Wisconsin K-12 education has lost out in the race to the top for a second time. Wisconsin is one of 35 states that applied for phase two Race to the Top education reform money provided through the U.S. Department of Education. President Barack Obama announced the competition, which rewards states for having comprehensive, state-supported school reform plans, during a visit to Wisconsin in November, 2009. State officials here were initially optimistic about Wisconsin’s chances, but Federal education officials announced Tuesday that the Badger State is not among the 19 finalists that will advance towards $3.4 billion in education funding. Wisconsin also failed to make the cut in phase one of the Race to the Top competition. [Read more…]
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State makes another run at Race to the Top
State officials have submitted an application for the second round of education funding under the federal grant program.
DPI Superintendent Tony Evers says it builds on Wisconsin’s first try, which was rejected earlier this year. He says the state reviewed comments from the earlier attempt, which scored in the bottom half of states that applied for the first round of funding. [Read more…]
Doyle questions Race to the Top results
Governor Jim Doyle says Wisconsin’s second application for Race to the Top education funding will need some improvements.
A score sheet released by the US Department of Education this week put Wisconsin in the bottom half of states that applied for the first round of funding under the federal program. Governor Jim Doyle says he found some of the factors used to score the applications a “little unusual.” [Read more…]
State’s Race to the Top application rejected
Wisconsin has been knocked out of the running in its first try for federal Race to the Top education funding.
The state’s application is not on the list of finalists for the first round of grants under the $4.5 billion program. Governor Jim Doyle says the state had a strong proposal, but he believes the failure to pass reforms for the Milwaukee Public School system hurt our chances. [Read more…]
Doyle: MPS governance key to Race to the Top (video)
Governor Jim Doyle says Wisconsin’s application for $245 million in federal Race to the Top education funding has been completed ahead of schedule, and that getting a controversial change to the governance of the Milwaukee Public Schools will be critical to the success of the state’s application.
During a press conference at Glacial Drumlin middle school in Cottage Grove, Doyle and Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers said more than 431 school districts and charter schools are supporting the state’s application effort, in what Doyle says will be extremely competitive process with other states. “Believe me, every one of those states has good applications,” said Doyle. [Read more…]
Race to the Top bills continue to race through legislature
Governor Jim Doyle’s education reforms remain on the fast track at the Capitol. The Assembly Education Committee held a hearing Monday on a package of five bills which will enable the state to be eligible for federal Race to the Top education funding. Committee member, Republican Steve Nass, says it’s too bad it took the lure of that money for lawmakers to do something to help Milwaukee schools. “The trigger has always been, ‘if there’s money out there then let’s do it,'” said Nass, who called MPS “a sad story, a basket case,” and added that “instead of doing something even ten years ago, we really did nothing.”
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65 MP3)
But Milwaukee Democrat Christine Sinicki said the point is that they’re doing something now. “I had some very major concerns and questions with the Race to the Top funds to begin with,” said Sinicki. “But . . . these are the changes that need to be made, to make Milwaukee better. And in order to make Milwaukee Public Schools better, we need to have the funding.” [Read more…]
Final Marquette Poll shows close top of ticket races
The final Marquette Law School Poll before Election Day shows Wisconsin‘s top of ballot races remain close. In the race for governor, the new Marquette Poll finds 48% of likely voters support Democratic incumbent Tony Evers and 48% favor Republican challenger Tim Michels.
In the race for governor, new Marquette Law School Poll finds 48% of likely voters support Democratic incumbent Evers and 48% favor Republican challenger Tim Michels. In early October, among likely voters, it was Evers 47% and Michels 46% among likely voters. #mulawpoll
— MULawPoll (@MULawPoll) November 2, 2022
In the race for U.S. Senate, 50% of likely voters support Republican incumbent Ron Johnson, 48% support Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes. The margin of error for all likely voters is plus or minus 4.8%.
In new Marquette Law School Poll, 50% of likely voters in WI support Republican incumbent Ron Johnson in the Senate race and 48% support Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes. In early October, August, it was Johnson 52% and Barnes 46%. #mulawpoll
— MULawPoll (@MULawPoll) November 2, 2022
The latest Marquette Polls finds Inflation remains the number one concern of Wisconsin voters. Overall among registered voters, 68% say they are “very concerned” about inflation, the issue with the highest percentage. But top concerns diverge along party lines. Among Democrats, abortion policy, gun violence, public schools, an accurate vote count and inflation were the top five issues that have them very concerned. The top five issues that have Republicans very concerned are an accurate vote count, inflation, crime, illegal immigration and taxes.
Complete poll results can be seen here.
State Superintendent race tops ballots in Wisconsin
Voters across Wisconsin are headed to the polls today for the state’s spring election.
The only statewide race on the ballot this year is for state Superintendent of Public Instruction. Incumbent Tony Evers is seeking a third four-term as the state’s top education officials. He’s facing a challenge from Lowell Holtz, a former teacher and school administrator.
Voters will also have a number of local races and issues on their ballots. Dozens of school referenda questions are up for votes in districts across the state.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission says turnout could be between 13 and 18 percent, based on previous spring elections.
Big Ten race tightens up as Illinois tops #1 Indiana
The #1 ranking in College Basketball has been a curse this season. For the 5th straight week, the top team has lost after ascending to the top of the poll. Illinois squeaked by #1 Indiana Thursday night 74-72 on a buzzer beating lay-up by Tyler Griffey.
With 8-conference games remaining, only 1-game separates the top 5 in the Big Ten. Indiana is now 8-2 in the conference tying them with #3 Michigan and #12 Michigan State. Wisconsin joins #10 Ohio State at 7-3, just a game out of the top spot. Minnesota and Purdue sit tied for the 6th spot with even 5-5 marks. Northwestern checks in at 4-6 while Illinois and Iowa are each 3-7. Nebraska is 2-8 while Penn State sits on the bottom at 0-10.
Things could shake up even more after this weekend. The Badgers host Michigan at the Kohl Center Saturday for an 11 AM tip-off. Indiana will look to bounce back Sunday as they visit Ohio State while Michigan State travels to Mackey Arena to take on Purdue on Saturday.
Special interests spend top dollar on 2008 races
A record amount of money is spent in the 2008 legislative races.
Special interest groups spend an estimated $7.1-million in their efforts to win state Assembly and Senate seats.
"That's unprecedented. We've never seen that kind of special interest group campaign in state Assembly races before."
Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, says voters mostly heard from a handful of special interest groups from both sides of the political aisle — not the candidates — in the campaign. TV was the big expense, both network and cable.
"A lot of direct mail advertising. It's not as expensive as television, but a lot of money. A little bit of telephone calling … the so-called robocalls, but most of it was television, little bit of it radio, a lot of direct mail."
McCabe says the advertising was overwhelmingly negative. The watch-dog group says the biggest spender was Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the state's largest teachers' union, spending just over $2-million.
The Government Accountability Board has already approved new rules requiring full disclosure of such campaign spending as well as contribution limits. McCabe says without implementing new rules, spending will only get worse because those in control of the legislature in 2010 will control legislative redistricting. Also, we've got a race for governor around the corner.
Democrats now control both legislative houses and the governor's office.