School Voucher Climate Commentary
“My main concern is that right now we are at a 20-year low in funding for public education so our public schools are already in a state of crisis,” Moffit said.
Sierra disagrees and said vouchers are really about choice.
“We pay taxes also,” Sierra said. “Nothing against public schools, but we decided we wanted our children to come here. So why not use the vouchers and receive the help from the state like every other parent is receiving help?”
The plan faces an unclear future in the Legislature, with both Republicans and Democrats concerned about the funding structure in the plan.
The governor defended the plan in interviews Wednesday, calling it “a workable” plan.
Madison’s Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham blasted the school choice proposal in a statement Tuesday night.
Wednesday she said changes proposed would make it difficult, if not impossible, to do what is right for the district.
“When the announcement like the one that that we heard last night occurs, there’s no doubt that it feels like a punch to the stomach,” Cheatham said.
Cheatham called the political environment at the Capitol unsettling and distracting, and said the expansion of vouchers is very concerning to the future of the school district’s budget.
Madison spends around $15,000 per student, annually, roughly double the national average. Yet, it has long supported disastrous reading results.
