Walker’s Ideological Civil War Delivers Blow to Education in Wisconsin

New Report Reveals Depth of Walker’s Damage to Wisconsin Classrooms

MILWAUKEE– Tom Barrett today blasted Scott Walker’s historic cuts to education on the heels of a new report detailing the loss of teachers in Wisconsin in the aftermath of Walker’s budget.

“When he made the deepest cuts to education in Wisconsin history, Gov. Walker told the people of our state that those costs would be offset by destroying collective bargaining rights,” said Barrett. “Today’s report shows how empty that promise was.”

In his 2011-13 state budget, Gov. Walker pushed through the largest education cuts in Wisconsin history, slashing $1.6 billion in funding to schools compared to then-current law. A new report released today reveals that Wisconsin suffered a loss of 2,312 full-time positions in state’s 424 districts over the 2011-’12 school year. This includes a decrease of 1,446 teacher positions. In fact, 73% of school districts across the state reported cutting teachers this year.

“The consequences of gutting education are clear: larger class sizes, reductions in academic and extra-curricular offerings, and an overall decline in the quality of education in Wisconsin,” said Barrett. “Classrooms that work for are essential to Wisconsin’s future economic success, and they create opportunities for our citizens today and tomorrow. As governor, I will end Walker’s ideological war on education, and restore these investments that are key to Wisconsin’s future.”

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