(The Center Square) – A bill that will require school districts to spend 70% of its operating expenses in the classroom passed the Wisconsin Assembly 53-44 this week.

The bill defines classroom spending as salaries and benefits of teachers and teacher aides, instructional supplies, tuition, athletic programs and cocurricular activities.

Rep. Benjamin Franklin, R-De Pere, sponsored the bill, saying it is similar to legislation that has been successfully implemented in other states. Kansas, Louisiana and Texas have adopted 65% requirements called “The 65% Solution.”

The bill also prevents school administrators from receiving pay raises that are higher than those of teachers.

“Administrator jobs are receiving disproportionate pay raises while teachers are being left behind,” Franklin said. “So this bill levels the playing field to ensure that teachers get the same pay increase increments, percentage-wise, as our administrative staff.”

The teacher pay increase percentage is determined by the average annual percentage increase in total compensation for those teachers.

Assembly Bill 6 says direct classroom spending does not include “administration, food services, transportation, instructional support including media centers, teacher training and student support such as nurses and school counselors.”

School boards that don’t meet the 70% requirement will need to increase direct classroom spending by at least 2 percentage points each year until the 70% requirement is reached.

Those school districts that don’t meet the requirement will have their state aid payments reduced by the difference between the amount they are spending on direct classroom instruction and the 70% requirement. If that penalty exceeds the district’s state aid payment, the district’s board will be required to reduce local property tax obligations by the remaining penalty amount.

“While seeking office to the State Assembly last year, I had the opportunity to speak with thousands of people throughout the 88th District,” Franklin said. “A recurring concern I heard was the decline in the quality of education and the need to increase the pay for our teachers, AB6 helps accomplish that by directing more resources into the classroom. This approach will help improve the quality of education provided to our children.”