A State Experiment

By Deborah Cohen

One of the largest-scale experiments to address the problem of high student mobility began in Wisconsin.

In 1987, the state education department launched a program in more than 30 schools in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and Beloit to boost the achievement of disadvantaged children from preschool through grade 5. The "P-5'' projects feature such reforms as smaller classes, better student monitoring, new language and writing programs, and science and computer laboratories.

Although the program was well received, after a few years it became clear that many students were moving too often to feel its impact. Students' frequent moves were also making it difficult...