On Thursday, April 24th at 11:00 a.m., the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future and the Economic Policy Institute will host University of Oregon professor Gordon Lafer for the release of his new paper, Do Poor Kids Deserve Lower-Quality Education Than Rich Kids? Evaluating School Privatization Proposals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Milwaukee has been ground zero for privatized education for 25 years, but this has not solved the city’s education problems. Now, there is a push to replace more public schools with privately-run charters. Dr. Lafer’s report shows that these proposals have no basis in evidence. Many charter schools provide an inferior education and there are better solutions from within the public school system. Lafer argues that the growth of private charter schools will drain money out of the community and that those pushing the privatization agenda are driven by political and financial motives unrelated to education.
Following Dr. Lafer’s presentation, commentary on his findings will be provided by Alex Molnar, publications director at the National Education Policy Center and professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, Milwuakee Alderman Robert Bauman, and State Representative Mandela Barnes.
What: Release and discussion of new research, Do Poor Kids Deserve Lower-Quality Education Than Rich Kids? Evaluating School Privatization Proposals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Who: Gordon Lafer, Economic Policy Institute research associate and University of Oregon professor
Alex Molnar, publications director at the National Education Policy Center and professor at the University of Colorado Boulder
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman
Where: Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda
200 East Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisc.
When: Thursday, April 24th at 11:00 a.m.
RSVP to Dan Crawford, dcrawford@epi.org.