, and action opportunities coming up in the next month for Network partners and supporters of Wisconsin’s public schools and budget justice.
We are continuing to add these to our website, update our calendar, and create registration forms for these events, and we appreciate your patience if there are slight delays as we migrate to a new system.
SAVE THESE DATES:- THIS SATURDAY, January 23, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Budget Action Workshop with the Wisconsin Public Education Network and the ACLU of Wisconsin. Register here.
- WEDNESDAY, January 27, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: School Board Matters. The first in our 2021 Closing the Gaps Workshop Series, this will be an action-focused panel discussion with board members & local advocates to discuss the challenges of making equity and what’s best for kids the focus of contentious spring elections in the age of COVID-19 and political divides. Register here.
- MONDAY, February 1, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.: Wisconsin Public Education Network Regular Partners’ Meeting. These will continue to be held on the first Monday of each month, featuring statewide and regional updates and a casual agenda. Registration link coming soon.
- THURSDAY, February 11, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.: School Finance 101 with Dr. Julie Underwood. Part of our 2021 Closing the Gaps Workshop Series, an overview of how school funding works and what needs fixing for lawmakers, legislative staff, school board members and all advocates. Register here.
- SATURDAY, February 20: Budget Debrief & Local Action Workshop. Stay tuned for details on and registration for this workshop, as Joint Finance Committee hearings grow nearer and the fight for budget justice for our kids continues.
- THURSDAY, February 25, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.: School Finance 102 with Dr. Julie Underwood and DPI’s Bob Soldner. Part of our 2021 Closing the Gaps Workshop Series, a deeper dive into particular school funding issues in Wisconsin. Register here.
- …and more to come!
- EDCAMP’S SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY
We loved this event last year! The second annual EdCamp Social Justice is taking place on Saturday, February 13 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register via Eventbrite here and, if you buy a T-shirt, proceeds will go directly to support the Sun Prairie High School Black Students’ Union.
LOCAL ACTION SPOTLIGHT: UPDATES FROM AROUND THE STATE
Statewide
- MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
Advocates observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18 with local events, actions, and learning opportunities around the state. We encourage you to share photos with us on social media of you and your community working for educational equity this week. - Citizen Advocates for Public Education is a partner of the Keep COVID Out Community Coalition in Lake Mills. Check out this coverage of their efforts on WMTV News!
CHANGEMAKER APPRECIATION
Spotlight on Charles Uphoff, who has put together a very useful set of graphics and data on the growth in students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, and a comparison of state aid provided to public schools versus private voucher schools. See the free and reduced lunch needs here:
Charles’s data collection also found that some enrollment and free and reduced lunch eligibility changes in public school districts have come along with significantly less state aid per student than similarly populated private voucher schools. More comprehensive data is available upon request.
Thanks for your research and dedication, Charles!
PARTNER & ACTION RESOURCES
