The News: The Senate Committee on Education is holding a public hearing on a series of important K-12 education reform bills, including a parent bill of rights, an expansion of the parental choice program, and legislation to expand charter school options. WILL Director of Education Policy, Libby Sobic, will testify, along with engaged Wisconsin parents who are seeking more transparency, greater involvement, and more options.
Wisconsin Parents Speak Out: “It is the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of our children. However, we have witnessed over the past several years, parents have been shut out of classrooms and our rights slowly stripped away. Parents have lost trust with our government school system and are now demanding change. This legislation is needed to regain our fundamental rights and liberties as parents, and to preserve a high-quality education for all children.”
Alyssa Pollow, Germantown, Wis.
Testifying on Parent Bill of Rights
“Today parents are sending a clear message: we do not co-parent with our school districts. We want to be partners with teachers and school administrators. This bill will help Wisconsin parents take back power from the public-school establishment, ultimately empowering parents and improving outcomes for children. This legislation provides the opportunity for you to affirm the authority that should naturally exist between parent, child, and school.”
Scarlett Johnson, Mequon, Wis.
Testifying on Parent Bill of Rights
“This bill allows the school choice program to find its true place in the education landscape in the State of Wisconsin. We won’t know that saturation point unless we actually let school choice be a viable alternative for all. Expansion of the choice program will be money well spent to focus on the fundamentals of preparing students for the real world.”
Scott Frostman, Baraboo, Wis.
Testifying on school choice expansion
The Reforms: The following bills, under consideration before the Senate Committee on Education, passed the Assembly on Tuesday:
AB 963 | SB 962 (Parent Bill of Rights)
AB 963 establishes a statutory and legal right for parents and guardians to make the best decisions for an individual child and their education. The legislation includes:
- Right to review educational materials and access to learning materials
- Right to determine the names and pronouns used for the child while at school
- Right to opt out and be notified about educational topics
- Right to be notified about surveys to students
- Right to be notified about student safety and incidents of violence
- Establishes a legal right to direct the education of their child
AB 967 | SB 965
AB 967 will require school districts to authorize existing high-performing charter schools that want to expand and add additional campuses.
AB 968 | SB 964
AB 968 will create a charter school authorizing board so more independent charter schools can be authorized in Wisconsin.
AB 970 | SB 974
AB 970 removes barriers to the parental choice programs and empowers parents to customize their child’s education in 2022-2023.