News from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/newsroom.html en-us benson.gardner@dpi.wi.gov State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement on proposed education legislation that was introduced today. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_33.pdf Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:15:00 CST Fifty-six high schools in 19 school districts throughout the state are sharing $3.8 million in federal grant money this year to keep students engaged in their education through a safe and supportive school environment. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_17.pdf Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:00 CST Advanced Placement (AP) continues steady growth in Wisconsin public high schools and student performance both beats the nation and places Wisconsin as the best in the 13-state Midwest region, according to data in the “Eighth Annual AP Report to the Nation.” http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_27.pdf Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:00 CST There’s a lot to talk about as we observe Career and Technical Education Month in Wisconsin, say State Supt. Tony Evers and Wis. Tech. College System Pres. Dan Clancy. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_11.pdf Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:30:00 CST Today the State Superintendent’s Digital Learning Advisory Council completed its task of creating a plan to guide digital learning in Wisconsin schools. A Vision for Digital Learning in Wisconsin is a blueprint, including recommendations and action items, to help schools and education partners chart their future courses regarding technology. It is presented in the form of a website. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_26.pdf Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers and Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Peter Bildsten issued an editorial on the importance of teaching personal financial literacy in school. “Students who are financially literate when they graduate from high school will be better equipped to handle the economic decisions they will face as adults,” they said. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_23.pdf Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers will open Wisconsin’s Digital Learning Day Showcase at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The event will feature digital learning activities in school districts throughout the state. At 3:30 p.m., he will host a Digital Town Hall Meeting. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_25.pdf Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 CST Wisconsin’s open enrollment application window for the 2012-13 school year opens Feb. 6, allowing parents an opportunity to send their children to any public school district in the state. Senate Bill 2, which extends the application period from three weeks to three months, has passed the Legislature and awaits action by the governor. The new law will be effective when the bill is signed by the governor and published by the secretary of state. Upon enactment, the open enrollment application period will be from Feb. 6 to April 30. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_13.pdf Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:30:00 CST In an editorial about Wisconsin’s request for a waiver from several provisions of federal education law, State Superintendent Tony Evers stresses that the flexibility is being sought so we can improve the education for the state’s kindergarten through 12th-grade students. “Though change may sometimes be difficult, the future demands that we move forward,” he said. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_22.pdf Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:45:00 CST Wisconsin’s request for waivers from several provisions of federal education law creates the expectation that every child will graduate ready for college and careers by setting higher standards for students, educators, and schools. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_15.pdf Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement regarding proposed legislation on education. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_18.pdf Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:45:00 CST Eight Wisconsin elementary schools are nominees for the 2012 national Blue Ribbon Schools program for their success at improving student achievement. The schools are: Arena Elementary School, River Valley School District; Doudna Elementary School, Richland School District; Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary School, Racine Unified School District; Kennedy Elementary School, Stevens Point Area Public School District; Magee Elementary School, Kettle Moraine School District; Nasonville Elementary School, Marshfield Unified School District; Rockfield Elementary School; Germantown School District; and Sunset Ridge Elementary School, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_04.pdf Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:45:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers today called on Assembly Republicans to take up legislation that would close the voucher school expansion loophole created in the 2011-13 state budget. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_10.pdf Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:30:00 CST Deepening the knowledge and skills of classroom teachers is the priority for $1.7 million in federal funding for Mathematics and Science Partnership Grants in Wisconsin. The three new two-year grants and four renewal grants will provide training for hundreds of teachers in school districts throughout the state. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_01.pdf Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued the following statement regarding proposed legislation pertaining to the seclusion and restraint of students. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_09.pdf Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:10:00 CST The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is now accepting applications from schools across the state that wish to be recognized as a Wisconsin Green Ribbon School. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_08.pdf Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers has proclaimed Feb. 1 as Digital Learning Day in Wisconsin, part of a first-ever national effort to highlight successful and innovative examples of digital learning. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_03.pdf Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement on the Read to Lead Task Force report and plan announced at a press conference today in Greendale by Gov. Scott Walker. Dr. Evers was vice chair of the task force. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_05.pdf Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers proclaimed January 9 to 13 as Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week in honor of the adult school crossing guards who help children walk safely to and from school throughout the school year. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_02.pdf Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:30:00 CST If I could have one wish for 2012, it would be that we all support and prioritize our public schools, so students don't lose the chance to experience learning opportunities that energize them. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_140.pdf Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:30:00 CST Students in 89 school districts throughout the state will learn information and develop skills to prevent alcohol and illegal drug use through state-funded Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Program grants. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_139.pdf Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers announced that six schools in Wisconsin have been selected as Response to Intervention (RtI) demonstration sites. The demonstration site schools are: Denmark Elementary School, Edgerton Community Elementary School, Marshall Elementary School, Northern Hills Elementary School in Onalaska, Stanley-Boyd Elementary School, and Barton Elementary in West Bend. