THE TIME HAS COME FOR REAL EDUCATION REFORM

Education reform advocacy group StudentsFirst, led by school choice champion Michelle Rhee, has released their State Policy Report Card. This report card was designed “to evaluate the education laws and policies in place in each state.” The study used three forms of criteria for evaluation to find states in which schools: Elevate teaching, Empower Parents, and Spend Wisely & Govern Well. This study shines a light on education reform, and people are taking notice. With high-ranking states trumpeting their success and low-ranking states in spin-control overdrive, it’s clear that the states know the public is waking up to education reform and accountability. 

The states which fared well have been touting their success in this report as a way to highlight the strengths of their education systems. John White, state superintendent of Louisiana, said their high rank was an “indication of the boldness and the courage that our governor and our legislators and our people have shown in supporting policies that don’t accept the status quo.” Those in the low-ranking states were singing a different tune, however.

They simply decided to discount the study. California’s chief deputy superintendent, for example, told the New York Times that their F ranking was “A badge of honor,” and questioned the credibility of the group. Rhee fired back, saying “Mr. Zeiger may call that a badge of honor, but I call it a social injustice.”

The attention on this report card is also important because the data correlates to other school achievement data in interesting ways. The states which fared best in the StudentsFirst report card have some of the weakest teachers’ unions in America.

Meanwhile, states such as California and Montana, which received an F grade, are among the strongest. Robust school choice also correlates with higher rates of graduation, adding another layer of correlation with educational data. As more studies emerge, a clearer picture of American education is coming together. 

The StudentsFirst Report Card is another step forward for education reform and accountability. Every American taxpayer has invested in our public education system and informing them as to what works (and doesn't) is a great service. (Courtesy of Freedom Works .org)

The Wisconsin Legislators Need to Focus!

As the 2013 Legislative Session is underway in Wisconsin, the citizen leaders marvel at the lack of focus on any work that would make a difference in the lives of families and children, thus far. 

Business as usual politics needs to be interrupted in Wisconsin. The buying and selling of bills for hire needs to be called what it is as it is a 'brand new day with new priorities to set!' 

Wisconsin Scores on Student Achievement - See Where Wisconsin Ranks

WISCONSIN EDUCATION SPENDING RANKS NEAR THE TOP, AS ITS STUDENT PERFORMANCE RENDERS A "D" RATING

LEGISLATORS THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER!

One of the Wisconsin Legislative duties according to the State Constitution is education. As performance rates continue to drop in our educational community, one can hardly avoid the fact that this ranking "trickles up" to those responsible for the education of our young people ..... the Wisconsin State Legislature and the existing DPI Chief Tony Evers.

The Chatter instead in Madison today is "how large county governments should be, with comments rendered by the new "Speaker of the House" hard charged to shrink the size of Milwaukee's large county government.

In the struggle to be relevant, perhaps it time for all of us to insist that the Wisconsin Legislature put its 'eyes on the ball' of education and see if it can raise our abysmal ranking of D to at least a mediocre one, say "C!"

The families and children of Wisconsin deserve better folks.  It is time for the grown ups to once again govern so that the children can once again raise their sights on reaching the goal of competing in a global marketplace.

Terri McCormick, M.A.
Educational Administration and Leadership
Founder of Wisconsin's Charter School Movement