Expanding Influence: School Boards for Academic Excellence in Wisconsin
Efforts to reshape the educational landscape through school boards are gaining momentum in Wisconsin, with a national organization aiming to enhance academic standards making strides in the state. School Boards for Academic Excellence (SBAE), established in 2023, is positioning itself as a reform-driven counterpart to the National School Board Association.
Operating in 38 states with 45 affiliate organizations, SBAE’s influence is growing. In Wisconsin, the organization collaborates with the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) to further its mission.
David Hoyt, Executive Director of SBAE, disclosed ongoing discussions with the Watertown Unified School District to evaluate their curriculum. “The status quo is not working for students, and we’re going to need to do things differently in order to improve academic outcomes,” stated Hoyt, emphasizing the importance of innovation in education.
Sitting between Milwaukee and Madison, Watertown School District serves around 3,000 students. Recent state assessments indicate that approximately 48% of students meet or exceed reading standards, and 47% do so in mathematics.
In a proposal made to Watertown Interim Superintendent James Feil, SBAE offered to scrutinize the district’s math and reading curricula against state standards, alongside providing both off-site and in-person training for the school board.
The communication strategy, according to Hoyt, will be handled with care and discussed after initial audits and training. However, it remains unclear if these meetings will be accessible to the public, as Feil did not respond to inquiries on the matter.
During a recent board meeting, Feil highlighted the potential benefits of SBAE’s complimentary services, noting, “What they have is a commitment to help elevate the academic standards… schools need help, and not another price tag.”
Hoyt explained that SBAE’s services are provided at no cost due to donor support. “Everything we do is 100 percent free, we’re just providing free advice,” he affirmed during an interview.
However, David Armiak from the Center for Media and Democracy expressed concerns over the opaque nature of SBAE’s funding. The organization has received contributions from entities like the Bradley Impact Fund and the National Philanthropic Trust, which Armiak describes as sources of “dark money.”
Despite skepticism, Attorney Cory Brewer of WILL emphasized the shared goals between his firm and SBAE, focusing on improving governance and academic outcomes. Both organizations conduct separate conferences for school board members, lending mutual support.
While SBAE’s association with conservative groups like WILL is evident, Hoyt maintains that their primary commitment is to student achievement. He argues that political affiliations are irrelevant when addressing local education reform needs.
In addition to his role at SBAE, Hoyt has held positions with libertarian and conservative groups, including The Heartland Institute and Young Americans for Liberty. At SBAE, he voices concerns over diluted standardized test scores and distractions from core educational goals.
Hoyt acknowledges that SBAE’s viewpoints may resonate with conservative audiences but clarifies, “We’re very careful to say we are (not) the conservative thing, because then you are automatically limiting yourself in a way that is going to undermine the ultimate mission, which is to change what is going on.”
