TEACH Program Faces Scrutiny
By Joanne M. Haas
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At a time when revenue controls are severely restricting
the ability of school districts to provide technology services, education
and training, increased scrutiny is being placed on a state program that
helps fill that void.
Wisconsin’s TEACH program is viewed by some as
a “godsend” for helping equip schools with needed technology.
But it is being criticized by others for being overly political and bureaucratic
and for failing to train enough teachers.
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| “I believe TEACH has become overly bureaucratic.
Too many of the decisions have been dictated from Madison.”
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Sen. Robert Jauch |
Since its 1997 launch, the Technology for Education
Achievement in Wisconsin program is credited with bringing the Internet
and distance learning to students in even the most rural districts. It
has distributed approximately $195 million in technology grants over the
last four years.
“Most school districts are connected to the Internet.
I don’t know of any that aren’t,” said Sen. Robert Jauch,
the Poplar Democrat who was a key negotiator in the program’s enabling
legislation. “More schools are now able to purchase hardware and
wire their buildings because of the TEACH block grants and wiring loans.”
Still, Jauch is among observers who contend the program
can do much more and be more effective. Specifically, he said:
- Rules for the distribution of funds – specifically teacher training
monies – should be rewritten so that more educators get trained.
- New TEACH programs dealing with foreign language and literacy should
be turned over to the state’s official education agency, the Department
of Public Instruction.
- The political structure of TEACH should be abandoned to allow it to
be merged with DPI
Sources believe these topics may be addressed in a pending
report regarding TEACH’s effectiveness due out this fall from the
Legislative Audit Bureau.
“I believe TEACH has become overly bureaucratic,”
Jauch said. “Too many of the decisions have been dictated from Madison.”
Page 2: Teacher training issue
Posted August 28, 2001