Celebrating 35 years of advancing freedom in Wisconsin

Choice Stories

School choice helps family rebound after tragedy

At the start of the pandemic in 2020, Wishkub Kinepoway faced two family crises with some crying, some praying and a lot of determination. A member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and a Shawano County transplant, Kinepoway knew she needed to make a change for her children. She also knew that change wouldn’t come without school choice.

Her children, Enae-maehkiw-hsaeh, a 16-year-old junior at Martin Luther High School in Greendale, Anniimiik-Ikwe, a 13-year-old eighth grader, and Muqsahkwatuhkiw, a 10-year-old fifth grader, both at St. Marcus Lutheran School on N. Palmer St. in Milwaukee, are thriving.

The full-time early childhood teacher at Gam Ami School at the Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay is no professional advocate, but says she welcomes telling her story and the story of school choice so that other parents can benefit from her experience. She spoke with Mark Lisheron, managing editor of Diggings, the Badger Institute’s magazine.

In March of 2020, I was just noticing some very strong academic struggles in my son. He was in 8th grade and, academically, he was just struggling. And so, then I reached out to the pediatrician, and she suggested like it was probably a learning disability of some sort that should have been caught.

And so, then I was like, well, he’s had repeated turnover. Every year, he’s had a different teacher with no continuity in his learning.

We are originally from Shawano County. If you know Wisconsin – that’s Northern Wisconsin. A small county town, one school. You didn't have a choice...

Read the full story

Coalition for Choice

Influential Wisconsin Groups Launch Coalition for Education Freedom

MADISON – Wisconsin’s leading education, policy and advocacy organizations announced on Thursday the formation of an unprecedented coalition to empower parents and expand educational opportunities for students.

The newly formed Wisconsin Coalition for Education Freedom includes seven leading groups that have a unified voice on educational reform. Coalition partners include: Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Wisconsin, American Federation for Children (AFC) - Wisconsin Chapter, the Badger Institute, K12/Stride, School Choice Wisconsin/School Choice Wisconsin Action, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC).

“Never before has there been a stronger coalition for parental choice in Wisconsin,” said School Choice Wisconsin President Nicholas Kelly. “Now is the time to change the educational landscape in Wisconsin to put parents and students rightfully first.”

These organizations will blend their unique expertise and experience to inform the public about key educational reforms and pursue far-reaching policy goals that will improve Wisconsin’s educational outcomes. This is also the first time that non-traditional partners from the business and grassroots communities have strategically joined traditional education reform groups to show the importance of taking action now.

Read the news release

Mandate for Madison: New Report

Wisconsin’s Economy: A Comparative Study

By Andrew Hanson

As we move through 2022, the national economy is in what might best be described as a strange state. With two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, many would say we have entered a mild recession. Inflation continues to erode earnings at a rate not seen in 40 years. However, the labor market remains strong, with payroll and unemployment at pre-pandemic or better levels.

Nationally, Wisconsin ranks as the 29th most productive state (including the District of Columbia) as measured by GDP per capita and the second lowest among seven Midwestern states. This is a marked change from 2011, when Wisconsin was the fourth most productive Midwestern state per capita.

Wisconsin experienced large inflows of taxpayers and income throughout the decade from other Midwestern states, especially from Illinois and more recently from Minnesota. For the 2011-2020 period, residents moving into Wisconsin from other Midwestern states brought $2.7 billion in income.

This report by Andrew Hanson examines how the Wisconsin economy has fared over the past decade on several key measures: GDP, population and migration, employment and business activity. Each of these measures offers a unique way to view the state’s economy. Taken together, these measures paint a complex, nuanced picture of Wisconsin’s economy and the prospects for future growth.

Read the full report

At a Glance

Free Exchange Podcast

Wisconsin’s transportation funding system running on fumes

Transportation projects in Wisconsin are primarily funded by per-gallon fuel taxes that are declining as fuel economy improves and more drivers opt for electric and hybrid vehicles. Transportation funding gurus Robert W. Poole Jr. and Benita Cotton-Orr, both Badger Institute visiting fellows, join us to discuss how Badger State roads should be funded in the future.

Listen to the podcast

Weekly Survey: Are you planning to buy an electric or hybrid vehicle in the next five years?

Last Week’s Results

Badger Institute Annual Dinner

Join the Badger Institute on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 to celebrate 35 years of advancing freedom in Wisconsin at our Annual Dinner. The evening will feature keynote speaker Ed Feulner, co-founder and longtime president of The Heritage Foundation, one of the world's most influential think tanks.

Feulner will share remarks on vision and leadership, drawing on his experience at the helm of Heritage as the Foundation crafted many of President Reagan’s influential policies as well as those of subsequent executive administrations. He will also speak about the Institute's Mandate for Madison, our roadmap for Wisconsin citizens and leaders toward a freer and more prosperous future. 

The dinner will be hosted at the Wisconsin Club. Click here to register and sponsorships are available (email Vice President Angela Smith). 

Wisconsin Troubling Tax Facts

Wisconsin Troubling Tax Fact #8: Nine states have flat individual income tax structures, four more are transitioning to a flat tax. Four flat tax states—Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan—are Wisconsin neighbors.

(Watch next week’s Top Picks for more Troubling Tax Facts.)

Learn more here.

What We’re Reading

• Eric Bott: Wisconsin Coalition for Education Freedom brings unprecedented firepower to school choice debate
• The American Mind: The Work of Virtue
• Elaine Chao: America is facing an unprecedented worker shortage. Here are 3 things we can do to fix it
• RealClear Policy: Workers Increasingly Favor Right to Work States
• Heritage Foundation: 5 Reasons Biden’s Student Loan Scheme Is Terrible, Corrupt Idea
• Reason: Despite Polarization, Americans Agree: School Learning Losses Are a System Failure

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The Badger Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization funded solely by the generosity of foundations, companies and individuals.