Recall Win May Boost Wis. Governor's K-12 Clout
Having beaten recall, Walker mulls action
Fresh off a victory in Wisconsin's June 5 recall election, Republican Gov. Scott Walker could have a fresh mandate to pursue significant changes to the state's school system and the night of his re-election stressed "education reform" as a major priority.
Advocates for those changes are hoping Mr. Walker focuses on expanding the role of charter schools and school choice programs in the state, initiatives he has supported in the past both in statements and through new laws. A fight over such issues, as well as the state's polarized political climate, also could complicate efforts to increase K-12 funding, which was cut significantly in the biennial 2011-13 budget.
The Republican governor's victory over Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, by a vote of 53 percent to 46 percent, also represents a bitter disappointment for the state teachers' unions, aft-Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which battled to have Mr. Walker ousted, although the unions expect the fight over...
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