Education
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
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. Read 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. Read 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? Read 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. Read 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. Read 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. Read more
