Raise academic standards, starting with civics education. Teaching will be unbiased and not be political indoctrination.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Gov. campaign website RebeccaForGovernor.com
Apr 3, 2022
Rebecca Kleefisch:
Expand school choice so that parents have more control
As a mom, Rebecca wants a stronger Wisconsin for her daughters' future. To do that, Rebecca knows that we need to get back to school, back to work, and back the badge.
Only then will we give government back to the people. As governor, she'll expand school choice so that parents have more control over their kids' education.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Gov. campaign website RebeccaForGovernor.com
Apr 3, 2022
Rebecca Kleefisch:
Claimed cultural responsive teaching is critical race theory
Kleefisch released a video accusing state education officials of promoting critical race theory at a professional development conference. The sessions are about culturally responsive teaching, which has been incorporated in teaching for years to ensure
the backgrounds of all students are acknowledged in lessons. Kleefisch did not take the video down after learning the session's "CRT" did not refer to critical race theory. Instead, Kleefisch accused the educators without evidence of a cover up.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race
Dec 6, 2012
Sarah Godlewski:
Boosted funding for books and tech in school libraries
Sarah saw that Wisconsin values and fiscal responsibility were under attack.
- Delivered record funding for books and tech in school libraries
Source: 2021 Wisconsin Senate campaign website SarahForWisconsin.com
Apr 20, 2021
Sarah Godlewski:
COVID: $5.25 million disbursed for distance learning
As chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands and our school trust funds, I oversaw two record distributions to support
public schools and stepped up to make a special disbursement of $5.25 million when COVID hit for technology to help students participate in distance learning during the pandemic.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Senate: StateTreasurer.wi.gov press release
Apr 20, 2021
Scott Walker:
UW FlexOption: family-friendly flexible degree program
We also worked with the University of Wisconsin System on a new flexible degree program called UW FlexOption to help adult learners earn degrees in targeted fields. Nearly a quarter of all adults in this state have some college credit without a degree.
For many, time and money are the barriers to finishing that degree.I can relate. During my senior year at Marquette University, I was offered a full-time job at the American Red Cross.
I thought I would squeeze in a course here or there and finish things off in a year or two, but then Tonette and I got married. Then we had Matt. And then came Alex.
Next thing you know, you're putting all your extra time and money into your kids.
The UW FlexOption will provide a less time-consuming, less costly way to finish off a degree. It will help prepare more people to fill the critical needs we have in the workforce.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Wisconsin Legislature
Jan 15, 2013
Scott Walker:
Choose schools based on objective info, not Common Core
We will ensure every child--regardless of background or birthright--has access to a quality education. We will continue to empower families to make the choice that is right for their sons and daughters. Tonight, I call on the members of the state
Legislature to pass legislation ensuring objective information is available for each and every school receiving public funds in this state. Provide the information and allow parents to make the choice.
No need for bureaucrats or politicians to make that choice--I trust parents. Give them access to objective information and they will make the choice that is best for their children.
And speaking of what is best for our students,
I call on the members of the state Legislature to pass legislation making it crystal clear that no school district in the state is required to use Common Core standards. Going forward, I want to eliminate any requirement to use Common Core.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Wisconsin Legislature
Jan 13, 2015
Scott Walker:
Over past 4 years, graduation rates & ACT scores are up
The Wisconsin Comeback is working. School scores are up and more students are graduating.We empowered local school boards to hire and fire based on merit and pay based on performance, so they can keep the best and the
brightest in the classroom. And it's working.
Over the past four years, graduation rates are up. Third grade reading scores are up. ACT scores are up--and Wisconsin now ranks 2nd in the country.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Wisconsin Legislature
Jan 13, 2015
Scott Walker:
Continue with tuition freezes
And speaking of students, we helped make college more affordable at our University of Wisconsin campuses as we froze tuition--for the first time ever--four years in a row. During the ten years before our freeze, the average annual increase in tuition
within the University of Wisconsin System was over 8 percent. That was a 118 percent increase over a decade. Compared to the previous trend, our tuition freeze saves the average student more than $6,000 over four years.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Wisconsin legislature
Jan 19, 2016
Scott Walker:
Multiple strategies to increase accessibility of college
- We will allow for the full deduction of student loan interest on state income taxes.
- We will increase grants for technical colleges.
- We'll expand the emergency grants program for students at technical colleges and 2-year UW Colleges.
-
We'll increase internships within the UW System to help prepare students for future careers.
