Across Wisconsin and the Nation

Across Wisconsin and the Nation

We all want great schools for our kids. Are things really as good in Wisconsin schools as we are led to believe? Take a look at an independent review of all 50 states by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation and see what you think. We need to make some changes in the way Wisconsin schools are doing business, and the change begins with YOU!

States lower benchmarks for student proficiency. Read all about it in this USA Today article. The truth about reading scores comes to mind...

Allen Odden wrote a piece for the Wisconsin State Journal summarizing his research into school funding. Odden is a professor of educational leadership and policy analysis in the School of Education at UW-Madison and has done a number of studies in this area. His report was presented to Sen. Olsen's committee.

When we hear so much about how great Wisconsin schools are, how disheartening it is to find that when compared to schools in the other 50 states, Wisconsin ranks a disappointing 46th. According to William Bennett and Rod Paige (both former Secretaries of Education) putting more money toward schools does not necessarily mean a better outcome or smarter kids (Washington Post 9/21/06). It seems like it isn't the teachers that are the problem, it's the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction that fails to provide adequate guidance to teachers so they can do their job well.

The DPI has not updated its guidelines for teachers to use for nearly a decade. This has put Wisconsin students behind their peers in other states. We need to focus on what other states (such as California, Indiana, and Massachusetts) have done and repeat their success in Wisconsin. It is paramount that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction act quickly and decisively to enact coherent and specific guidelines for teachers to refer to as they put together their curriculum and present it to our youth.

Wisconsin's educational system has been floundering long enough. It's time for DPI to get its act together or other educational options will overrun the public school system in Wisconsin. It already started in Milwaukee two years ago and is ready to expand. Parents want the best education for their children, and if they have to go beyond public school systems to get it, they will.

We've all heard the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) mantra, "Every kid deserves a great school." Why haven't they been on DPI's case to get the DPI house in order? Does their organization think more of the kids or their 92,000 due paying members? You decide.