Wisconsin Right Now

Children in schools across the country are a step closer to finding chocolate milk in their school lunchrooms. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany says his chocolate milk protection plan cleared the House. The plan, which would stop the Biden administration from banning chocolate milk in schools, is part of House Resolution 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023. The ban on flavored milk for school children out of a concern for too much sugar was proposed in February. Tiffany said getting rid of chocolate milk would likely lead to fewer youngsters drinking milk. Tiffany cited the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in saying removing flavored milk from schools would result in a 62% to 63% reduction in milk consumption by kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, and a 50% reduction in sixth through eighth grades. His chocolate milk protection plan would also protect strawberry milk. “Some may ask why we are focusing on this issue," Tiffany said. ...

Many children in Wisconsin schools have not returned to class since the COVID outbreak. A new report from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty looks at the spike in chronic absenteeism, particularly since the start of the 2020 school year. “The first step in the education of a student is them being present to absorb the material. But when a student is regularly not in school, this process breaks down,” Will Flanders wrote in the report. “Getting kids into school on a daily basis is a responsibility shared by school districts and parents. While there is no one change that can magically reverse the downward trend in attendance, it is vital that this issue be at the forefront for policymakers concerned about the education of the next generation.” The report shows truancy rates in Wisconsin public schools have more than doubled since 2012. “About 10% of students were chronically absent in 2012 compared to more than 20% today,” the report notes. The report also shows some...

"There is more support for school choice among Democrats in Milwaukee than many people think." - Justin Moralez, of the Wisconsin Federation for Children A new poll shows nearly a third of Democratic primary voters support Milwaukee school choice. “Democratic candidates should not ignore or run away from the fact that their constituents support school choice,” Justin Moralez, the Wisconsin Federation for Children state director said. The Wisconsin Federation for Children on Tuesday  released the poll from the Remington Research Group, polling group headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. Pollsters say 31% of people asked said they support vouchers, while 49% oppose them. But the Federation says another 20% didn’t have an opinion, which means voters are nearly evenly split. The poll shows support among Democrats in Milwaukee County for both school vouchers and public charter schools. The survey was conducted July 27 through July 29, and polled 766 likely 2022 Democratic Pr...

"There is more support for school choice among Democrats in Milwaukee than many people think." - Justin Moralez, of the Wisconsin Federation for Children A new poll shows nearly a third of Democratic primary voters support Milwaukee school choice. “Democratic candidates should not ignore or run away from the fact that their constituents support school choice,” Justin Moralez, the Wisconsin Federation for Children state director said. The Wisconsin Federation for Children on Tuesday  released the poll from the Remington Research Group, polling group headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. Pollsters say 31% of people asked said they support vouchers, while 49% oppose them. But the Federation says another 20% didn’t have an opinion, which means voters are nearly evenly split. The poll shows support among Democrats in Milwaukee County for both school vouchers and public charter schools. The survey was conducted July 27 through July 29, and polled 766 likely 2022 Democratic Pr...