News from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction http://news.dpi.wi.gov/eis_newsroom en-us debra.bougie@dpi.wi.gov State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement on actions of the Joint Committee on Finance, which voted Tuesday on several provisions related to the Department of Public Instruction’s education budget. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_68.pdf Tue, 21 May 2013 17:15:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement of condolences to the families of those injured or killed by the massive tornado that hit Moore and other suburban areas of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_67.pdf Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:00 CDT The percentage of public school students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals rose to 43.2 percent for the current school year, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from last school year and the ninth consecutive year of increased eligibility for subsidized school meals. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_64.pdf Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement regarding state budget revenue projections being $575 million higher than recently projected. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_62.pdf Thu, 09 May 2013 16:15:00 CDT Four students from Wisconsin are among 141 high school seniors named 2013 Presidential Scholars in recognition of their accomplishments in academics or the arts. Wisconsin recipients are Katelyn M. Baier, Hudson Senior High School; Brady G. Becker, Wausau East High School; Redat Davison, Pius XI High School, Milwaukee; and Amy H. Hua of Fitchburg, West High School, Madison. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_61.pdf Thu, 09 May 2013 09:45:00 CDT Governor Scott Walker and State Superintendent Tony Evers today announced Wisconsin’s nominees for a new national awards program to recognize college and career readiness. They are: Sargento Foods Inc. of Plymouth; Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, headquartered in Fennimore; Rufus King International School in Milwaukee; and Tre Nowaczynski of Hales Corners, a senior from West Allis Central High School. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_58.pdf Mon, 06 May 2013 10:30:00 CDT In honor of the May 5-11 observance of National PTA Teacher Appreciation Week, State Superintendent Tony Evers issued an editorial reminding us of the importance of teachers. "From the youngest students learning to read to college- and career-bound graduates ready for their next steps in education and the workforce, it’s classroom teachers who stand alongside parents in guiding young people on their path forward." http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_54.pdf Thu, 02 May 2013 09:50:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers congratulated schools in Appleton, Cedarburg, La Crosse, and Racine, along with the Fort Atkinson School District, on earning Green Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education. Every one of this year’s Green Ribbon nominees from Wisconsin received the distinction, tying Wisconsin with only three other states for the most selectees. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_52.pdf Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:11:00 CDT Public school districts throughout the state will share $30.1 million in library aid paid April 29 from the Common School Fund, the only state funding specifically designated for the purchase of materials for school libraries. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_51.pdf Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:45:00 CDT Ten Wisconsin students have been named semifinalists for the 2013 Presidential Scholars award, the nation’s highest honor for graduating high school seniors. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_49.pdf Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:55:00 CDT Statewide test results in mathematics and reading, using Wisconsin’s new college and career readiness expectations, show improvement over five years for all racial and ethnic groups. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_47.pdf Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:15:00 CDT Statewide assessments taken by students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and the Parental Private School Choice Program (PPSCP) in Racine showed mixed results in mathematics and reading compared to last year, and results were lower than their local public school districts. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_48.pdf Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:15:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers issued an editorial in honor of next week’s observance of National Library Week. He notes that the theme this year, “Communities Matter at Your Library,” rings especially true because libraries of all types support lifelong learning and reinforce the common good, now and into the future. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_46.pdf Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:45:00 CDT The 2013-15 state budget proposal currently being considered by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance does not help Wisconsin’s rural school districts address the unique challenges they face. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_45.pdf Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:45:00 CDT Wisconsin’s four-year graduation rate is up one-half a percentage point for 2012 from the prior year’s rate, continuing a trend of steady improvement in high school completion. The state’s graduation rate is among the highest in the nation; tied for second in the most recent (2010-11) school year data reported by the U.S. Department of Education. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_42.pdf Tue, 9 Apr 2013 08:00:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers named nine business and industry partnerships as 2013 Business Friends of Education to recognize projects that collaborate in educating students and providing critical career readiness skills to create a thriving workforce. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_39.pdf Wed, 3 Apr 2013 12:15:00 CDT Highlighting the particular challenges faced by thousands of children around Wisconsin, State Superintendent Tony Evers today proclaimed April 2013 to be the Month of the Military Child. Evers encouraged families to inform schools of significant home events such as a parent’s deployment, and urged schools which haven’t already done so to include a question on beginning-of-the-year forms regarding military service by family members. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_40.pdf Mon, 1 Apr 2013 15:12:00 CDT In his testimony before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance Thursday, State Superintendent Tony Evers called for a state budget that truly reinvests in public education. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_41.pdf Thr, 21 Mar 2013 10:45:00 CDT State Superintendent Tony Evers and a broad coalition of education organizations announced today that the first Wisconsin School Safety Summit will take place this summer - to continue and strengthen the state education community’s proactive work for safer schools and more positive school climates. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_31.pdf Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:32:00 CST Teachers who have earned statewide recognition for leadership and innovation will share their expertise on a newly appointed Wisconsin Teachers of the Year Council. The group’s first meeting is Monday in Madison. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_34.pdf Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:15:00 CST One hundred and twenty-three private nonsectarian and religious schools registered with the Department of Public Instruction by the Feb. 1 deadline to accept students through the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program for the 2013-14 school year. The list of participating schools includes 14 new schools that registered. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_32.pdf Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:30:00 CST Thirteen private nonsectarian and religious schools registered with the Department of Public Instruction by the Feb. 1 deadline to accept students through the Parental Private School Choice Program in Racine for the 2013-14 school year. The list of schools registering to participate in the program includes two new schools. