Rep. Armstrong Votes For Education Bills

MADISON, WI – The State Assembly has approved a legislative package designed to improve school accountability and student outcomes. State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) voted for each proposal.

“During his budget address the day before, Governor Evers laid out his spending proposals, including for K-12,” Representative Armstrong said. “Regardless of the final numbers at the end of the budget process, it’s important that schools be held accountable to students, their families, and community members.”

Assembly Bill 1 undoes a number of changes the Department of Public Instruction made to school and school district accountability reports, often called “school report cards”. These changes, about which even Governor Evers expressed concerns, present an inaccurate picture of student and school performance and made it difficult to track progress (or lack thereof) across years.
Assembly Bill 2 requires school boards to adopt policies to prohibit students from using cellphones and other wireless devices during class, with certain exceptionsk.
Assembly Bill 3 requires the teaching of cursive writing to elementary students.
Assembly Bill 4 requires schools to include civics in their curricula, including a half-credit in high school.
Assembly Bill 5 requires school boards to respond within 14 days to district residents’ requests to inspect curricula or instructional materials.
Assembly Bill 6 requires school boards to direct at least 70% of their expenditures toward direct classroom expenses, including teachers’ salaries.

“Parents need to know that their kids’ schools are, in fact, teaching their kids,” Representative Armstrong said. “Today’s Assembly votes will improve transparency – both by fixing the school report cards and by requiring districts to make timely responses to curriculum inquiries – and will ensure that education dollars are actually spent on education. In addition, studies have shown that limiting the use of wireless devices in the classroom improves student performance and mental health.”