Latest DPI-ConnectEd Stories

Fostering Multilingual Excellence With the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:00:17 +0000

Friday, November 22, 2024

Since its inception in 2015, the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy has paved the way for recognizing students who demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in two or more languages, and intercultural competence. This initiative is part of a broader national movement, now adopted by all 50 states and the District of Columbia, to promote and celebrate multilingualism in education.

In providing Wisconsin students with the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, our state clearly communicates the value of bilingualism and intercultural skills in our schools, communities, and workforce. In particular, the Seal of Biliteracy is a way of formally recognizing the linguistic skills of the growing number of students in our state who come to school speaking languages other than English.

The U.S. Secretary of Education has lauded such efforts in the “Raise the Bar, Lead the World” initiative, which underscores the importance of multilingualism. At the National Seal of Biliteracy Summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education in June of 2024, several key goals were highlighted:

Promoting multilingualism for all through K-12 pathways leading to proficiency.
Strengthening connections between language and intercultural competence with career-readiness initiatives.
Ensuring equity in access to the Seal credential for all learners and for all languages.
Securing post-secondary college and university recognition of the Seal.

In Wisconsin, the Seal is awarded to students who achieve or surpass Intermediate High language proficiency on the ACTFL scale. The Wisconsin Standards for World Languages include performance indicators based on this internationally recognized measure of language proficiency. This spring, the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy was earned by 644 graduates (a 43% increase since 2023) in 28 different languages. These numbers reflect the linguistic diversity of Wisconsin school districts, where over 100 languages other than English are spoken by students and their families. Across the United States, 350 languages are used around the kitchen table by U.S. residents, highlighting the rich tapestry of multilingualism that exists nationwide.

School districts register with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to make this industry-recognized credential available to their students. Students in world language, bilingual, and ESL programs may earn the Seal, as well as heritage speakers of languages learned at home or in the community.

The Wisconsin DPI offers a list of authorized assessments and alternative methods for students to demonstrate their language proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. The DPI is also partnering with the Minnesota Department of Education to promote equity in access to the Seal by providing assessments for less commonly taught heritage and indigenous languages, such as Hmong and Ojibwe.

Information and resources related to the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy are available on the DPI's website. School districts interested in introducing this program to celebrate their students' linguistic assets can reach out to [email protected]?subject=Seal%20of%20Bilingual%20Literacy">Tanya Morin. Further information on the national landscape for the Seal of Biliteracy can be found at State Seals of Biliteracy.

Our local and global communities are linguistically and culturally diverse and students are preparing to live, work, collaborate, and compete in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. Knowing multiple languages and how to interact effectively and respectfully with people across cultures increases student opportunities for success. It is our hope that the Seal of Biliteracy encourages school districts across the state to honor the rich and varied linguistic backgrounds of students and provide on-going opportunities for students to maintain, develop, and learn languages and intercultural communication skills.

With more colleges and universities recognizing and awarding academic credit for the Seal, now is the perfect time for educational institutions to implement this program. By doing so, they help ensure their students are college-, workplace-, and world-ready, reaping the myriad benefits of bilingualism. District administrators, language educators, school counselors, and academic career planning program leaders play a critical role in advocating for sustained language learning within and beyond our school communities.

Bulletin Board 11/22/2024

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:57:22 +0000

Friday, November 22, 2024

Welcome to the ConnectEd Bulletin Board!

This is the place to find opportunities for further professional development, grant and awards opportunities, and much more!

Quick Navigation Links

Increased Cases of Mycoplasma Pneumonia (M. pneumoniae) in School Aged Children
Apply for a Homegrown Grant from Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Call for Applicants: BadgerLink Advisory Group
Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year® Award Nominations
Deadline Approaching: Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin
Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing and Cartoon Contest
Fostering Young Readers Through Language and Literacy
Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program Launch
PBS Wisconsin Education’s ‘Wisconsin Biographies’ collection welcomes Roberto Hernández
Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project 2024
We've Moved! Update Your DPI Contacts
News from Around the State

Increased Cases of Mycoplasma Pneumonia (M. pneumoniae) in School Aged Children
The Department of Health Services has alerted DPI that Wisconsin is experiencing an increase in pneumonia cases in school aged children caused by the M. pneumoniae bacterium. DPI’s school nurse consultant has shared information with school nurses during virtual office hours and a sample letter is posted to the School Health Services Resources webpage under Sample Family Notification Letters.

