WI Department of Public Instruction page
State
Superintendent
Tony Evers
Superintendent
Tony Evers
Working together for education
By Tony Evers, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Each year, American Education Week (Nov. 16-22, 2014) offers citizens a chance to celebrate the
importance of public education and to recognize the people who teach our children and work in
Wisconsin’s public schools.
Wisconsin has excellent public schools and our state has had some outstanding academic results.
For example, our ACT college admissions exam scores are second among ACT-taking states, and we
are among the top states in the nation for graduation rates. These accomplishments are due to the
combined efforts of teachers, parents, administrators, and school staff members, working together with
the community on a common goal: to help students learn.
However, just as American Education Week was launched years ago to make public schools a higher
priority because one-quarter of World War I draftees were illiterate; we still need that focus to address
major gaps in achievement in Wisconsin. One in four Hispanic and American Indian students and one
in three African-American students drop out from our schools each year. There are similar disparities
for students with disabilities, students from low-income families, and for those who are learning
English. This is a tragedy, especially when most family-supporting jobs require some education or
training beyond high school. We need all of our kids to graduate college and career ready.
Earlier this year, I asked a group of successful educators to confront Wisconsin’s achievement gap.
They came from public, private, and charter schools to work together on this problem. I am so proud of
their efforts. The Promoting Excellence for All Task Force had difficult conversations about the
achievement gap, about race and ethnicity, expectations for students with disabilities, and cultural
differences. They didn’t shy away from facing their own biases and didn’t let anyone off the hook, by
blaming the achievement gap solely on income or family background. From their common ground, the
love of helping kids learn, they worked together to find solutions.
Whether it was effective instruction, student and teacher relationships, family and community
engagement, or school and instructional leadership, the task force looked for activities that were proven
to impact the lives and academic success of students. The strategies they chose, which are featured
on the Promoting Excellence for All website, show promise in closing race-based achievement gaps.
And while many of the activities are familiar to those who follow education reform efforts, the difference
is that the task force situated the strategies within a framework that pays attention to race and values
culturally responsible practices. Respecting each other and the children in their care was fundamental
to their work.
And so, we celebrate American Education Week with happiness for our successes, thanks for those
who work in our schools, and the drive to improve opportunities for all students. In the coming months,
we will discuss how to fund our schools, what level of support to provide for specific populations of
students to improve achievement, and other challenges in education. Like the work of the Promoting
Excellence for All Task Force, the solutions will require that we work together. Education is a shared
responsibility that must be grounded in trust and respect.
My 2015-17 education budget is carefully crafted to ensure that our schools and educators have the
resources they need to help all students meet their full potential. It includes initiatives to increase
funding for students with disabilities, invest in rural schools, support English language learners,
bolster transitions to postsecondary opportunities, support public libraries, and reform our school
finance system. A strong and thriving public education system is the backbone of our state and nation.
We want our students to graduate college and career ready. Together we can champion this goal
during American Education Week and in the months and years ahead.
By Tony Evers, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Each year, American Education Week (Nov. 16-22, 2014) offers citizens a chance to celebrate the
importance of public education and to recognize the people who teach our children and work in
Wisconsin’s public schools.
Wisconsin has excellent public schools and our state has had some outstanding academic results.
For example, our ACT college admissions exam scores are second among ACT-taking states, and we
are among the top states in the nation for graduation rates. These accomplishments are due to the
combined efforts of teachers, parents, administrators, and school staff members, working together with
the community on a common goal: to help students learn.
However, just as American Education Week was launched years ago to make public schools a higher
priority because one-quarter of World War I draftees were illiterate; we still need that focus to address
major gaps in achievement in Wisconsin. One in four Hispanic and American Indian students and one
in three African-American students drop out from our schools each year. There are similar disparities
for students with disabilities, students from low-income families, and for those who are learning
English. This is a tragedy, especially when most family-supporting jobs require some education or
training beyond high school. We need all of our kids to graduate college and career ready.
Earlier this year, I asked a group of successful educators to confront Wisconsin’s achievement gap.
They came from public, private, and charter schools to work together on this problem. I am so proud of
their efforts. The Promoting Excellence for All Task Force had difficult conversations about the
achievement gap, about race and ethnicity, expectations for students with disabilities, and cultural
differences. They didn’t shy away from facing their own biases and didn’t let anyone off the hook, by
blaming the achievement gap solely on income or family background. From their common ground, the
love of helping kids learn, they worked together to find solutions.
Whether it was effective instruction, student and teacher relationships, family and community
engagement, or school and instructional leadership, the task force looked for activities that were proven
to impact the lives and academic success of students. The strategies they chose, which are featured
on the Promoting Excellence for All website, show promise in closing race-based achievement gaps.
And while many of the activities are familiar to those who follow education reform efforts, the difference
is that the task force situated the strategies within a framework that pays attention to race and values
culturally responsible practices. Respecting each other and the children in their care was fundamental
to their work.
And so, we celebrate American Education Week with happiness for our successes, thanks for those
who work in our schools, and the drive to improve opportunities for all students. In the coming months,
we will discuss how to fund our schools, what level of support to provide for specific populations of
students to improve achievement, and other challenges in education. Like the work of the Promoting
Excellence for All Task Force, the solutions will require that we work together. Education is a shared
responsibility that must be grounded in trust and respect.
My 2015-17 education budget is carefully crafted to ensure that our schools and educators have the
resources they need to help all students meet their full potential. It includes initiatives to increase
funding for students with disabilities, invest in rural schools, support English language learners,
bolster transitions to postsecondary opportunities, support public libraries, and reform our school
finance system. A strong and thriving public education system is the backbone of our state and nation.
We want our students to graduate college and career ready. Together we can champion this goal
during American Education Week and in the months and years ahead.