Gov. Jim Doyle announced an educational reform package Monday designed to help some of the state’s lowest performing schools and improve Wisconsin’s second-round application for Race to the Top funds.
The plan would increase the state superintendent’s authority in low-performing school districts, though officials are quick to point out it is not a state takeover of public schools.
“[The plan is] focusing on those students that need the most support. It’s building more community support, it’s building support at the district level and building support at the state level” said Kevin Benish, spokesperson for Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee. “The most important thing to stress is this is not a school takeover. This is a turning of the page when it comes to that issue.”
Under the package, State Superintendent Tony Evers would be able to intervene in school districts that have been low performing for four or more years. One of the stipulations, however, would allow for local school boards to take action before Evers steps in, according to a statement from the Department of Public Instruction.
If Evers identified a school district as low-performing, the bill would allow the local school board to implement a standard curriculum that meets state standards, as well as use student performance data to individualize instruction and create academic and behavioral support systems for these students.
School boards would also pursue extra measures for schools in the lowest 5 percent of low-performing public schools in the state.
These schools would be subjected to annual performance evaluations and would have to implement training for teachers and principals and make sure there is a mechanism to ensure fair distribution of highly qualified teaching staff.
If a school district stays low performing for four consecutive years, the state superintendent may step in and direct the school to take added actions to improve.
For schools that do not improve for five years, Evers would be able to make the local school board create a school improvement council to take additional actions, according to the statement.
Benish said the new plan may also improve the state’s chances of securing second-round Race to the Top federal funding.
Wisconsin lost out on funding in the first round, which was due, in part, to concerns the Department of Education had regarding the state’s ability to intervene in struggling schools.
Adam Collins, spokesperson for Doyle, said the state is taking the comments from Race to the Top officials very seriously and this plan will put Wisconsin in a much better position for securing funding in the next round.
“This was something that needed to be done … even independent of Race to the Top, Collins said. “This legislation really moves the state forward in the right direction.”
Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker said in a statement that any real reform measures must include teacher accountability standards.
“Without real standards of accountability for our teachers, we risk losing another generation of children in a broken school system,” Walker said in the statement. “It’s time to reward the good teachers, instead of protecting those who are failing our kids.”
