See all monthly 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
EDUCATOR & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK The first week of May is Educator and Staff Appreciation Week. We join Wisconsinites from every community in our steadfast appreciation for—and commitment to—the incredible educators who work with Wisconsin’s children and bring our public schools to life. See our Appreciation in Action toolkit here, which can and should be used year-round, and some specific actions below.
SOME PUBLIC SCHOOLS CUT STAFF A lack of funding from the state to help school districts afford fair compensation for educators and staff amid a pandemic, increased needs, and tumultuous enrollment numbers has led some school districts to cut staff in Wisconsin, according to WPR: “‘We had an (education assistant, or EA) who was working with a student on job skills with a student who had a job at Wal-Mart, and the student at the Wal-Mart job was getting paid more than the EA who was supporting them, per hour,’ said Jones. ‘When you have a situation like that, that obviously sends a huge message to the EA that your work isn’t valued.'”
SIGN THE PETITION DEMANDING INFLATIONARY INCREASES Wisconsin educators and students deserve a lot more than zero increase in per-pupil spending from the state. But as it stands now, that’s what they’ll get when they go back to school in the fall. By sitting on a historic state surplus and not increasing per-pupil funds, the state legislature has let public schools and the students and staff inside them fall further behind—at a time of massive inflation. Put your #AppreciationInAction for educators and staff by signing this petition and letting lawmakers know you expect fully-funded public schools.
CHARTER WORKSHOP MAY 18 Join Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr. of UW-Madison for a free, virtual conversation on the current landscape and future of charter schools in Wisconsin on Wednesday, May 18 from 6-7:15pm. Register here. This is part of our 2022 Accountability in Action workshop series.
TEACHER SALARY PROJECT Want to learn more about the year-round effort to support public school educators and staff? Read about the Teacher Salary Project here.
FULFILL THE PROMISE Take your advocacy federal! Educators, staff and students need the federal government to make good on its decades-old promise to fully resource the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensure that students with all abilities can learn and thrive in our public schools. Learn more here.
SUMMER SUMMIT UPDATES We are excited that for the first time ever, childcare will be available at our July 21 Summer Summit in Eau Claire! Get your tickets (just $25) and read more about this positive event at WisconsinNetwork.org/Summit. We’re excited to hear from over 30 world-class advocates and experts in breakout sessions and are putting together a featured panel on how to put #AccountabilityInAction regarding education policy, funding, and public dollars spent on private schools.
