The Racine Parental Choice Program: Myths

Myth:

The Racine school choice program will take money out of the Racine Unified

School District (RUSD).

Fact:

RUSD will not lose a penny of spending authority because of the choice program.

The Racine program will be funded in part through the RUSD tax levy at the rate of

$2,474 per-pupil. Total Racine Unified spending is not impacted. RUSD only loses

spending authority when students choose to leave the district for any reason.

Myth:

Racine taxpayers will pay a $10 million voucher tax.

Fact:

The property taxes used to pay for the Racine choice program are $1,053 less for

each choice pupil than for a RUSD pupil ($2,474 vs. $3,527). In addition, the $10

million estimate assumes that more than 4,000 students will be using the choice program

in three years. In Milwaukee, a school district four times the size of RUSD, it took eight

years for the program to grow to 4,000 pupils.

Myth:

The Racine Choice Program will “cream” Racine Unified’s best students.

Fact:

This has not happened in Milwaukee. The School Choice Demonstration Project,

the official evaluator of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, concluded in a 2011

report that “far from skimming the ‘cream of the crop,’ the Choice program serves a

group of students who are more disadvantaged educationally than the average MPS

student.”

Myth:

Students using the choice program would have been in private schools anyway.

Fact:

Research suggests that families making under 300% of the federal poverty level,

the income threshold for school choice in Racine, are unlikely to purchase private

education. According to the School Choice Demonstration Project, “…research

indicates that no more than 10 percent of low-income urban students attend private

schools without the assistance of a voucher.” While there are different definitions of

low-income, 300% of the federal poverty level is the highest eligibility threshold to

receive BadgerCare in Wisconsin.

Myth:

RUSD will be unable to find savings when students leave the district for choice.

Fact:

The state funding formula protects districts from the fiscal impact of losing

students. RUSD will not lose full spending authority for students that leave the district

until three year after they are gone.

Myth:

Schools in the choice program will not serve special needs students.

Fact:

Schools that participate in the Racine choice program cannot screen students for

special needs. The School Choice Demonstration Project found that almost nine percent

of students using the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have special nee

Journal Times Election Info

The Victim Speaks Out

Patrick McIlheran’s Column

The race for Wisconsin Supreme Court is non-partisan.  There are 4 candidates running for the seat currently held by Judge Randy Prosser.  This means you may end up with 2 liberals to choose from in April if we conservatives stay home on Tuesday.

Other races of interest include the City of Racine Mayoral primary.  Voter turnout is expected to be 10%, so it is critical we get to the polls on Tuesday!

Link to Racine Journal Times Primary Election articles

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Endorsement

Justice Prosser goes to a TEA Party

Meet the Men Who Want to be Mayor

Racine Uncovered Endorsement of Eric Marcus for Mayor

Complete survey results, including essay questions:  Candidate Questionnaire Updated 9 13 10

Note:  Surveys were updated to include Dave Westlake, 9-13-10 9:15 PM

For Immediate Release

August 31, 2010            

CLIMATE EXPERT NIGER INNIS TO JOIN RACINE TEA PARTY

Racine, WI – What’s really behind climate change legislation in Congress and how will it affect you?

Climate Legislation Expert & Congress of Racial Equality Niger Innis will help answer those questions at the Racine Tea Party’s Tribute & Town Hall on Saturday, September 11^th from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at Racine’s Pershing Park.

In addition to Innis, the event will feature Congressman Paul Ryan, the “rock star of radio” Vicki McKenna, Pastor David King and more. Innis says he is excited to bring his expertise to Racine.

“I’m so proud to stand yet again, with my brothers and sisters within the Tea Party movement” Innis said. “I have had the privilege to speak to over two dozen Tea Parties across the nation. I have been invited to do so, because my organization has been the vanguard of the charge against Cap and Trade legislation or regulation since 2007.”

In honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, Racine TEA Party will be accepting donations to help those brave men and women who continue to risk their lives to keep us safe.  All donations will go to “Operation Care Package”.  Suggested items are listed at www.racineteaparty.com

WHAT:  Racine Tea Party Tribute & Town Hall on Jobs, the Economy and the Deficit.

WHERE: Pershing Park, 500 Pershing Drive, Racine, WI (on Lake Michigan)

WHEN: Saturday, September 11, 2010, 2:00pm-3:30pm

# # #

The Racine Tea Party is a non-partisan group advocating for responsible government, lower taxes and holding politicians accountable.