Critics of school choice often lean on a talking point that goes like this: Wisconsin can’t afford two systems of schools, so we should have only one.  

Of course the idea is nonsense. Wisconsin doesn’t fund two systems of schools. Wisconsin funds 420 public school districts. It funds about 2,200 public schools. It funds about 860,000 students, some 792,000 in traditional district schools and another 66,000 in about 400 private choice schools or several dozen independent public charters, with state money approximately following each from one school to another.  

But taking those critics at face value, taxpayers might well ask: If we have to pick one system, districts or choice, why wouldn’t we pick the one that delivers better results for the money? 

More realistically: Why can’t we demand better from the schools we have? 

Remember Rodney Dangerfield? The comic whose famous line was, “I don’t get no respect”?

One of his classics:

“My doctor told me I was overweight.
“I said, ‘I want a second opinion.’
“He said, ‘Okay. You’re ugly too!’”

These days, economics is the Rodney Dangerfield of public policy: It gets no respect. In both Washington and Madison, basic economic principles are routinely ignored, as if policymakers believe they can repeal the laws of supply and demand with campaign slogans.

The largest farms in Wisconsin have increased the share of the state’s agricultural land that they use in the past decade, and have increased their share of the state’s output of farm goods even more, according to federal statistics.

Large farms, those that have annual sales of over $1 million, use just over a third of Wisconsin farmland and deliver more than seven of every 10 dollars in output, according to the latest figures.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has stated that the most pressing challenge facing the state education system is teacher retention. Many Wisconsin school districts, according to the DPI, struggle to keep qualified teachers in the classroom and to replace the ones that leave.

Two different analyses conducted by the Badger Institute at a statewide level appear to contradict the DPI’s findings.

When examining district-level data, however, the wrinkles begin to emerge.

Robin Yount is the club’s all-time leader in runs batted in with 1,406. Ryan Braun sits in second with 1,154.

The Badger Institute has long been at the forefront of the fight for school choice, right to work, welfare reform, tax restructuring, limited government, civil society and so much more. If you appreciate the Institute’s legacy and want to support free markets, opportunity and prosperity, please consider donating today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles now and in generations to come.

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