Radical plan includes a costly universal school choice bill that would drain money from public schools and could increase property taxes by $577 million.

MADISON, Wis. — Governor Evers announced Tuesday his plans to make significant investments in education, focusing on literacy programs, school-based mental health, and addressing staff shortages, all while holding the line on property taxes. Tim Michels responded by doubling down on his radical education agenda, which includes his support for a costly universal school choice bill, sending taxpayer dollars to unaccountable private institutions instead of neighborhood public schools.

While Gov. Evers plans to use our budget surplus to invest in Wisconsin’s public education in order to avoid increasing property taxes, Michels’ education plan would drain money from public schools and could increase property taxes by $577 million. 

Michels has also said that continuing to fund public education is “the definition of insanity” and that he would consider abolishing Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction.

Gov. Evers has always done the right thing for parents, students, and teachers. As a lifelong educator, Gov. Evers has worked to make historic investments into Wisconsin’s schools, including meeting the state’s two-thirds funding commitment for the first time in nearly two decades, and has a plan to build on the successes of his first four years in office. Thanks to the governor’s leadership, our schools are ranked in the top ten in the nation.

“Tim Michels’ radical plan aims to defund our public schools and harm students, teachers, and parents,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Hannah Menchhoff. “Governor Evers has a proven track record of leading the way on improving and investing in Wisconsin’s public education.”