A TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS.
ONE, A SMALL CHARTER SERVING
SPECIAL NEEDS, MIDDLE, AND HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THE OTHER,
A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL
SERVING SIMILAR LEARNERS.
THEY ARE BOTH IN THE MINOCQUA
DISTRICT BUT DIFFERENT WHEN IT
COMES TO FUNDING AND SERVICES.
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, SHOWS US
HOW AND WHY THE STATE BUDGET
LINE DESIGNATE THE FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUNDING IS WOEFULLY
UNDERFUNDED.
>> GOOD MORNING, BUDDY.
>> Reporter: LAKELAND STAR
ACADEMY IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL
SCHOOL.
FOR STARTERS, IT IS TECHNICALLY
TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE
LAKELAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL IN
MINOCQUA.
>> LATER THIS WEEK, WE WILL
EXPLORE --
>> Reporter: FROM INCEPTION,
THIS WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH SENSORY NEEDS, PRIMARILY
STUDENTS WITH A DIAGNOSIS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM.
>> RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHEN
THEY CAME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR
MEETING SENSORY NEEDS.
>> Reporter: YOU'LL NOTICE
EACH CEILING LIGHT IS COVERED BY
A BLUE CAPE.
ERIC MIKOLEIT IS THE DIRECTOR,
AND HE SAYS BRIGHT LIGHTS AND
NOISES CAN BE A BARRIER TO
LEARNING.
>> WE WOULD MEET THEIR SENSORY
NEEDS FROM ACOUSTICS AND
LIGHTINGS AND SOUNDS THAT MANY
STUDENTS ON THE SPECTRUM, WE
KNEW WOULD BE REGULATED BEFORE
WE COULD TOUCH MATH AND ENGLISH.
>> Reporter: INDIGO, THE DOG,
ROAMS THE HALLS LOOKING FOR
TREATS AND PETS.
HE'S THERE, AND SOME STUDENTS
REALLY FLOCK TO THAT.
FOR SOME STUDENTS, THE FIRST
CLASS OF THE DAY IS 45 MINUTES
NORTH AT SCHOLL COMMUNITY IMPACT
GROUP.
WHERE WORKING WITH HORSES FORCES
KIDS TO COMMUNICATE VERBALLY.
>> COOPER COMING THROUGH.
>> Reporter: AND LEARNING TO
RIDE DOUBLES AS OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY, TEACHING BALANCE AND
COORDINATION.
>> WE'VE SEEN GREAT GROWTH WHEN
IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION, OT,
AND JUST HAVING A PLACE TO KIND
OF RELAX.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE ALL YOUR DINOSAURS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
BIGGEST GAINS ARE IN THE TEST
SCORES, BUT IN KIDS WHO WERE NOT
COMFORTABLE IN A SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT BEFORE NOW.
>> NICE, SAM.
>> THEY ARE INCREASING
CONFIDENCE.
WHERE THEY LOOK AT SCHOOL NOW IS
NOT AS AN ADVERSARY.
>> Reporter: LAKELAND STAR WAS
CREATED FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE
LOCAL PARENTS DID NOT LIKE THE
SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEIR
CHILDREN IN THE TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING.
IT IS MODELED OFF OF SCHOOL IN
MINNESOTA CALLED LIONSGATE, AND
ERIC MIKOLEIT REMEMBERS HIS
FEELING IN THE FIRST VISIT.
>> THE MORE THEY TALKED, IT WAS
JAWDROPPING, LIKE, LITERALLY, I
HAD TO KIND OF -- OKAY, WE HAVE
TO GO BACK TO WISCONSIN, YOU
KNOW, AND JUST WENT FROM THERE.
>> Reporter: THE DIFFERENCE IS
IN MINNESOTA THE STATE PROVIDES
THE FUNDING TO RUN LIONSGATE.
AS A WISCONSIN CHARTER SCHOOL,
MONEY FOLLOWS THE STAR ACADEMY
STUDENTS OVER FROM THE HIGH
SCHOOL, BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THE STAFFING THEY
NEED.
>> WE HAVE A FULL-TIME SPEECH
AND LANGUAGE, A FULL-TIME
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, A
FULL-TIME BCBA, UNHEARD OF IN
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: THE PARENTS
STARTED TO FUNDRAISE, A LOCAL
FOUNDATION CAME ON BOARD, THEN
THEY HELD A GOLF TOURNAMENT.
>> WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST GOLF
OUTING FOUR YEARS AGO AND RAISED
ABOUT $400,000, NO ONE KNEW WHAT
TO EXPECT.
WE THOUGHT IF WE RAISE $1,
GREAT, IF IT WAS $400,000, YOU
HAVE TO BE KIDDING YEAR, AND THE
LAST YEAR WAS DOUBLE, AND THIS
YEAR, 1.3 MILLION.
>> Reporter: A STUNNING AMOUNT
OF MONEY FOR 38 STUDENTS.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A
COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT IT THE
WAY THEY DO.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM NOW IS A LACK OF
SPACE.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS,
AND IT IS TOUGH TO SAY "NO" AND
TOUGH TO TELL FAMILIES OUTSIDE
OF OUR DISTRICT, IN THE
DISTRICT, THAT, SORRY, WE'RE ON
A WAITING LIST.
