WASBO's Policy Research and Analysis

As the Wisconsin Association of School Business Official’s first research director, Anne Chapman leads WASBO’s mission to ensure equity and outstanding educational opportunities for Wisconsin students through nonpartisan policy research, analysis, and advocacy. Anne works with Executive Director Mike Barry and WASBO members from around the state to present research and analysis our members can use to advocate for the quality of children's education.  Below are updated links to WASBO's policy research and analysis:

• WASBO Video Explainer on School Finance and the 2023-25 State Budget 
  • May 2023 video explainer by WASBO Research Director Anne Chapman video on where we are now, what schools need and what the state can do. This video video that provides an overview of Wisconsin school finance and what the outcomes of the 2023-25 state budget could mean for school districts and their ability to serve their schools and students. Take just 30 minutes, and you will be able to better advocate for your school district. View handouts!
• School Finance & the 2023-25 State Budget
  •  Presentation by WASBO Research Director Anne Chapman on May 12, 2023 at WASBO's 2023 Spring Conference
• District Level Budget Outlook: Fiscal Cliff Ahead!
  •  Presentation by Andy Weiland (Oregon), Brad Boll (Turner), John Stellmacher (Kettle Moraine), Lynn Knight (Nekoosa) & MIke Barry (WASBO) on January 19, 2023 at Wisconsin State Education Convention
• School Finance in Wisconsin: Where We Are Now, How We Got Here, What's Ahead
  • Presentation by WASBO Research Director Anne Chapman on January 18, 2023 at Wisconsin Education Convention
• Midterms bring less uncertainty, but major school finance questions remain
  •  Article by Anne Chapman in November 2022 edition of Taking Care of Business

 

More on Anne Chapman

Prior to joining WASBO, Chapman served as senior researcher with the Wisconsin Policy Forum where she oversaw the Forum’s education research portfolio. Her research on K-12 education focused on state and local policy and finance, special education funding, English learners, arts education, and the educator workforce. Chapman holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, La Follette School of Public Affairs. She is a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management and Association for Education Finance and Policy.

School Administrators Alliance

The School Administrators Alliance (SAA) is an alliance of:

• The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA)
• Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)
• Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA)
• Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS)
• Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators (WASPA)

SAA's History

The SAA was founded in 1991 when the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) joined their advocacy efforts. With the addition of the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials in 1992 and the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) in 1994, the SAA has grown to represent virtually every licensed school administrator in the State of Wisconsin. This increasingly diverse membership provides a broad perspective and deep understanding of educational issues.

Wisconsin's PK-12 Pathway to World-Class Student Success

SAA Mission

To advocate on behalf of school administrators in their efforts to strengthen Wisconsin's national leadership in education so that our children receive a world class education.

Advocacy

The SAA's diverse membership is united by a commitment to continuously improve the quality of Wisconsin public education. The SAA will support legislation which focuses on the following basic principles:

• The education of our children must be state government's primary purpose. The state must adhere to its constitutional obligation to "provide by law for the establishment of district schools, which shall be nearly uniform as practicable," and "free and without charge for tuition to all children between the ages of 4 and 20 years."
• All children deserve to receive an education that meets their needs and abilities.
• There must be coordination among school programs and community-based programs to ensure that the whole child receives attention.
• Parents must be active participants in the education of their children, from birth to graduation.
• Standards must be established by which parents, communities, and government can determine the quality of education provided to our children and measure their performance.

The SAA legislative agenda, which is published annually, outlines legislative positions and the beliefs they are based on in the following areas:

• Educational Programs
• Finance and Facilities
• School Governance
• Support of Educational Leaders

Service

The SAA serves as a vehicle for members to collectively advance the policy deliberations of today's most important educational issues. For example, every year the SAA sponsors project teams consisting of volunteers from around the state who are interested, have expertise and are willing to work intensively to analyze issues that impact upon the children educated in Wisconsin. Through their work these teams serve our members and the public alike.

If you would like information on current project team proposals, please contact the SAA.

Dee Pettack
Director of Government Relations
School Administrators Alliance
4797 Hayes Road, Suite 201
Madison, WI 53704
Phone (608) 242-1370
Fax (608) 242-1290
www.wsaa.org

School Administrators Alliance Legislative Committee

Chair: John Stellmacher, Kettle Moraine 
Board Liaison: Jeff Mahoney, McFarland

Mission
To develop a legislative agenda and lobby activities to promote the welfare of students in Wisconsin schools by combining the resources of WASBO, WASDA, AWSA, WCASS, WASPA and WREA.