- We look to expand transparency by sending information to students each year about their current & projected student loan debt levels and education costs.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Wisconsin legislature
Jan 19, 2016
Scott Walker:
Private refinancing options for student loan debt
We need to focus on the price of going to college in the first place. For the past four years, we froze undergraduate, in-state tuition for students at all University of Wisconsin campuses. A typical student saves more than $6,300 over four years when
compared to the trend before the freeze. During the decade before our freeze, tuition went up 118%. Ironically, some of the people who were around when UW tuition went up more than 8% on average each year now want the state to create a new government
bureaucracy to refinance student loans.
We found a better way to help people with high debt. Our administration has worked with Wisconsin's very own financial institutions to promote refinancing options available to those with student loan debt.
Wisconsin credit unions and banks offer refinancing at rates that are the same or better than what is offered by many government-supported programs in other states.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Wisconsin Legislature
Jan 10, 2017
Scott Walker:
Help college students refinance loans
To make college more affordable for students and working families, we froze University of Wisconsin tuition for all undergraduates from our state for six years in a row. We're partnering with financial institutions to help graduates refinance student
loans. And financial assistance for students in need is at an all-time high, making higher education possible for thousands of students at colleges and universities across the state.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin State of the State address
Jan 24, 2018
Scott Walker:
Expand charters & vouchers; straight per-pupil support
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Increase by $1.4 billion. Increased $ for special education, kindergarten for 4 year olds, & teachers who work in high-poverty districts.
Scott Walker (R): Major cuts in 2011, more recent increases. Shifts from supporting low-income districts more to straight per-pupil support.
Q: Support expansion of charter schools & vouchers enabling parents getting public help for private school costs?
Evers: No. Would freeze enrollment in school choice programs & phase out unless public schools were fully funded.
Walker: Yes. Has expanded both charter schools & voucher programs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Scott Walker:
Froze UW tuition; cut $500 million from higher ed
Q: Increase state funding for higher education?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Will Increase investments in both our technical schools & University of Wisconsin (UW) system.
Scott Walker (R): Froze UW tuition. Cut $500 million from higher ed support. Recently restored $100 million.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Baldwin:
Opposes giving taxpayer dollars to private schools
Q: Provide vouchers to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?Tammy Baldwin (D): No.
Opposes "giving taxpayer dollars to private schools."
Leah Vukmir (R): Yes. "I want schools competing for enrollment."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Baldwin:
Refinance student loans at lower rates
Q: Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by increasing taxes on high earners?Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Voted for 2017 bill to do this. Also expand Pell grants.
Leah Vukmir (R): No. "We have to get the federal government out of the business of loans."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Baldwin:
Urges funding to help at-risk students' access to education
Senator Baldwin joined 40 senators in pressing congressional leadership to include in the upcoming coronavirus relief package significant funding for the Federal TRIO Programs, which are integral to supporting vulnerable students.
The letter comes as the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis continues to exacerbate inequities in education. "Low-income students, students with disabilities, first-generation students, youth who are homeless, have limited
English proficiency, and who are in foster care, students in rural communities, and military veterans face greater obstacles to their learning experiences and are often encountering a more substantial impact from COVID-19 . These students are at risk
of permanently losing a chance to pursue higher levels of education. A significant increase in overall program capacity would allow significantly more vulnerable students to receive support that is critical to their success and to the economy's revival."
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Senate campaign website baldwin.senate.gov
May 20, 2020
Tim Michels:
Support universal school choice; remove financial obstacles
Barriers to these programs must be removed so that all families have the choices that have been only available to some. I support universal school choice. Financial obstacles must be removed. Under my leadership,
Wisconsin families will have access to a school that meets their needs, regardless of their income or zip code.
The state must adopt legislation that sets higher standards for reading proficiency, drives proven science of reading instruction methods, and gives parents the transparency needed to choose
schools that follow the practices that work. Nothing is more important than ensuring every child can read at grade level or above. This must be a priority.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin campaign website MichelsForGovernor.com
Aug 12, 2022
Tim Michels:
Support parents rejecting Critical Race Theory
Parents must know if schools are focusing more on math and reading--or instead advancing a curriculum rooted in Critical Race Theory, one that identifies and divides students as either oppressors or oppressed. The many Wisconsin families who reject such
indoctrination need the ability to raise concerns without being shouted down. They need the power, if necessary, to enroll their children elsewhere.Incentivize students to pursue education in, and invest in training for, high-demand fields such as
healthcare, engineering, and technology and remain in the state after graduation.
Increase opportunities for K-12 students to participate in hands-on internships, youth apprenticeships, and programs such as Dual Enrollment.
Increase investments in the state's vocational technical training to enhance the hands-on skills of the Wisconsin workforce.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin campaign website MichelsForGovernor.com
Aug 12, 2022
Tim Michels:
Favors competition, taxpayer-supported vouchers
Michels wants families to have more choice in education and favors taxpayer-supported vouchers. "Competition is what makes our business better.
