Wisconsin Students Bring Home the Gold

Wisconsin remains first in the nation on a major measure of academic achievement, but the state’s declining commitment to public education is jeopardizing that ranking, according to the president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

Wisconsin students tied with Minnesota students with a composite ACT score of 22.2 in 2004 testing. The national average score was 20.9.

“Wisconsin schools brought home the gold by being first in the nation on the ACT college entrance exam once again this year,” WEAC President Stan Johnson said. “However, the state and federal government’s reduced commitment to public education is forcing cash-strapped districts to cut vital programs and services. These continuing cuts threaten Wisconsin’s standing as one of the best school systems in the nation.”

Johnson said state-imposed revenue controls have forced school districts to cut vital services and programs for children.

According to research by WEAC and the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators last year, more than two-thirds of districts laid off teachers and education support professionals; 54% reduced courses in art, music, theater and vocational education; 51% reduced programs for at-risk students; and 60% reduced programs for gifted children.

“Schools are eliminating or reducing more and more programs every year in order to meet revenue controls and one-size-fits-all mandates,” he said. “The dedication of teachers, education support professionals, administrators, and parents deserves much of the credit for the fact that Wisconsin’s schools remain so strong. We are fast approaching a time when that will not be enough and we will no longer have great schools and classrooms that work.”

Wisconsin has been first or tied for first in the nation on the ACT for the last 10 years. Wisconsin has been first or second among states where the test is the predominant college admissions test for 15 years.

The complete Department of Public Instruction news release (opens a pdf file)
OnWEAC Resource Page on School Funding