The world's largest music festival is back in its traditional time. This year's Summerfest will be held on June 23-25, June 30-July 2, and July 7-9, 2022 and feature more than 800 acts. You can see a list of who is performing below.

As a former teacher and chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I am fighting for parents and students. I believe every child deserves access to a quality education no matter their income or their zip code. I support all schools, public, charter, and private.

Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is trying to change the rules for charter schools which could kick many kids out of successful schools. It's important to remember that charter schools are public schools. However, charters have more freedom in how they educate children. The new rules could potentially make funding for charter schools harder to stay open. It's not just the President that is trying to limit educational options for parents.

In his budget, Governor Evers tried to hinder the creation of new charter schools in the state. I helped stop that change. I also support legislation that will expand opportunities for Wisconsin families and improve our existing schools. You can read more about a few of them below.

Finally, there are some important races in next Tuesday's spring election. Find out what is on your ballot, where to vote, and more by visiting here or clicking on the icon below.

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

 A bill that will help keep student-athletes safe is now law in Wisconsin. Schools will now distribute information to parents informing them of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest. 

High school athletes can pass traditional physicals without knowing they have a potentially fatal issue with their hearts. This new law alerts parents and can help save lives.

The legislation is called the Kai 11 bill. Kai was a three-sport athlete at Waukesha North High School. Despite being only 16 and a great athlete, Kai died from sudden cardiac arrest. Regular school physicals for sports didn't detect the problems with Kai's heart. 

Sports are important to the development of young people. Sports teach cooperation, teamwork, and trust. Kids learn to work together to accomplish a goal. It puts kids from different backgrounds together and teaches them to trust each other. Most of all, athletics are fun. This law will help make sure sports are also safer for student-athletes.

Our state is facing a reading crisis. Too many kids are falling behind. If kids don't learn how to read by the end of third grade, they are likely to fall behind in all of their other subjects and struggle with reading for the rest of their lives.

More children in Wisconsin could get the help they need before they enter kindergarten thanks to a bill I authored that is on its way to the governor. Senate Bill 828 expands a nationally recognized program designed to help children learn to read.

Last session, I authored a law to allow innovative programs like Waterford Upstart to operate in Wisconsin. This will help us close the achievement gap and provide a solid base for children to show up ready to learn when they reach kindergarten. Waterford Upstart helps low-income, four-year-old children prepare for school at home for free. More than 83% of students in the Waterford Upstart program are demonstrating strong readiness for kindergarten.

This program works. The expansion will mean more kids can get a head start on reading. Learning to read earlier will build confidence and create lifetime learners. That will help close the achievement gap. I hope the Governor signs it.

This week, Alan Borsuk of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel outlined a heart-breaking situation at Grantosa Drive School in Milwaukee. It took him months through the open records process, but he eventually received letters sent by teachers to school administrators about the conditions at the school.

Here is one excerpt: "Teachers are trying to put out the ‘bigger fires;” the fights, the furniture being flailed, protecting their students from bodily harm, and preventing property damage. I’m seeing my colleagues give up. They have come to the point where they are hopeless, therefore go on enduring the toxic environment they are in.”

Making matters worse, Borsuk says not much has changed since the letters were sent back in November of 2021. The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Board isn't stepping in to help the teachers. Meanwhile, test scores at Grantosa are horrible.

It is clear, continuing to send more and more money to the system will not work. Real reform is needed at MPS. Earlier this session, I introduced Assembly Bill 966. My bill creates a commission of elected officials who have a vested interest in the community, including the Mayor of Milwaukee, the Governor, and the State Superintendent. This commission is tasked with developing smaller school districts within the city of Milwaukee and offering additional solutions to the legislature to turn things around at MPS. Smaller districts will be more manageable and accountable to parents and their communities. 

The bill was approved by both the Senate and the Assembly and will soon head to the governor's desk for final approval. Click on the video above from TMJ4 to hear more about this important reform.

I hope that smaller school districts will listen to teachers and help kids achieve. I also hope Governor Evers listens to the teachers of Grantosa Drive School when the MPS Board didn't. This is the first step in turning around failing MPS schools but students, parents, and teachers cannot wait any longer. 

Thanks to the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, you now can track your school's performance, enrollment, and funding all in one place.

This week, the group launched the Wisconsin School Scorecard. Find your school district on the drop-down menu, and you can find out everything from per-pupil funding to average ACT scores to graduation rates. Click on the picture for more.

Click on the button to find out more about next Tuesday's spring election.