A Penny for Kids

For two decades, Wisconsin’s school-funding system has failed its children. Over that time — because of the funding system and because of misplaced budget priorities — the state has also paid a smaller and smaller share of the cost of the quality education our children need to succeed.

In other words, we have two problems to solve: Wisconsin needs a new way to fund public schools that is rational and aligns resources with the needs of young people and high expectation and rigorous standards. Equally as important, however, Wisconsin needs to make an investment in its public schools that will result in all children having the opportunities they need to learn in school and succeed in life.

A good start toward solving the first challenge is “Fair Funding for Our Future,” a reform plan offered by State Schools Superintendent Tony Evers. Without more resources, though, Evers’ plan is a small step indeed. The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools has offered those resources through “A Penny For Kids,” a campaign to raise Wisconsin’s sales tax by one-cent to “fund” a reform plan and to make sure schools have the resources they need to guarantee all of our children a quality public education.