TheDailyPage.com partnered with UW-Madison Prof. Sue Robinson's graduate journalism class during the fall semester to report on some of the challenges facing the Madison Metropolitan School District. The following are the resulting stories, focusing on the entire district as well as on each level; elementary, middle schools and high schools.
Madison schools superintendent Dan Nerad on challenges in his second year on the job
By Kelliann Blazek, Jamie Fisher, Sarah Karon
Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Dan Nerad recently crossed one more book off his reading list: Malcom Gladwell's "Outliers." It may have been a personal read, but Nerad still found ways to tie the book back to his profession: "Gladwell's book is very supportive of my belief that smart is something you become."
Madison's Transition Education Program gets homeless kids in school
By Kelliann Blazek, Jamie Fisher, Sarah Karon
Now in its 20th year, the nationally-recognized program faces new challenges, including unprecedented enrollment numbers, fewer donations from the community and a restructured staff.
Bullying a "big problem" in Madison elementary schools
By Erin Kapp, Yifei Liu
Set test scores aside for a minute, because elementary schools can frequently find themselves teaching appropriate behavior along with math and reading. Elementary school teachers, administrators and students all say that bullying is a problem.
Madison's Thoreau Elementary gets creative in anti-bullying strategies
By Nayantara Mukherji
Despite budget cuts and limited resources, staff and parents at Thoreau Elementary School have come up with creative ways to combat bullying. But the effectiveness of their efforts is limited by inconsistencies in their implementation.
Madison middle schools face budget crunch coupled with increasing populattion of low income students
By Sean Egan, Simone Warrack, Stephanie Kundert, Will Mueller
Not only has the number of low-income families increased within middle schools, but total enrollment has as well. This jump could tax programs like special education even further. According to Peg Coyne, a special education teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, caseloads have increased over the last 10 years. In addition, some schools no longer offer family and consumer education or technology education classes.
Madison schools turning to alternative sources to cover budget shortfalls
By Sean Egan, Simone Warrack, Stephanie Kundert, Will Mueller
From laptop grants to bake sales and personal cash, administrators, teachers, and the greater Madison community are all pitching in to help make up budget shortfalls and economic hardships at the city's public middle schools.
College costs the top concern for Madison high school seniors
By Benjamin Klein, Rachel Shulman, Jodie Stern
Recession shapes post-secondary decisions including where kids are headed to school and what they'll study.
La Follette seniors identify economic concerns, strategies
By Benjamin Klein, Rachel Shulman, Jodie Stern
Four Madison high school seniors are working toward the same goal: a college education. But in today's economy, the decision to attend college itself is burdened by financial risks.