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Apply for a Homegrown Grant from Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Homegrown Grant proposals should focus on:

Helping children and youth achieve their potential through education, building family well-being, helping families and individuals become financially stable and self-sufficient, or providing a direct, safety net resource or basic need. Collaboration with local partners is encouraged. The proposal or organization must:

Invest in people - increase skills, abilities, knowledge, and/or well-being
Engage people it serves
Strengthen community connections and/or resources

Homegrown Grants of up to $5,000/year should be considered one-time grants. The Homegrown Grant Committee accepts and reviews applications on a rolling basis from July 1 - March 31. Each application is evaluated with emphasis placed on efforts that create the greatest positive impact through innovation and collaboration. For more information, please visit the Kohl Philanthropies Homegrown Grant web site.

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Call for Applicants: BadgerLink Advisory Group
Apply to join the BadgerLink Advisory Group! We are seeking 10 new members to serve two-year terms beginning Spring 2025. Applications accepted through December 13, 2024. Review and selection finalized by January 17, 2025.

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Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year® Award Nominations
Every year, Operation Homefront picks one child from each branch of the services (7 recipients in all) and awards them with $10,000 CASH, a laptop, other donated goodies, and a 3-day trip to Washington, DC for them and their families.

Children are entered by nominations. Anyone that knows a military child can nominate any military child. So, you may nominate your students, your children, or friend’s children and so on. The program is entirely FREE and exclusive to military children. The awards are open to active duty, retired and National Guard children. Nominations are OPEN NOW – December 2^nd!

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Deadline Approaching: Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin
Do you know a school that is working to reduce environmental impacts and costs, improve health and wellness of students and staff, or increase environmental literacy?

Encourage them to apply for state or federal recognition!

December 1 is the deadline to submit the annual Green & Healthy Schools survey. Respondents can answer as much or as little of the survey as they wish and get recognized at one of four levels. Schools, districts, and early learning centers who reach the top “Sugar Maple” level are eligible for nomination to U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.

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Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing and Cartoon Contest
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Wisconsin Civics Games are hosting the fourth annual Editorial Writing and Cartoon Contest this fall. This contest is designed to promote civic engagement and education in Wisconsin middle and high schoolers. The prompt this year is the First Amendment and the deadline is Wednesday, December 4th. First place winners will receive $500.

Visit this page for more information that you can share with a student who might be interested in entering this competition.

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Fostering Young Readers Through Language and Literacy
A Guide for Connecting the 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 Across Early Childhood Systems

This collaboratively developed resource provides an overview of the 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 and highlights the intersections to key early care and education systems (child care, Head Start, 4K). It also offers practical strategies for educators to create effective learning environments that nurture the development of strong young readers.

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Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program Launch
The DPI Farm to School (F2S) team would like to share about an exciting new program, the Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program! The purpose of the program is to help schools promote and celebrate their F2S accomplishments. Schools that sign-up complete activities in the three core elements of F2S (local procurement, nutrition and agriculture education, and school gardens) and the number of activities they complete determines their broccoli-pun recognition level. Many of these activities can be seamlessly incorporated into existing programming.

There are four levels of recognition (with an additional bonus level), Broccoli Seedling, Broccoli Sprout, Broccoli Floret, and Broccoli Crown (Bonus: Broccoli Flowering School). Participation is by school (versus district) but there is no limit to the number of schools within a district that can participate. Prize incentives will be given for each completed level. The program officially launched on October 1, but schools can join at any point in the school year. Awards will be given at the end of May 2025.

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PBS Wisconsin Education’s ‘Wisconsin Biographies’ collection welcomes Roberto Hernández
PBS Wisconsin Education recently added a new story to the Wisconsin Biographies collection. Roberto Hernández: Working for La Comunidad shares the story of Roberto Hernández, who became an activist for better educational opportunities for his fellow Latino students in Milwaukee.

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Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project 2024
The Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project (WACP) began in 2023 as a collaborative project between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Arts Board created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Arts Board. The project offers FREE music, lesson plans, and materials created by Wisconsin artists and educators to Wisconsin schools, communities, and libraries. The project continues in 2024 with MORE collaborations, connections and opportunities!

The 2024 WACP will center on the theme of “Curiosity”. As Sir Ken Robinson once said, "If teachers can keep the flame of curiosity burning in children, then pretty much everything else will follow from that. Curiosity is the engine of achievement." This year's project will launch on this website around October 18, 2024. Below are the artists and educators contributing to this year's project. We are grateful to each of them!

To learn more and to see a list of our contributing artists and educators, head to the website.

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We've Moved! Update Your DPI Contacts
As of August 5th, the DPI is now located within the Tommy G. Thompson Building, a few short blocks away from our previous location at GEF-3. Our new address is:

201 West Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703

Phone numbers and email addresses for DPI colleagues will remain the same.

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News from Around the State

Underly's budget proposal is a bold step toward strengthening Wisconsin's public education via Daily Cardinal
Underly’s plan, prioritizing special education, per-student funding increases and property tax relief, is a substantial and badly needed investment in the future of Wisconsin.

