Wis. Voucher Schools Face Tougher Accountability

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law March 16, 2004 a measure that requires additional accountability to protect the health, safety and welfare of students and families who participate in Milwaukee's voucher program.

The law gives the Department of Public Instruction the authority to enforce the accountability measures.

"Milwaukee's voucher schools should be held accountable to taxpayers using the same standards that public schools use," said Stan Johnson, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC). "This new law is a step in the right direction."

Assembly Bill 847, the voucher school accountability bill, became law after a series of events confirmed the need for such a measure.

In February, Circuit Judge Maxine White ordered the closing of a school participating in the voucher program, Mandella School of Science and Math. The school is accused of financial mismanagement after evidence surfaced that voucher funds were reportedly used to buy Mercedes Benz automobiles.

In 2003, another voucher school, Alex's Academics of Excellence, was in the news for financial mismanagement. The school was evicted from its location for failure to pay rent even though it received $2.8 million in payments from the state. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, two former administrators at Alex's have accused James A. Mitchell, the school's chief executive officer (a convicted rapist), "of financial mismanagement and allowing employees to carry and use marijuana and cocaine while at the school."

"WEAC supports the governor's decision to make this bill law," Johnson said. "But voucher schools should also be required to take the same academic tests and meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards mandated on public schools under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act."

Source: Wisconsin Education Association Council

October 2004