Wisconsin
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Wisconsin
Equity & Diversity
District Can't Restrict Transgender Student's Bathroom Use, Federal Judge Says
A Wisconsin district must allow trans students to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity, according to a new ruling.
Teaching Profession
A Teacher Was Fired for Criticizing Her District's Move to Ban a Song. Here's What to Know
A 1st grade teacher in Wisconsin was fired for objecting to her district’s decision to ban a student performance of a song about rainbows.
Education Funding
A Governor Boosted School Funding for the Next 400 Years. But the Reality Is More Complex
Wisconsin's governor enshrined mandatory K-12 funding increases in law until 2425—but the move may not be transformative for districts.
Classroom Technology
How This Teacher Tapped Virtual Reality to Pump Up Student Engagement
A Milwaukee-area teacher used VR to teach about the water cycle, and saw a huge spike in student engagement.
School Climate & Safety
Drivers Illegally Pass Buses 42 Million Times a Year. What Schools Can Do
A handful of students are killed each year getting on and off school buses. Schools can take some steps to try to make a difference.
Equity & Diversity
Parents Are Suing Schools Over Pronoun Policies. Here's What You Need to Know
Parents in six states have sued school districts for not requiring staff to disclose their children's chosen names and pronouns.
School & District Management
Milwaukee Leader Who Boosted Career Pathways Chosen as Assistant Principal of the Year
Misa Sato is an assistant principal at Reagan High School in Milwaukee.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Why Schools Struggle to Keep Track of Students' Laptops
Districts should be tracking their technology assets as much as they can, but it's easier said than done, experts say.
Recruitment & Retention
The Pandemic Changed Teacher Recruiting. Here's What It Looks Like Now
Recruiters' jobs are more complex, requiring them to use in-person, remote, and hybrid job fairs.
Reading & Literacy
Young Writers Need Structure to Learn the Craft. How Much Is Enough?
Writing instruction should give students both tools and exemplars they can use—and frequent opportunities to practice them at length.
States
Beyond 'Don't Say Gay': Other States Seek to Limit LGBTQ Youth, Teaching
Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed.
States
Anxiety Over Schools Fired Up Voters This Year. What About 2022?
Election results from Virginia, New Jersey, and elsewhere suggest educators and schools will be firmly in the spotlight next year.
Education Funding
State K-12 Spending Is Inequitable and Inadequate. See Where Yours Ranks
There's a $17,000 per student difference between the highest- and lowest-spending states. High-poverty schools suffer especially.
Federal
California, Florida, and Other States Waiting on Green Light for Their COVID Relief Plans
The list of states with Ed. Dept. approval for their American Rescue Plan blueprints is growing steadily, but two big states aren't on it.