State superintendent proposes $60M to expand career, tech ed programs via WSAW
Wisconsin is one of six states without ongoing funding for CTE programs in public schools. The proposal is part of Dr. Underly’s 2025-27 Biennial Budget request, available now on the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s website.

'We want to be here for you:' How Wisconsin schools welcome immigrant and refugee students via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
That sense of belonging, the feeling of “being a part,” is a key component to the mental health of newcomer students, “an umbrella term that includes various categories of people who were born outside of the United States,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.

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Saluting Military Families

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:52:25 +0000

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Every November we recognize the contributions of military families. Most folks are aware of and celebrate Veterans Day which is held on November 11, but we also want more people to know about how we can honor military families during November.

Less than one half of one percent of people in the US serve in the military, but their service is essential to many parts of our lives. Throughout the year we have seen the contributions of military members from Wisconsin to the ongoing efforts to support cyber security related to elections, continue to deal with COVID 19, and help in battling the wildfires in Wisconsin and throughout the Western United States. We also have members involved in supporting recent events related to storms in the South. Additionally, we have military members serving throughout the world to protect our freedom.

Family members of active duty, Guard, and Reserve military members live in many communities across Wisconsin. We also are home to families of Coast Guard members, civilian personnel in the Department of Defense, members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Public Health Service, all working on behalf of the defense of the United States.

Behind the Military members, Department of Defense personnel, and Coast Guard members are families who support them. Families of Military members often sacrifice a great deal as individuals are called on to serve in dangerous situations in locations throughout the world, often for extended periods of time. Families, including children, deal with the stress of numerous moves, lengthy separations, high risk deployments, and assignments.

Wisconsin is part of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Coalition or MIC3 which ensures educational barriers are removed for the children of military families. We have legislation in place to ensure Equal Opportunities for Military Children.

The following organizations provide excellent resources for families, educators, and community members. We invite you to join us in celebrating and recognizing the families of Military Members throughout November by making contact with these organizations or including these resources in your schools. If you would like additional information, please contact Wisconsin Commissioner for the Education of Military Children, [email protected]?subject=Military%20families">Shelley Joan Weiss.

Wisconsin Student Receives Scholarship for Homeless Students

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:29:41 +0000

Thursday, November 21, 2024

In Wisconsin Public schools, we are committed to making sure every child in Wisconsin has the supports, opportunities, and skills they need to thrive in our communities. Students who are unhoused have unique circumstances that we continue to address through federal funding, community partnerships, and human connection.

Every school district and charter school must designate an appropriate staff person as the homeless liaison. Homeless liaisons must be able to carry out the duties as required under the McKinney-Vento Act. The homeless liaison is the key to ensuring homeless children and youth receive the services they need and is the primary contact between homeless families, school and LEA staff, shelter workers, and other service providers. Below is a list of the staff member assigned to perform these duties for each local educational agency in Wisconsin. Find your district homeless liason here.

During this Homelessness Awareness month, we wanted to spotlight a program that has helped a formerly unhoused student reach their dreams of college education and beyond.

SchoolHouse Connection
SchoolHouse Connection is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing homelessness through education. One of the ways that they do this is by annually awarding a scholarship to a current or formerly homeless student to help them reach their academic and life goals. In one of their recent newsletters, the organization spotlighted one of their scholarship recipients from right here in Wisconsin. This student, according to SchoolHouse Connection "embodies the spirit of perseverance and demonstrates how education can change lives."

Name: Ava

City & State: Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

What this scholarship/accomplishment means: Receiving this scholarship has presented me with so many opportunities. Not only has it helped me pay for college expenses, but it has also connected me with so many amazing people who have shared similar experiences. Having these new friendships and bonds with leaders has been so beneficial to me, and has helped me feel not so alone as well as strengthened my support system. I’m so grateful for SchoolHouse connection, and their wonderful, caring staff ❤️. Graduating high school and being valedictorian of my class is a huge milestone and accomplishment. I set goals and achieved them, and this has been my first step in reaching my future goals which I am so passionate about. I’m so grateful for all that I have learned along the way, and so eager for the next chapter of my life: college, new friendships, and growing overall as a person in all aspects.

Next steps: I plan to study social work at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. After getting this degree I hope to attend law school.

Source: SchoolHouse Connection

We hope that more formerly unhoused Wisconsin public school students can benefit from this scholarship program, and the first step is by making sure students, staff, and parents know about it.

