Education
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. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. more
David Michael Miller
The worst ideas from Andy Gronik’s StageW
Parisi is out, but Milwaukee businessman and Democrat Andy Gronik is pondering a challenge to Gov. Scott Walker. He has no experience, but he’s rich. So he must be qualified. more
David Michael Miller
Ties that bind
The governor’s budget gives school districts a $200-per-student boost in funding, but there’s a catch. To get the money, district employees must pay 12 percent of their health insurance premiums. more
David Michael Miller
College tuition: Work for it!
There is a real and growing problem of student debt that has to be addressed in some way, and even converting a 5 percent tuition cut to means-tested programs won’t be nearly enough. Why not pay students to work for their tuition? more
Electing “a governor” of the schools
Tony Evers is being challenged by three candidates for state superintendent of public instruction. Although the candidates share some goals, their solutions are vastly different. more
Isthmus Montessori Academy
Charter debate
Supporters of Isthmus Montessori Academy want to make it more inclusive by making it a part of the Madison school district. But they have failed to win over Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham. more
David Michael Miller
Taking from kids to build roads
Wisconsin roads need help. So do our schools. But neither looks like it will get much help in the upcoming state budget. more
Wake up!
Substantial research shows that making middle and high school children get up early for school can damage their health and education. But it could cost Madison schools $2 million to delay middle school starting times. more
David Michael Miller
The greater good
For progressives, the real challenge is to push back against a vision of society that says kids should only get as much health care, education and opportunity as their parents can afford. more
Pathways pilot program to debut
The Madison school district is rolling out a new career-focused program designed to help close the achievement gap. But some parents are confused and concerned by Personalized Pathways. more