We compete fiercely with our competitors--that's what makes us a better company. I think if there's competition in the education system, the same thing will happen. Parents will have a right to choose."
Source: Eagle Herald on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race
May 1, 2022
Timothy Ramthun:
Fight to preserve education and stop the indoctrination
Timothy Ramthun has sat on the Kewaskum School Board for 9 years and has also been on the Assembly Committee on Education during his time in the assembly. He is keenly aware of all the issues that have been invading the education
of our children and has a proven track record of doing what is right for both the children and their parents. He will fight to preserve education and stop the indoctrination.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Governor website RamthunForGovernor.com
Mar 10, 2022
Tommy Thompson:
End Social Promotion; establish standards instead
In order to maintain the high level of achievement we have come to expect from our students, the days of promoting students to the next grade solely because of their age - "social promotion" - is over. Gov. Thompson believes we owe it to our students,
parents, schools and communities to guarantee that public education in Wisconsin has meaning. Students should be advanced to the next grade level based on academic performance that meets local expectations, not based on their age or social skills.
Under the governor's plan, local districts would be required to adopt policies prohibiting social promotion and establish standards by which this is accomplished using the fourth- and eight-grade tests. The locally developed
academic standards will allow schools to gauge student performance against a set benchmark. Students who do not meet local criteria will not be advanced to the next grade.
Source: Wisconsin Governor's web site, "Budget"
Dec 25, 2000
Tommy Thompson:
Created the nation's first private school choice program
Frustrated that low-income parents in Milwaukee had few education alternatives for their children because of their economic status, Thompson pursued a landmark school choice program that empowered those parents to determine which school their children
would attend.In 1990, Thompson created the nation's first private school choice program. This initial program allowed low-income parents in Milwaukee to send their children to a private non-sectarian school if they chose. This program was an important
first step to providing low-income families the same educational opportunities available to families with greater resources.
In 1995, Thompson expanded the private school choice program to include religious schools-another national first. The expansion
gave parents a true choice in schools, including more schools in walking distance of their homes. Thompson believes it makes no sense to bus poor Milwaukee children to a failing school across town when a very good school exists down the street.
Source: Wisconsin Governor's web site, "Budget"
Dec 25, 2000
Tommy Thompson:
Instituted $5,100 vouchers for religious schools
The religious school choice program gives vouchers to parents, who then choose the school for their child. The money follows the child and is not to exceed the tuition costs of the private school. The amount of the voucher in 1999-2000 will be about
$5,100 per pupil. (Including those state aids and local taxes, the cost of educating each child in Milwaukee's public schools is about $7,500.) If the actual cost at a chosen private school is less than $5,100, the voucher payment for that child is
reduced accordingly. To be eligible for the program, a student must come from a family whose income is at 175% of the poverty level or below - about $29,225 for a family of four.
After the religious school choice law passed just weeks before the
start of school in 1995, about 3,000 low-income parents moved quickly to sign their children up for the religious school choice program. "Religious values are not our problem," Gov. Thompson said. "Drop-out rates and low test scores are."
Source: Wisconsin Governor's web site, "Budget"
Dec 25, 2000
Tommy Thompson:
Instituted statewide Charter School system
Wisconsin was one of the first states to have a statewide charter school program, providing the ultimate in local control - the ability for parents, teachers and the community to literally create their own school. This gives communities
remarkable flexibility to meet the unique needs of their students, a stark contrast to the one-size-fits-all education system of the past. School districts can create unlimited charter schools under the law.
Source: Wisconsin Governor's web site, "Budget"
Dec 25, 2000
Tommy Thompson:
School funding & mandates from states, not Feds
Question 2. Are you willing to help eliminate federal mandates and federal funding for education and reallocate those funds to the states?
Mark Neumann: Yes
Tommy Thompson: Yes
Source: 2012 Wisconsin Tea Party Senate Debate Questionnaire
Aug 13, 2012
Tony Evers:
AdWatch: should have fired teacher caught viewing porn
The main attack line from the Republican Party of Wisconsin against Evers during the primary race has been about Middleton-Cross Plains School District science teacher Andrew Harris who was caught viewing pornographic materials on his work computer
during the school day.The state party already made the Harris case into a $500,000 ad buy purchased before the race was even called, signaling the case will be a cornerstone of Republicans' strategy to beat Evers.
Republicans have argued Evers should have revoked Harris' teacher's license, but Evers has said state law wouldn't allow him to at the time Harris' case came before the Department of Public Instruction because students were not exposed to the material.
