“A key component to rebuilding our state’s economy and creating jobs over the long term is a hard working, well educated workforce,” Davis said. “How can we compete at international levels when so many of our students lack even the basic skills needed to perform on the job?
While performance levels have hit a crisis point, I am confident our students can improve if we make dramatic changes in our schools.”
TUDA analyzed mathematics achievement levels of 4th and 8th graders in 18 urban schools across the country, including Milwaukee. The report showed students at MPS scored well below the national average in both 4th and 8th grades, ranked behind other large urban school districts of similar size, and revealed a large achievement gap between white and minority students. In fact, only 14% of 4th graders and 6% of 8th graders scored proficient in mathematics testing at MPS, with 63% of 8th graders below an even basic level of achievement.
“These results further confirm that the status quo is not working for these children and change is needed at MPS,” Vukmir stated. “We must pass a number of measures designed to improve the quality of education at the classroom level.”
Davis also commented that simply spending more money on education is not the answer. He noted that Wisconsin has increased spending on K-12 education by over $1.3 billion from 2003 to 2007, yet has seen very little improvement in student gains on assessments during that same time period. Davis and Vukmir emphasized that resources must be prioritized for proven strategies if progress is going to be made. One example would be requiring after school and summer school math programs for struggling students as a critical step toward raising math scores and closing the achievement gap in Wisconsin.
Both Davis and Vukmir are members of the Assembly Education Committee, and are offering several ideas to reform the education system both at MPS, and all across Wisconsin. Their ideas range from increasing local accountability and implementing higher standards to giving families more options and creating great teachers and school leaders.
See below for a more detailed list of measures designed to meet these goals.
For more information, including the full 92 page report, visit: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
Education Reform to Improve Student Achievement
Local Accountability and Governance Reform
Divide MPS into smaller districts governed by local elected school boards (Rep. Vukmir, Assembly Bill (AB) 347).
Eliminate mandatory bargaining for linking student performance on federal assessments to teacher evaluations.
Eliminate the teacher residency requirement at MPS. (AB 89, Rep. Gunderson)
Higher Standards
Ban social promotion of students who fail the 3rd grade reading test.
Require after school and summer school math programs for students not proficient on 4th and 8th grade math assessments.
Modernize assessments to focus on student growth.
Require all 11th grade students to take the ACT exam (aligned with state standards).
More Choice for Families and Students
Utilize technology to customize curriculum and learning for students.
Allow for the creation of satellite schools at workplaces.
Repeal the cap on school choice and virtual school enrollment. (AB 306, Rep. Davis)
Streamline unnecessary regulations designed to limit progress in the school choice program.
Creating Great Teachers and School Leaders
Reward high performing schools with generous merit pay bonuses. (AB 538, Rep. Davis, Sen. Darling)
Attract more real world math and science teachers through efficient alternative teacher certification. (AB 235, Rep. Fields)
Train all teachers in proven math curriculum.
Train all K-3 teachers in effective reading methodologies.
Pay financial incentives to teachers who help students get AP credits.