Accountability and School Choice

Jim Doyle's call for accountability in the School Choice program is a ruse to cover his being beholden to the wishes of the state teachers' union.

He uses old stories of abuse in the program and ignores new accountability measures are already in force in the School Choice program.

According to School Choice Wisconsin:

In response to legislative requests, school choice supporters and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) joined forces in 2003 to strengthen oversight of private schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP).

The result is a new law Act 155 that is working. DPI has used it to remove five schools from the program and to keep fifty-one schools from entering the program.

What is Act 155?
Act 155 became law in March 2004, following approval by large bipartisan votes in the Legislature.
Act 155 arose from a joint effort by Milwaukee's school choice coalition and DPI. Published reports in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provided the impetus.

Has Act 155 worked?
Within a year of enactment, Act 155 enabled DPI to remove five schools from the MPCP.

What are the major provisions of Act 155?

1. Schools in the MPCP must be financially viable and follow sound fiscal practices.
2. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may bar a school if it misrepresents information to the state, fails to refund overpayments, or fails to meet other statutory requirements.
3. The Superintendent also may terminate a school's participation if conditions at a school pose a health or safety threat.

The rules will make Act 155 an even more effective regulatory tool for three reasons:

1. The rules focus on accurate enrollment audits. State payments are based on enrollment in private schools and new enrollment requirements will help detect problems early.
2. The rules are reasonable. All schools must show that they follow some basic financial practices. However, DPI may seek added information from schools where problems arise.
3. DPI has discretion in how it treats schools with problems. DPI will be able to allow schools to fix minor concerns but will be able to remove schools with major problems.

What other regulations apply?
In addition to complying with Act 155, schools in the MPCP must:

• Meet all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.
• Comply with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Follow uniform financial accounting standards.
• File an independent financial audit bcertifytifi ed public accountant.

Doyle is trying to play a game of chicken. He knows Milwaukee area Republican lawmakers favor School Choice. He's hoping to leverage that support to get additional funding for the Milwaukee Public School System (Read: The Teachers).

It's shameful.

I still predict Doyle will blink and at least support a one year expansion of the program. Thanks to Talk Radio, MMAC and others the heat is getting turned up.

More developments every day..