Governor's Veto Powers Over DPI - Struck Down

Wisconsin has been in the news recently in matters pertaining to the governor's power over supervision of the state schools.  A ruling from a Dane country judge ruled that authority over the state department of public instruction is the responsibiltiy of the state superintendent of schools.  This part of Act 21 was ruled unconstitutional.  The matter is being appealed.

Please keep any comment you may have non-political which is a policy I would like to retain in my blog.

Wis. Judge Overturns Gov.'s Education Powers.  10.30.12 Associated Press.  Madion, WI .Education Week
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/10/30/561020wieducationrules_ap.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2  Note:  Unless you are a "registered guest," Education Week will not allow the full article to be shown. 
Because of this restriction, I looked in JS Online and found another article about the same decision
Judge strikes down law giving Walker new powers in setting DPI rules.  10.30.12 Jason Stein. JSOnline
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/judge-strikes-down-law-giving-walker-new-powers-in-setting-dpi-rules-9l7dot5-176458541.html

New Recalibrated WKCE Scores Dive DEEP!

We all have been aware that the Wisconsin DPI was going to recalibrate the current WKCE scores to align with national standards.  We all have been prepared that MPS and Milwaukee's choice schools for a lower profiency levels.  Well, the results are in.  Are you mentally prepared?  I wasn't.
Personally, I had not forecast the dive would be as deep as it is.  Read article for specific data.
Comments?

Proficiency plummets at voucher schools, MPS with new test scoring.  Erin Richards. 10.24.12 JSOnline 
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/proficiency-plummets-at-voucher-schools-mps-with-new-test-scoring-d27b2oi-175697171.html

Evers Announces New State Test Plans

Tony Evers, state superintendent of public instruction announced a new approach for testing Wisconsin high school students.  He is requesting $7million from the state to fund  ....

• all 11th graders to the the ACT standardized college admissions exam
• a separate career skills test startin ghe the 2014-15 school year
• all 9th and 10th graders would take a pre-ACT test starting that year - also....EXPLORE test in 9th grade, PLAN test in 10th grade, and WorkKeys skills test in 11th grade.

WorkKeys measures skills such as reading, math, listening, locating information and teamwork to help students understand how they can improve their skills for better-paying jobs, according to ACT.

There will be new computer-adaptive standardized tests for elementary and middle-school students to be fully implemented in 2014-15.

We'll just have to wait to see how these plans work out.  We live in interesting times, don't we?  Question is, how prepared are we as Title I teachers?  Is Wisconsin on the right track?

Cluster of new exams proposed for all high schoolers – Wisconsin would use ACT, pre-ACT tests to gauge progress.  Erin Richards 9.12.12. Journal Sentinel.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/cluster-of-new-exams-proposed-for-all-high-schoolers-h16r0r5-169466086.html