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_138.pdf Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:35:00 CST "Congratulations to Wisconsin's 67 educators who earned professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year," said State Superintendent Tony Evers. "This certification is considered the highest national credential available to American educators." http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_137.pdf Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:35:00 CST Kindergarten for 4-year-old children continues steady growth in school districts throughout the state with 18 districts adding 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) for the 2011-12 school year. With 46,022 students in 4K classrooms in 368 school districts, enrollment has more than doubled over 10 years. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_134.pdf Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:45:00 CST Recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the rate of Wisconsin children from the ages of 5 through 17 who are living in poverty has risen by more than 4 percentage points in three years, from 12.9 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2010. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_136.pdf Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:15:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a comment about the recent Speak Out for Wisconsin forums on public education. An excerpt: "What I heard from those attending the forums is that most people want their schools to offer music, art, and physical education. Most people think it’s good to have career and technical education and to teach world languages. They don’t want the curriculum narrowed to just the tested subjects." http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_133.pdf Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:08:00 CST State Supt. Tony Evers has created Digital Learning Advisory Council to help make learning more meaningful and relevant, more cost-effective, and ensure technology access for economically disadvantaged students. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_128.pdf Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:08:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement regarding news today that the statewide property tax levy for school districts declined by 1 percent. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_131.pdf Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:30:00 CST With 83 percent of school districts responding, survey data gathered this fall shows the vast majority of students are attending schools that cut staff, meaning there are fewer adults in Wisconsin public schools helping children learn. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_127.pdf Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST Teachers and principals will be evaluated on their professional practice and student achievement in an educator evaluation system outlined in a preliminary report issued today by the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness Design Team. State Superintendent Tony Evers appointed the group last December. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_125.pdf Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:00:00 CST Wisconsin has completed a plan to address environmental literacy and sustainability for schools. The plan provides strategies for statewide collaboration to increase student academic achievement, improve student health, and save schools money through education for environmental literacy and sustainability. “It is more important than ever that we work together to provide low-cost, high-return learning opportunities that help to prepare every student for success in our rapidly changing world,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers in announcing completion of the plan. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_121.pdf Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:45:00 CDT Wisconsin’s biennial mathematics and reading results held steady on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card. The state’s overall trend in mathematics is improving. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_124.pdf Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:00:00 CDT Wisconsin is one of 19 states nationwide that won a competitive federal grant to provide support and services to students from low-income families to help them prepare for college. The $5 million grant for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) will provide direct services to middle and high school students in the Ashland, D.C. Everest, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, and Wausau school districts and outreach services for students, parents, and school district staff statewide. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_122.pdf Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:00:00 CDT A group of educators, researchers, and education advocates met recently in Madison to establish a statewide research agenda for prekindergarten through 12th-grade education in Wisconsin. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_119.pdf Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:15:00 CDT The Department of Public Instruction’s general aid certification, released today, showed that 97 percent of the state’s public school districts (411 of 424) will receive less school aid for the 2011 12 school year than they did in the previous year. The median decrease in aid for districts was 9.98 percent. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_120.pdf Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:15:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers made a visit to Kimberly High School, not just to praise the school's impressive academic achievements, but to join the recognition of Kevin Janota, the school's technology education teacher, as the Wisconsin recipient of a 2011 Milken Educator Award. The $25,000 cash award is one of 40 that will be given by the Milken Family Foundation nationwide this year. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_116.pdf Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:00:00 CDT Students qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts or lunches based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services income eligibility guidelines, which are set annually based on federal poverty levels. For example, for the 2011-12 school year, children in a household of four with income of $29,055 per year or less would qualify for free meals. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_104.pdf Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:30:00 CDT Bradley Markhardt, an agriculture education teacher at Black River Falls High School, is Wisconsin's representative to the national Teacher of the Year program. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_110.pdf Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers issued an editorial as a follow-up to his State of Education address, delivered September 15 in Madison. In the editorial he says, "The path to prosperity is paved by educating our children. We must move beyond the harsh rhetoric of the past few months and begin the slow process of rebuilding. It will take action, not just words. It will take a sincere investment in our public schools and commitment to public education to undo the damage." http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_107.pdf Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:30:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers announced that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has been awarded a $10.5 million, four-year competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop technology-based assessments for students who are learning English. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_106.pdf Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:30:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement regarding the announcement by President Obama and the U.S. Department of Education on waivers from broken federal accountability requirements. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_108.pdf Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:10:00 CDT Despite the rancor and shattered trust of the state’s politics, State Superintendent Tony Evers struck a serious tone in his State of Education address Thursday to move education past the problems of adults to an urgent focus on children and their future. http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2011_101.pdf Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:30:00 CDT