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_29.pdf Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers nominated four schools and one school district for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools award. Nominees are: Jefferson Elementary-Fox River Academy in the Appleton Area School District, Summit Environmental School in the La Crosse School District, Westlawn Elementary School in the Cedarburg School District, Racine Montessori School in Racine, and the Fort Atkinson School District. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_28.pdf Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:20:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued the following statement regarding the newly introduced state budget bill. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_26.pdf Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:20:00 CST Wisconsin’s 2012 graduates retained the state’s “Best in the Midwest” ranking for success on Advanced Placement (AP) exams and had a higher percentage of students taking an AP exam than the previous graduating class. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_27.pdf Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:35:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued the following statement regarding the state education budget as previewed to news media over the weekend. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_26.pdf Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:45:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement today commending Gov. Scott Walker for announcing a $100 million investment in job training and education that includes funding for the ACT assessments in high school, expansion of the early literacy screening tool, and support for student academic and career plans staring in sixth grade. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_22.pdf Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement today commending Gov. Scott Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) for their efforts intended to improve mental health services to children and their families. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_21.pdf Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:45:00 CST "Congratulations to the teachers, school staff members, and families that work to support student achievement in our Wisconsin Title I Reward Schools," said State Superintendent Tony Evers as he announced 65 schools that received honors this week to recognize student academic achievement and academic progress. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_19.pdf Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:35:00 CST The Department of Public Instruction is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to economically disadvantaged children during the summer. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_11.pdf Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:00:00 CST Projects that link school food service programs with local food producers, provide professional training and networking opportunities to rural librarians, and promote lifelong wellness through high-quality recreational activities are among nine that State Superintendent Tony Evers will recognize with "Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities" awards Feb. 1 in Madison. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_17.pdf Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:15:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers will recognize nine projects that improve the quality of life in rural communities during the “Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities” awards program at noon Friday at the State Capitol in Madison. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_16.pdf Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:45:00 CST In honor of the February observance of Career and Technical Education Month, State Superintendent Tony Evers has issued a guest editorial, supporting the reinvigoration of Career and Technical Education programs in Wisconsin's public schools. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_13.pdf Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:45:00 CST Wisconsin's three-month open enrollment application window for the 2013-14 school year opens Feb. 4, allowing parents an opportunity to send their children to any public school district in the state. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_10.pdf Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:45:00 CST Wisconsin's 91.1 percent public high school graduation rate continues to be one of the highest graduation rates in the nation, according to a recently released report, "Public School Graduates and Dropouts from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2009–10," from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_15.pdf Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:45:00 CST More than 40 percent of Wisconsin public school students live and attend school in rural areas of the state, which would benefit from supports to help ensure their students graduate ready for college and careers. In his 2013-15 education budget proposal, State Superintendent Tony Evers requested full funding for sparsity aid, creation of a new high-cost transportation aid program, a modification to the current transportation aid formula for transporting students long distances, and creation of a digital learning portal that would facilitate classroom and professional development collaboration across the state. Additionally, the budget request seeks increases in state aids and revenue caps that would impact all public school districts. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_09.pdf Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:00:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers issued a statement on the Department of Administration's (DOA’s) recent revenue estimate that shows at least $1.3 billion in anticipated new revenue for the upcoming biennium and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) school funding memorandum that confirms school aid figures in his "Fair Funding for Our Future" plan. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_12.pdf Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:30:00 CST Early learning opportunities for 4 year-olds are offered in 90 percent of the state’s public school districts that provide elementary education, a continuation of the expansion that began a dozen years ago as research supported the importance of 4 year-old kindergarten (4K). http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_06.pdf Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:55:00 CST Each year, nearly 9,000 Wisconsin adults earn a certificate of high school completion, which opens doors to employment, further education, and opportunity. However, changes are on the horizon for the GED program. A new computer-based series of tests will launch in 2014, making scores from the 2002 Series GED invalid. State Superintendent Tony Evers' message to those who started taking the GED but haven't finished is: "Get it done. Your future is calling." http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_02.pdf Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:30:00 CST State Superintendent Tony Evers congratulated educators teaching in Wisconsin schools – throughout the state, from Superior to Milwaukee - who earned professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year. “For many educators, this is considered the highest national credential available,” he noted. Wisconsin is among about two-thirds of states that provide salary incentives and cover some costs to achieve the advanced credential. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_01.pdf Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:55:00 CST Transforming education so students graduate ready for college and careers requires a broad approach that boosts math, science, technology, and career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for all students. http://news.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2013_03.pdf Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:00:00 CST