American Federation for Children Praises Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee on Charter School Expansion

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation for Children (AFC) praised members of Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee on adopting two amendments to a key piece of legislation that would make it easier to create high-performing public charter schools in Wisconsin.  

The legislation (SB 22/AB 51), which passed the committee on a 12-3 vote, creates a state charter school authorizing board that can approve new charter schools in Wisconsin.

The American Federation for Children, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Wisconsin Charter Schools Association, have advocated for the charter school expansion throughout the 2011-12 legislative session.

"We applaud SB 22's authors for introducing this legislation and working with community leaders on strengthening it," said Brian Pleva of the American Federation for Children.

The first AFC-supported amendment allows operators of high-performing charter schools that are located in school districts with otherwise low graduation rates to more easily create more high-quality public charter schools.

"We believe that when public charter schools like Milwaukee College Preparatory School and Bruce Guadalupe Community School have already demonstrated success," said Brian Pleva of the American Federation for Children, "the legislature should be helping them create more high-quality classrooms for students."

The other amendment ensures that at least one member of the seven-member authorizing board represents independent charter schools.

Both amendments passed the committee on 12-3 votes.  The Joint Finance Committee's actions yesterday on SB 22 and AB 51 pave the way for a debate and vote in the full Senate and Assembly.

SOURCE American Federation for Children