Evers and lawmakers worked to change state law to give Evers the authority to revoke teaching licenses in cases like Harris'.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 2018 Wisconsin governor race
Aug 15, 2018
Tony Evers:
Increase school funding $1.4B; freeze charters
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Increase by $1.4 billion. Increased $ for special education, kindergarten for 4 year olds, & teachers who work in high-poverty districts.
Scott Walker (R): Major cuts in 2011.
Q: Support expansion of charter schools & vouchers?
Evers: No. Would freeze enrollment in school choice programs & phase out unless public schools were fully funded.
Walker: Yes. Has expanded both charter schools & voucher programs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tony Evers:
Increase investments in our technical schools & UW system
Q: Increase state funding for higher education?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Will Increase investments in both our technical schools & University of Wisconsin (UW) system.
Scott Walker (R): Froze UW tuition. Cut $500 million from higher ed support. Recently restored $100 million.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tony Evers:
$600M to restore special needs funding
We're going to make sure that we have resources to support our kids with special needs. For the past decade, we've not only cut funding for public schools, we've failed to fully fund services for special education. This has forced local
school districts and taxpayers to squeeze resources from other areas to provide these critical services. Our budget will provide an unprecedented $600 million-dollar increase in special education funding.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 22, 2019
Tony Evers:
Education debt affects not just students, but their families
We can't continue to ignore the elephant in the room of student debt. I will be creating a Task Force on Student Debt in Wisconsin. We have to work on making higher education available to more folks in our state. We have to understand
how education-related debt affects not just our students, but their families, too. And we have to address the fact that student debt is preventing folks from buying a car, starting a business, saving for retirement, and starting a family.
Source: 2020 Wisconsin State of the State address
Jan 22, 2020
Tony Evers:
Tuition freeze at state university for in-state students
I'm also announcing I am providing a $25 million investment in our University of Wisconsin System so that they can use these dollars to fund the tuition freeze through the end of the biennium. With these additional funds, the UW System and
Board of Regents can ensure that tuition prices for our in-state students will not go up for the next two years, giving our students and their families one less thing to worry about.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Feb 15, 2022
Tim Michels:
Parents decide how to teach history, not woke educrats
One question addressed the issue of how to teach history in light of widespread Republican criticism of academic lessons on systemic racism. Incumbent governor Tony Evers said teachers should continue to provide a full accounting of history, citing the
World War II-era internment of Japanese Americans as an example. Republican challenger Tim Michels blasted "woke educrats" being gatekeepers to such decisions and said parents should decide how history is taught.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 14, 2022
Tony Evers:
Teach a full accounting of history in our schools
One question addressed the issue of how to teach history in light of widespread Republican criticism of academic lessons on systemic racism. Evers said teachers should continue to provide a full accounting of history, citing the
World War II-era internment of Japanese Americans as an example. Republican challenger Tim Michels blasted "woke educrats" being gatekeepers to such decisions and said parents should decide how history is taught.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 14, 2022
Tony Evers:
Invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming
We're going to make targeted investments to improve reading and literacy outcomes and expand financial literacy curriculum across our state. We're going to invest $20 million to increase literacy-related programming and implement
evidence-based reading practices across Wisconsin. And our "Do the Math" initiative will help ensure our kids have the tools and skills to make smart budgeting and financial decisions to prepare for their future.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 24, 2023
Eric Hovde:
Student debt forgiveness is unfair at every single level
Student Financial Aid: Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?Eric Hovde (R): No. "It's unfair at every single level." Biden's debt forgiveness plan "does NOTHING to address the cost
of higher education."
Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. It "has the potential to provide significant relief to millions of borrowers." Sponsored legislation in 2022 to provide student loan forgiveness to beginning farmers and ranchers.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Eric Hovde:
Worry about the basics, not gender-inclusive policies
Hovde also brought up fairness when talking about allowing transgender boys to play in girls' sports. He said his daughter was a standout athlete in high school, but that her sporting career would have been dramatically impacted if she
competed against athletes who were born males.Hovde said that public schools should be more worried about teaching students about math, reading, and writing than about gender-inclusive policies.
Source: WFRV CBS on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 1, 2024
Tammy Baldwin:
Create a debt-free path to nursing degrees
Baldwin: We need to focus on the workforce. We need to have multiple pathways to get a great paying job. Caring for our seniors. I believe in apprenticeships. I believe in the programs that are starting nursing programs in
high school and then creating a debt-free path to getting a higher degree. There's a lot we can do and there's a lot that has already been advanced into congress to do just that.
Hovde: The problem is we have a lot of people out of the workforce today. We've got to get more people back into the workforce. That's an important part. A lot of nursing homeowners are struggling with the massive amounts of regulations that
they are also dealing with Senator Baldwin and politicians that continue to heap on them. So we have to take a private-sector approach to try to drive more employment into that sector.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026