Education
A rotten year
A lot people in Madison are wondering what the hell is happening in our schools. Even Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham has called it a “trying year.” Isthmus talked to nearly 30 teachers to find out what’s happening behind the scenes. Read more
David Michael Miller
Student debt crisis grows
From 2007 to 2017 the average debt of Wisconsin’s college graduates increased nearly 50 percent. And more than half — 64 percent — of Wisconsin’s students left with debt. Read more
Narayan Mahon
Jennifer Cheatham resigning as Madison school superintendent
Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham is expected to announce her resignation at a May 8 news conference. Read more
Carolyn Fath Ashby
Family threatens Leopold principal after student’s false accusation
A family rushed to Leopold Elementary on March 15 believing their fifth grader had been struck by the principal. They threatened to beat the principal’s “white ass,” but video surveillance showed the student fabricated the incident. Read more
Haidee Chu
Strike!
Madison high school students shared stories about how they fear the world is changing in protest for action on climate change at the Capitol. Read more
Trying times
Six candidates believe they have the experience and vision to help Madison schools grapple with racism, behavioral issues, the achievement gap and move. Isthmus talked to the candidates to find out why they’re running and what they want to achieve. Read more
Haidee Chu
Local students lead on climate change action
A coalition of Madison-area high school students is tired of waiting for adults to take needed action against climate change. These students plan to march next week to draw attention to the problem. Read more
Deciphering dyslexia
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, but it remains misunderstood and often undiagnosed. Now a bipartisan legislative committee is urging the Legislature to give schools the tools to deal with it. Read more
History lesson
East High students dig into lessons from World War I, with lectures on the Middle East, Putin’s rise and white supremacy. Read more
Eliot Wyatt
Put to the test
Education is a key issue in the Wisconsin governor’s race. Gov. Scott Walker says Supt. Tony Evers will put “union bosses” back in charge and raise taxes. Evers says schools have suffered under Walker and voters are ready for change. Read more
Source: Wis. Dept. of Public Instruction
Yes, they graduated, but can they read?
The Madison Metropolitan School District has been touting an increase in high school graduation rates for minority students. But are these students graduating with basic academic skills? Read more
The college try
Koinadugu District is one of the poorest areas in one of the world’s poorest countries, Sierra Leone. But it is on the verge of getting a college, thanks to the far reach of the Wisconsin Idea. Read more
Jenny Peek
Fresh start
Sherman Middle School ended last year in turmoil, with the resignation of its principal and accusations of racism. An interim principal is trying to heal the wounds, but mistrust and skepticism remain. Read more
Buh-bye, MMI
Madison Media Institute, a for-profit college that trained students for jobs in the music industry, confirms it is closing its doors at the end of the year. Read more
Madison Metropolitan School District
Making summer school fun?
The Madison school district is doing something new this year for students in kindergarten through seventh grade: adding enrichment classes to the summer school curriculum. Read more
Dylan Brogan
Come for the trolls, stay for the bee
Mount Horeb hosts one hell of an adult spelling bee that draws a big crowd. Staff writer Dylan Brogan has the blow-by-blow of this year’s competition. Read more
Circumvention
For years, Isthmus Montessori Academy has been unsuccessfully trying to get the Madison school district to give it public school status. But the progressive school found another route — through a program created by conservative Republicans. Read more
David Michael Miller
The surprising survival of WEAC
WEAC has lost more than half of its dues-paying members, and lost clout in its elections. But teachers still value its union and it is far from dead. Read more
“Swamped” with special needs kids?
Madison school supt. Jennifer Cheatham scolds Badger Rock officials for saying students w/ disabilities have created a “burdensome situation” at the charter school. Read more
Boy Scouts go coed
The Boy Scouts of America announced Oct. 11 that it will allow girls to join for the first time in the organization’s more than 100-year history. Many are cheering the move as family-friendly, but it’s more complicated than that. Read more
