NASS: SUPERINTENDENT BENSON NEEDS A LESSON IN REALITY DPI HANDLING OF CHOICE PROGRAM DISGRACEFUL

Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) sharply criticized Superintendent John Benson for his handling of the Milwaukee Private School Choice Program. Recently, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has embarked on a high profile smear campaign of this program because of problems with a small number of private schools. Nass chairs the Assembly Education Reform Committee with jurisdiction over the private school choice program. "Superintendent Benson and his department have been opponents of this program from the beginning and have only one goal - ending choice in education for poor Milwaukee families. His efforts to smear the program have nothing to do with improving education for children and everything to do with the upcoming election," Nass said. Nass believes that Superintendent Benson is assisting two groups that are attempting to end the parental choice program. Those groups are the People for the American Way based in Washington, D.C., and the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. Nass pointed out that the DPI has done little to develop a positive working relationship with the parents and schools in the choice program. He suggested that some of the issues currently arising in the program could have been avoided if the department had taken a cooperative attitude towards the program and participants. "Many private school officials and parents in the program have learned to distrust the DPI because of the agency's politically motivated treatment. Just imagine if Superintendent Benson had devoted the same amount of effort into working with people in the program, as he has undermining it," Nass said. Nass admitted that there are growing pains and issues that will need to be addressed in some fashion. He believes that progress can be made to address some of the operational concerns of this program. However, he stressed that such progress can only be achieved by DPI understanding that the program is legal and here to stay. "Superintendent Benson has apparently decided to use his lame-duck powers to inflict more anguish on the families in this program. I am hopeful that the next State Superintendent will show the families and teachers in this successful program the appropriate level of respect and fairness," Nass said. Nass suggested that as chairman of the committee with oversight of the program, he is always willing to consider suggestions for changes in the choice program from both sides. However, he also stated that choice opponents to date have only looked for ways to undermine the program, not improve it.