>> Reporter: STUDENTS WHO
CAN'T GET IN TO STAR ACADEMY GO
ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TO
LAKELAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL,
WHERE THE MAJORITY OF KIDS WITH
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS ARE
TAUGHT.
>> THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF NEED.
>> Reporter: REBECCA JABLONSKI
IS THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION, SHE WOULD LOVE TO
OFFER THE SAME SERVICES.
>> THERAPY DOG, SMALLER CASE
MANAGEMENT SIZES, MORE
INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE FOR SPEECH
AND LANGUAGE, IF I COULD HAVE
THAT HERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT,
I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN.
>> Reporter: HER BUDGET FOR
118 STUDENTS IS HALF THAT OF
STAR ACADEMY.
SHE'S HAPPY FOR STARS'
FUNDRAISING AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR THOSE KIDS, BUT IT IS ALSO
FRUSTRATING.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T FRUSTRATE ME
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT
AVAILABLE.
IT FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE I CAN'T
OFFER IT TO ALL THE STUDENTS.
>> Reporter: WHY NOT?
>> IN COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT
OF SERVICES THAT SPECIAL ED KIDS
NEED, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FUNDED
IS VERY LOW.
>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM IS
THE STATE KNOWINGLY UNDERFUNDS
SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICES SO THEY
HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM GENERAL
EDUCATION OR SHORTCHANGE SPECIAL
ED.
>> WE INTENTIONALLY SET THE
SYSTEM UP.
>> Reporter: JEFF
SPITZER-RESNICK IS A CIVIL
RIGHTS LAWYER WHO SUED SEVERAL
DISTRICTS ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ORDER TO
FORCE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICES THEY NEED.
>> I HOPE I'M HELPING TO CHANGE
THE SYSTEM.
SOMETIMES IT IS ONE STEP AT A
TIME.
SOMETIMES IT IS BIGGER PICTURE.
>> Reporter: HE EXPLAINS THE
WAY THE STATE FUNDS SPECIAL
EDUCATION IS EACH SCHOOL SUBMITS
THEIR ESTIMATED COSTS TO THE
STATE, AND THEN THE AVAILABLE
MONEY IS SPLIT PROPORTIONALLY.
>> FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S
REQUESTED FROM EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SPECIAL ED, WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE 28-CENTS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT 28%
REIMBURSEMENT LEVEL IS THE
LOWEST IN THE NATION FOR STATES
THAT USE THAT METHOD.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO
SHORTCHANGES WHAT THEY PROMISED
FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION,
CONTRIBUTING ANOTHER 24% OF
COSTS.
THAT ADDS UP TO 52% OF THE COSTS
COVERED LEAVING THE DISTRICTS TO
FIGURE UP THE REST ON ITS OWN.
>> SOONER OR LATER, UNLESS IT'S
GOING TO CRUMBLE, NEEDS TO
ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION
FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: FUNDING LEVELS
ARE A BUDGET DECISION.
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
HAVE KEPT SPECIAL EDUCATION
REIMBURSEMENT TO AROUND 28% FOR
THE LAST DECADE.
IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR,
DISTRICTS ESTIMATED $1.6 BILLION
IN SERVICES NEEDED.
THE STATE PROVIDED JUST
$450 MILLION.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
PREPARED A MASSIVE INCREASE IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION SPENDING IN
THE LAST BUDGET PROPOSAL.
HIS PLAN WOULD HAVE INCREASED
STATE FUNDING BY $400 MILLION A
YEAR, BRINGING REIMBURSEMENT
LEVELS TO 50%.
INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS ADDED
$85 MILLION, BRINGING
REIMBURSEMENT LEVELS TO 30%.
>> I THINK, OVERALL, IT WAS A
DARN GOOD BUDGETS.
>> Reporter: ROB SWEARINGEN IS
A REPUBLICAN IN THE ASSEMBLY AND
LAKELAND STAR'S BIGGEST CHAMPION
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON AUTISM,
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY,
AND THE STATE HAS TO ADDRESS IT
MORE THAN THEY ARE NOW.
>> Reporter: IN THE LAST TWO
BUDGETS, HE'S GOT THE COLLEAGUES
TO INSERT FUNDING SPECIFICALLY
FOR LAKELAND STAR.
GOVERNOR EVERS VETOED THE
FUNDING EACH TIME SAYING HE DOES
NOT WANT TO PICK WINNERS AND
LOSERS BY TARGETING INDIVIDUAL
SCHOOLS.
>> IT WAS A PERSONAL GUT PUNCH
TO ME FROM GOVERNOR EVERS WHEN
HE VETOED IT THE SECOND TIME,
AND HE CLAIMS WINNERS AND
LOSERS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS OTHER
DISTRICTS SHOULD LOOK TO COPY
LAKELAND STAR.
>> THAT MODEL COULD BE MAYBE
DUPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
STATE, BUT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT.
