Quick Links
- Restoring Educational Standards
- Guidelines for Cell Phone Restrictions
- Ensuring Pivotal Financing
- Follow Along on Facebook
- Contact Me
Restoring Educational Standards
The Assembly was in session this week and passed a series of education-related bills. The proposals now move onto the State Senate for consideration before making their way to the Governor’s desk.
We started with Assembly Bill 1, which reinstates Wisconsin’s educational standards consistent with the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This legislation comes in light of the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) recent decision to abandon the national measure and lower the standards for educational success.
DPI’s decision to lower standards has confused parents and educators alike, making it difficult to compare results over time and measure improvement or decline. The softening of language and semantic victories are not conducive to actual success for students.
DPI can egregiously claim that student proficiency increased from 33% in 2022 to 52% in 2024, but the national standards this bill restores show the actual rate went from 33% to 31%. Literacy is no less important now than two years ago, and these students are no more college or career ready than before, but that is how they are treated.
This policy is consequential, as utilizing legitimate metrics is imperative for properly responding to educational challenges. That is true for parents determining how their child is performing, school officials determining what works best in their classrooms, and legislators debating investments in education.
Assembly Bill 1 would restore legitimacy to our standards and lead to better decisions and outcomes for students.
Guidelines for Cell Phone Restrictions
The Assembly also passed legislation which sets a standard for restricting cell phone use during classroom instructional time by requiring school boards to implement such policies.
Research shows a clear link between an increased use of cell phones among teenagers and a decline in test scores and mental health. While many school districts have already adopted policies to limit cell phone use, this legislation aims to ensure consistent enforcement of these rules across classrooms.
Similar initiatives have been implemented in other states and large school districts nationwide, which have reported a decline in bullying, increased classroom engagement, and improved test scores, particularly among low-achieving students.
The bill allows exceptions for emergencies and medical issues, specifies that it only applies to instructional time, and exempts school-issued technology from the new state restrictions. Local districts can impose stricter regulations if they choose.
Public education is Wisconsin’s largest general appropriation, accounting for 31% of the state budget. Assembly Bill 2 would ensure this financial investment is met with a policy that supports the best outcomes for our kids.
Ensuring Pivotal Financing
Lastly, we passed Assembly Bill 6 to require at least 70% of a school district’s operating expenditures to go towards direct classroom expenses.
Over the last two decades, we’ve witnessed a troubling trend in education. Administrative hiring has ballooned, while student enrollment has declined. Our schools have seen increased funding to teach fewer students, and a declining performance among these students. If more investment is not yielding better results, change is necessary.
This legislation ensures funding goes directly to students and teachers instead of administrative overhead. It also mandates administrators don’t see a salary increase unless teacher salaries increase by the same percentage.
The bill exempts certain expenses from the equation, including costs for transportation and state-mandated non-teaching staff such as nurses or nutritional services. Importantly, it includes a phase-in process to avoid penalizing districts that will soon be compliant.
Assembly Bill 6 will ensure that our students receive the best possible support with the investment made in their education.
Follow Along on Facebook
Want to hear more about what’s going on in Madison and the district? Follow my Facebook page for weekly updates and to learn more about bills, events, and efforts I’m involved in. Find my Facebook page here: facebook.com/RepSteffen/.
Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at [email protected].
