State's Great Schools are Headed in the Right Direction, Report Finds

Education Week's annual Quality Counts report concludes that Wisconsin's public education system is headed in the right direction, WEAC President Stan Johnson said.

"Wisconsin has great public schools, and quality teachers and staff," he said. "The report gives Wisconsin credit for the progress we've made to ensure that every child receives the benefit of a great school."

Quality Counts is a report card of public school reform. It assesses each state's education system on the basis of student achievement, standards and accountability, improving teacher quality, school climate, resources, and other criteria.

Wisconsin received above average scores in the areas of standards and accountability, school climate, and a passing score in state support for teacher quality.

Johnson said he expects Wisconsin to score near the top in the area of teacher quality in future Quality Counts reports. "The implementation of the new teacher licensure law, PI 34, will significantly improve the state's support for new and seasoned teachers," Johnson said. "The law calls for mentoring programs, content-area assessments and professional development plans.

"Wisconsin's teachers are already among the most highly qualified educators in the nation, and PI 34 will make them even better," Johnson said. "WEAC supports the Department of Public Instruction's efforts to improve teacher quality."

Johnson praised Education Week for not judging schools primarily on the basis of standardized achievement test results. "I encourage Education Week to include even more measures of educational quality in future Quality Counts reports."

Posted January 7, 2004