>> Reporter: ERIC MIKOLEIT
SAYS HE'S BEEN GETTING CALLS,
BUT WITHOUT MILLION DOLLAR
FUNDRAISERS, JUST STARTING A
CHARTER SCHOOL IS NOT ENOUGH.
>> THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT IN
THE CURRENT MODEL TO BE ABLE TO
REPLICATE THAT WITHOUT ACTUALLY
HAVING CHANGES IN MADISON AND SO
FORTH IN FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.
>> WHEN THEY START TOSIFEN OFF
MONEY FROM ALREADY SHORTCHANGED
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT'S A
PROBLEMATIC PUBLIC POLICY
DECISION.
>> Reporter: JEFF
SPITZER-RESNICK SAYS EVEN
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE PART OF
THE LARGER DISTRICT DOUBLE UP
OVERHEAD COSTS AND TAKE AWAY
FROM THE OTHER STUDENTS.
>> NOW, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S A BAD
SCHOOL.
DOESN'T MEAN THOSE KIDS ARE NOT
GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PARENTS
AND EDUCATORS WHO FORMED IT DID
IT WITH ILL-INTENT.
THEY SAW A SICK, UNHEALTHY
SYSTEM, AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT
THEY CAN TO ADDRESS IT, BUT
THAT'S NOT A SYSTEMIC FIX.
>> Reporter: WHETHER OR NOT
LAKELAND STAR ACADEMY CAN BE
REPLICATED, THE LARGEST QUESTION
IS WHETHER THEIR SUCCESS WITH
STUDENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
EXCEPTIONAL OR THE BASELINE FOR
WHAT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
DESERVE.
>> WHERE'S THE BENCHMARK?
WHERE'S IT START?
WHERE'S THE CEILING?
IS THIS A HIGH BENCHMARK?
>> Reporter: THERE ARE MORE
THAN 13,000 STUDENTS DIAGNOSED
ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN
WISCONSIN, AND LAKELAND STAR
ACADEMY IS TEACHING A FEWER THAN
40 OF THEM.
IN THE LAST BUDGET, REPUBLICANS
PRIORITIZED $2 BILLION IN TAX
CUTS.
THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS A
$1.7 BILLION SURPLUS.
ROB SWEARINGEN SAYS JUST BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS WON'T SPEND MORE ON
SPECIAL EDUCATION DOESN'T MEAN
THEY DON'T CARE.
>> CORE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO
ALWAYS SAY WE HAVE MORE TAX
CUTS, YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS I
WOULDN'T CALL -- I WOULDN'T
PAINT THEM AS ANTI-EDUCATION.
>> PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER
TYPE OF MODEL WHERE, SURE, MIGHT
BE A STICKER PRICE WHEN YOU
FIRST LOOK AT IT.
>> Reporter: ERIC MIKOLEIT
SAYS HIS STUDENTS ARE ALL THE
EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO PROVE IT'S
WORTH THE COST.
ANOTHER PROGRAM AT LAKELAND STAR
IS LOCATED IN DONATED SPACE IN A
NEARBY MEDICAL CENTER.
THIS IS A LAB WHERE STUDENTS DO
HANDS-ON WORK TO FIND OUT WHAT
REAL WORLD JOBS THEY MAY BE
SUITED FOR AND WHAT JOBS THEY
ENJOY DOING.
>> IT IS A BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE.
THE KIDS ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUNCH
IN ON THE TIME CLOCK.
>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE OF
ROB SWEARINGEN'S FAVORITE THINGS
ABOUT LAKELAND STAR.
>> THESE KIDS ARE LEARNING REAL
WORLD SKILLS TO PICK UP ON AND
MOVE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
HAVE DONE SO.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A DRIVING
SIMULATOR WHERE STUDENTS GET
THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
ERIC MIKOLEIT SAYS MOST PARENTS
OF HIS STUDENTS NEVER DREAMED
THEIR CHILDREN WOULD DRIVE A CAR
TO A JOB.
>> THAT LOOK WAS, LIKE, REALLY,
YOU WANT TO DO DRIVER'S EDGE?
IN THE NORTH WOODS, STUDENTS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
>> Reporter: WHILE THEY ARE
NOT CHEAP, THESE ARE THE
PROGRAMS THAT GIVE THESE KIDS A
CHANCE TO BE FULL PARTICIPANTS
IN SOCIETY, MAKING THE EXPENSE
WORTH EVERY PENNY.
>> WHAT WE ARE SAVING, ACTUALLY,
TO THE TAXPAYER, WHERE WE ARE
NOT FEEDING A PRISON PIPELINE
AND NOT BEING ADDITIONAL COST TO
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHERE
WE'RE ADDRESSING IT NOW IN A WAY
WHERE IT ACTUALLY IS LESS MONEY,
ECT., TO THE TAXPAYERS, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST HAS
TO FLIP, A LENS THAT HAS TO
FLIP, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE
WITH OUR SUCCESS, THAT WE CAN
FLIP THAT LENS.
>> GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY.
>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM