Lawmakers Question Goal To Cut Wisconsin Achievement Gap

Lawmakers on the Legislature’s education committees are quizzing how schools will meet new goals to cut Wisconsin’s student achievement gap in half over six years.

The Senate and Assembly education committee held a joint hearing Wednesday for a briefing on the state’s education accountability plan required under federal law that includes the achievement goal.

Republican Sen. Luther Olsen praised the education department for setting what he called “ambitious goals.” And Democratic Rep. Sondy Pope said she thinks the goals “are the right number for Wisconsin.”

Meeting the goal will require African-American students to improve their proficiency in English and math about four times as fast as they have in recent years.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is accepting public comment on the plan now.