Wisconsin State Super-intendent Tony Evers spoke to Wisconsin legis-lators and other officials Thursday in his first State of Education address at the Capitol.
The main theme of Evers’ speech was Wisconsin’s need to adapt to the changing economy by focusing on public education.
Evers said he is optimistic about the current state of Wiscon-sin’s public schools and libraries, pointing to a high graduation rate and above-average enrollment in college preparatory classes as proof of Wisconsin’s educational success.
He also praised public libraries throughout the state for their role in job placement and improved financial literacy in wake of the recent recession.
Evers said he sees room for improvement in some aspects of Wisconsin public schools. He listed his top priorities as improving virtual education in schools and libraries, focusing more diligently on improving Milwaukee Public Schools and making changes to the state’s teacher assessment, accountability and compensation systems.
“Educators are building Wisconsin’s future every day,” Evers said. “Educators are tomorrow’s job creators.”
Evers said the Department of Public Instruction will give special attention during his term to improving Milwaukee Public Schools, a school system notorious nationwide for its high disparity in achievement.
He also said he will expand the DPI’s Urban Education Office in Milwaukee, and he will be holding regular office hours there to focus on improving DPI relations and involvement within the Milwaukee community.
“All school districts in the state need Milwaukee to succeed,” Evers said. “All of us must get behind our efforts to lift the achievement of Milwaukee’s children.”
Chair of the Assembly Committee on Education Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Middleton, agreed with Evers’ decision to focus attention on MPS and its achievement gap.
“Milwaukee is an economic driving force for the state of Wisconsin,” Pope-Roberts said. “So, in order for the whole state to be successful, Milwaukee must also be successful.”
According to Evers, the DPI will also expand virtual education in Wisconsin’s rural areas within the next year. He said DPI plans to expand bandwidth at smaller schools and libraries to provide rural communities with the possibility for more rigorous college preparatory classes and online “global learning opportunities.”
Assembly Committee on Education member Rep. John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac, said he supports Evers’ emphasis on virtual education in rural communities.
“Already we see what’s happening — particularly with the Internet,” Townsend said. “The next generation is going to be dealing with that, and virtual education is a good way to bring them up to date on all that’s going on.”
Both legislators agreed Evers’ speech outlined the important challenges for Wisconsin’s public education and their solutions. Pope-Roberts called the speech “heartening” and said there is much work to be done considering the challenging economy.
Townsend said his priority will be improving literacy, especially on a technological level.
“We often make jokes about flipping hamburgers,” Townsend said. “But if you go to work at a fast food restaurant, what do you have to do? You have to operate a computer.”
