Gov. Jim Doyle‘s office will no longer pursue proposed changes to laws regarding school funding, including removing the caps on property taxes to raise school revenues.

“This isn’t a move away from educational reform or a change in priority. We are simply taking a role in the national movement for a change in education that’s been a big part of Obama’s agenda,” Doyle’s spokesperson Adam Collins said.

One part of President Barack Obama’s agenda is funding from the newly established Race to the Top program, where states competed with one another for a part of $4.35 billion in stimulus money. Although Wisconsin applied, it was not selected for further funding in the first round.

According to Rebekah Sweeney, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, Doyle’s office had not been in contact with them since early 2009 regarding his proposed changes to education funding.

Kimber Liedl, spokesperson for Assembly Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said he did not have a position on Doyle’s proposed reforms because they were nothing but a rough sketch of the stipulations an actual bill would contain.

Director of Government Relations for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Dan Rossmiller explained that one of Doyle’s proposed changes was lifting caps on school funding from property taxes and state aid for qualifying schools.

However, in Rossmiller’s view, the lifting of such caps would only result in a widening gap between those educated in wealthy areas and those educated in poorer areas.

“With no caps, schools in wealthier areas would be at an automatic advantage. This would be bad for the education system and with our current economic situation, not many people can afford the increase in their taxes,” Rossmiller said.

In the view of Wisconsin Education Association Council spokesperson Christina Brey, the reforms previously advocated by Doyle were not broad enough to really help Wisconsin’s educational system.

“We’re looking at a system that is essentially broken and outdated. What we need isn’t a lifting of restrictions, but a way for schools to actually get the funds they need to bring better education to kids,” Brey said.

Senate President Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he wasn’t surprised the education funding reforms were abandoned, as he’s seen little activity on them recently. In his opinion, it would be impossible to formulate such reforms before April 22, when the Legislature finishes regular business.

“This isn’t a reform that could be quickly pulled together. In order to pass the sort of comprehensive changes needed in this area we’d need a lot more time,” Risser said.

Despite this change in focus, education has been and will remain a focus for lawmakers, said Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston.

Many have expressed optimism about the possibility Wisconsin will receive funding in the second round of the Race to the Top program.

“Increased funding from this program is exactly what schools need to adapt for their students,” Rossmiller said. “Right now, we’re just at the beginning of implementing changes in the education system but at least we’ve started the conversation.”