School Choice Expansion Key to Wisconsin's Re-emergence as Innovator

James Wigderson:

With the Republican takeover of state government this year, educational reformers have high hopes for change. The administration of Governor Jim Doyle did little to promote educational reform. Nowhere was that more evident in the state's double failure to win Race to the Top federal funds when Wisconsin's application failed to demonstrate movement in educational reform.

Doyle proposed a mayoral takeover of the struggling Milwaukee Public Schools after the federal Race to the Top funding competition was launched. The proposed mayoral takeover did not offer sufficient justification to win over opponents and the effort failed in the Democrat-controlled legislature.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin's two applications for federal Race to the Top funding did not even make the list of finalists. The main reason for the failures was the lack of teacher accountability for student performance.

Doyle's other record on education is an obstacle to other reforms, especially when it comes to school choice.

Wisconsin is certainly ripe for curricular and choice innovation.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 12, 2011 5:32 AM
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