Advocates for Student Achievement behind Push Poll

Advocates for Student Achievement (ASA) admitted today it hired the Parker Group, which was found guilty in federal court in 1999 for racial discrimination, to conduct a push poll in Milwaukee School Board districts with contested elections.

In the MPS’s sixth district, where ReDonna Rodgers is challenging incumbent Peter Blewett, the Poll falsely stated that Peter Blewett authorized Board Member Charlene Hardin to attend a personal trip with Board funds.

Citizens Action for Wisconsin requested the release all the questions in the poll so the public can see that the poll was designed to get the answers it received.

At an event held this morning at the Italian Community Center, ASA spokesperson Anne Curley admitted in answers to questions that it was releasing only some of the questions and responses in the poll.

While this group claims its poll was intended to identify public perception of issues in MPS, it was clearly intended to persuade voters that the current school board is the problem. The group’s agenda is clearly revealed because it did not ask about the funding formula, the cost of the Voucher Program to taxpayers, the failed Neighborhood School Initiative, or what voters like about the MPS.