On the Road

On March 13, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster testified in Washington, D.C., before a joint hearing of the House Education and Labor Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee focusing on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. Burmaster testified in her capacity as President of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Follow link for copy of testimony http://www.dpi.wisconsin.gov/sprntdnt/pdf/ebtestimony.pdf

On March 14, Burmaster began her day by giving the opening remarks at the Preserving Early Childhood Conference in Madison. In her remarks, the state superintendent spoke to the importance of early learning and the increase in four-year-old kindergarten numbers statewide.

“This year 257, school districts operated four-year-old kindergarten programs serving over 24,000 children. That’s a 66 percent increase in 4K enrollment during the last six years in Wisconsin and a 15 percent jump in the past year alone!,” said Burmaster.

Later that day, Burmaster spoke to school board members who participated in the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Legislative Day. Burmaster thanked participants for their participation and efforts on behalf our children and their schools.

“At the local level, as elected officials serving on your school board, you see and hear more than any politician in Madison does. You must tell your stories, of your communities, of your schools, of your children. Local leadership and control is the heart and soul of Wisconsin’s progressive tradition.”

Burmaster spent the afternoon on March 14 convening more than 200 business and commerce leaders for the Business Summit on 21st Century Skills. The event, which was held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, drew business leaders, representatives of state education and business organizations, chamber of commerce representatives, and leaders from education. Sponsored by the Wisconsin PK-16 Leadership Council and Competitive Wisconsin, the summit was supported by Lumina Foundation.

In her closing remarks, Burmaster encouraged participants to remain engaged in the process. “We will need business, commerce, workforce, and higher education representatives on all of the work groups in each of the subject areas over the next two years as we refine our State Model Academic Standards,” she said.

On Thursday, March 22, Burmaster testified before two state legislative committees. She first testified before a Joint Education Committee hearing where she spoke on rigor and relevance in our education system in the 21st century.

Later in the day, Burmaster testified before the Joint Finance Committee where she addressed the 2007-09 biennial budget. Follow link for copy of testimony http://www.dpi.wisconsin.gov/sprntdnt/pdf/2007_jfc.pdf

For more information about SEAchange, contact: John Johnson at (608) 266-1098.

Last updated on 3/26/2007