The Gov Monitor June 21, 2010

HEADLINE: Wisconsin Invests $51 Million For Education, Struggling Schools

Funding Designed to Turn Around Struggling Schools in Wisconsin

Governor Jim Doyle and State Superintendent Tony Evers today announced that Wisconsin will receive $50,708,839 through the federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) program to help turn around struggling schools.

These funds come from the $3.5 billion being made available to states as part of the 2009 federal budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"This funding will help us take a significant step toward turning around our struggling schools," Governor Doyle said. "I want to thank Congressman Dave Obey, as well as Secretary Duncan and the Obama Administration, for helping make this funding possible. Their focus on moving our education system forward will greatly improve the education our kids receive."

"Turning around struggling schools is a priority," State Superintendent Tony Evers said. "Wisconsin must ensure every student graduates with the knowledge and skills that prepare them to succeed in the workforce or further education."

The funding made available to Wisconsin will be distributed by the state to identified schools. In order for a district to request these funds, it must have been identified by the state as a "persistently lowest achieving" or a Tier III school, which is defined as a school that has failed to meet annual yearly progress for two years and is not identified as a persistently lowest achieving school.

Tier III schools can only receive funds once all the state's persistently lowest achieving schools have received funds. Once schools receive SIG funds, they will be able to spend them immediately to turn around schools this fall.

Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has taken major steps to improve education in Wisconsin. In his first term, the Governor protected schools from a Republican-led State Legislature's attempt to slash education funding by $400 million - a cut that would have devastated our schools and our students.

The Governor increased funding for small class sizes, increased funding for special education, expanded school breakfast programs, expanded 4-year old kindergarten programs and invested in early childhood education. Governor Doyle also created the Wisconsin Covenant, a pathway to higher education for every hardworking Wisconsin student.

To view Wisconsin's application, including the state-identified list of persistently lowest achieving schools, click here: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/summary/index.html