Academic Achievement SubCommittee Recommendations

1
Academic Achievement Sub-Committee Recommendations

• Governors Task Force on Educational Excellence
• March 30, 2004

2
Academic Achievement Subcommittee Charge

• Review existing barriers to academic achievement
  in Wisconsin and make recommendations to ensure
  that every student has an equal opportunity to a
  great education, regardless of location,
  disability, language barriers, and economic
  situation.
• Most significant barriers identified include
• School climate, economic situation and students
  with limited English language skills.

3
Academic Achievement Subcommittee Tools

• Five tools to address academic achievement
  barriers
• Strong, positive vibrant school climate in every
  school building.
• Providing wrap-around programs and family and
  community support.
• Reduced class sizes in early and middle grades.
• Adequate funding for English Language Learner
  (ELL) students
• Good health and nutrition opportunities for all
  students

4
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Promoting a strong, positive school
  climate
• Both state and local school districts should
  encourage all schools to promote the importance
  of a strong and vibrant school climate that
  provides staff development opportunities
  regarding tolerance and respect for all children.
• State Cost None
• The state should implement standards for students
  that stress the importance of a positive school
  climate that encourages tolerance and respect for
  all children.
• State Cost None

5
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Wrap-around programs family and
  community support.
• Create a 10-school pilot program for
  districts/schools with a high percentage of
  students living in poverty to develop an extended
  year program coordinated with other parent and
  community programs.
• State Cost Approximately 900,000 per 500
  student school for an additional 30 days of
  instruction.
• Increase current revenue limit authority factor
  for summer school enrollment from 40 of
  full-time equivalent enrollment to 50.
• Local Cost Would increase revenue limit
  authority by 12-15 million statewide after three
  years.

6
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Wrap-around programs family and
  community support.
• Create a pilot program for homeless students and
  those living in poverty that provides a
  residential/academy environment.
• State Cost Unknown
• Create a pilot program with funding for high
  poverty districts/schools to implement before and
  after school programs. Require such proposed
  programs to be coordinated with other local
  parent and community programs.
• State Cost Unknown (could be set figure)

7
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Reduced class sizes
• Increase the SAGE per pupil payment from 2,000
  to 2,500. Index state SAGE payments annually
  thereafter.
• State Cost 24 million in additional state
  funding
• Extend SAGE program for high poverty (i.e. 70
  and above) schools by one grade level each year
  up to 8th grade.
• State Cost 8 million in additional state
  funding in first year and then increasing by
  additional 8 million annually thereafter for
  four more years

8
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Reduced class sizes
• Allow additional schools, beyond those currently
  participating, to join current SAGE program.
• State Cost Unknown (could be set number of
  schools)
• Require additional accountability measures
  locally from current SAGE schools.
• State Cost None

9
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Funding for English Language Learner (ELL)
  students
• 11. Increase state reimbursement for
  bilingual-bicultural aid program from current
  level to 50.
• State Cost 28-30 million in additional state
  funding in first year to reach 50 reimbursement
  and then 2-5 million annually each year
  thereafter to maintain 50 figure.
• Provide state funding for districts with ELL
  students that are currently ineligible for
  bilingual-bicultural aid.
• State Cost 20-22 million in additional state
  funding in first year to provide 1,600 per
  student and then 2-3 million annually each year
  thereafter to maintain 50 reimbursement.

10
Academic Achievement Recommendations

• Tool Good health and nutrition for all students
• Increase state reimbursement rate for school
  breakfasts served from 0.10 to 0.15.
• State Cost 400,000-600,000 in additional
  state funding
• Create a state pilot program for districts to
  initiate school breakfast programs.
• State Cost 150,000 annually in additional
  state funding
• Recognize strong correlation between academic
  achievement and student health and the role
  school nurses and other health-related staff play
  in providing quality services to all students.
• State Cost None