School Choice Pioneer Addresses Area Business Leaders

Dr. Howard Fuller, who helped create the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program 20 years ago, said he’s learned a lot of lessons along the way.

Fuller addressed Racine area community leaders Friday morning and talked about the proposed expansion of school choice to Racine Unified at the Dekoven Center.

Fuller said he’s a supporter of parent choice school and wanted to share his experience with the Racine area business leaders. With that said, he said he tends to take the middle ground on the discussion surrounding the voucher program because he’s been involved with both public and private education.

Fuller founded the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and he is a former Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent. He is also a Professor of Education at Marquette University and Director of the University’s Institute for the Transformation of Learning.

In April, Fuller said he would oppose the expansion of the Milwaukee School Choice Program if the income limits were removed for those who qualify for the program, which is being discussed at the state level.

Fuller also believes the funding level should be equal for all students, Fuller said.

“We know that $6,500 is not enough to fund a program,” Fuller said, adding that a more sustainable amount would be $9,500. But he didn't know how much Racine private schools would need.

School districts need to be viewed as educational delivery systems that parents have the ability to choose from, he said. “But parental choice in and of itself does not insure quality.”

Still, a successful program needs to be based on accountability and measures need to be in place. More specifically, all students should be taking standardized tests, but school assessments should not be solely based on those tests, Fuller said.

He also believes poverty, which he says does impact how kids learn, is used too often as an excuse. Barriers to education need to be removed. However, students shouldn’t use being in poverty as a reason not perform well in school.

“That’s why we’re offering a summer reading program that also begins with breakfast,” Fuller said. “We know a number of kids don’t have breakfast in the morning and we end the morning at lunchtime.”