Find out more about SchoolHouse's Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program
Application Open January 1 - June 2nd for 2025

Our program provides $2500, three all expense paid trips, and most importantly intensive assistance to help students get to and through higher education and into the workforce. Our program follows students all the way through graduation (including graduate school if applicable) and one year into the workforce. Ten scholars are selected each year by a national review committee. My best insider tips for applicants is to ensure that all documents are uploaded properly and list the required information and that they clearly answer all essay prompts. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Eligibility

You are currently residing in the United States. Note: undocumented applicants are eligible.
You were born on or after June 2, 2005
You will be starting college (four year, community college, or trade school) for the first time in the 2026-2027 academic year (not including dual-enrollment courses). This applies to high school juniors, high school seniors planning to take a gap year, or students receiving a GED and planning to begin college for the first time in the 2026-2027 academic year.
You experienced homelessness in the last six years

Thanks and appreciation go to all of our district homeless liasons and all educators and school staff who work hard every year to help each and every homeless student. Your work makes a big difference for our kids and our communities, and we are proud of you!

Bulletin Board 11/7/2024

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 23:24:20 +0000

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Welcome to the ConnectEd Bulletin Board!

This is the place to find opportunities for further professional development, grant and awards opportunities, and much more!

Quick Navigation Links

Nominate a Teacher for a Kohl Fellowship!
Apply to Be a DPI STEAM Fellow
Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing and Cartoon Contest
Beloit Public Library Honored with NAACP Community Service Award
Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools Receives 2024 Innovation Impact Award
Fostering Young Readers Through Language and Literacy
Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program Launch
Special Education Conference
PBS Wisconsin Education’s ‘Wisconsin Biographies’ collection welcomes Roberto Hernández
Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project 2024
Anti-Human Trafficking Webinars for School Staff 2024-25
We've Moved! Update Your DPI Contacts
News from Around the State

Nominate a Teacher for a Kohl Fellowship!
The Kohl Teacher Fellowship program recognizes and supports teaching excellence and innovation in the state of Wisconsin. Their goal is to support Wisconsin teachers in the pursuit of their unrealized goals for their classrooms or professional development. The 100 Herb Kohl Fellowship recipients and the 100 Wisconsin schools of those teachers will each receive a $6,000 grant. Nominations close 11/12/24 and applications are due 1/7/25. More information and the nomination portal can be found on the Kohl Educational Foundation's website.

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Apply to Be a DPI STEAM Fellow
Are you an educator or librarian with experience teaching STEM/STEAM? The Department of Public Instruction is looking to hire 15 STEAM fellows who will engage in professional development, collaborate with regional and statewide partners, and implement STEAM-related initiatives in their schools and communities. Fellows will participate in collaborative learning experiences, curate educational resources, develop a plan to locally engage underrepresented students in STEAM education, and share their learning with others. The fellowship aims to foster innovation, equity, and excellence in STEAM education across Wisconsin.

Fellowships highlights:

$2,000 stipend
Grow your own practice with free professional learning
Support others to grow their practice by sharing what you’ve learned!

To learn more and apply (Applications due November 8): DPI STEAM Education Fellows Application

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Beloit Public Library Honored with NAACP Community Service Award
Beloit Public Library was honored to receive a prestigious Community Service Award from the Beloit NAACP at the organization’s Freedom Fund Banquet last week. This award was “in recognition of the library and its staff in carrying out the primary value enshrined in their strategic plan of the belief that all members of the community deserve respect and equitable treatment.”

The Beloit Branch NAACP #3251 hosted its annual banquet at the Eclipse Center with Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Lena C. Taylor as the keynote speaker on October 24. Library Board President Geri Heim, Former Library Board President Florence Haley, and Library Director Nick Dimassis accepted the award on behalf of the library with many staff and board members present.

Diversity is one of our community’s greatest strengths, and we are committed to being a welcome place for all members of our diverse community. Read more about this honor on the Beloit Public Library website.

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Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools Receives 2024 Innovation Impact Award
The Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools, which is funded through the DPI's federal WCSP funds and contracted to CESA 9, was recognized for developing and implementing an innovative tool or resource that has positively impacted charter school authorizing in their area. The award was given by the National Network for District Authorizing (NN4DA) at the National Association of Charter School Authorizers Conference highlighting the work they have done around the community needs assessment.

From the award: "Sarah [Hackett, Executive Director] and Tim [Scottberg, Associate Director]... responded to the challenge of the federally mandated Community Needs Analysis by creating a tool that was useful to many stakeholders in Wisconsin, including charter developers, authorizers, and the state. The simple to use, but powerful tools will help ensure proposals for new charter schools and expansions and replications are designed to serve the local community, while empowering the authorizer with information that can inform their decisions. Also important, they have been generous with sharing their model, featured both by the U.S. Department of Education and NACSA, as well as the NN4DA. The team has also been an active participant in the NN4DA and a valued thought partner in all our work."

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Fostering Young Readers Through Language and Literacy
A Guide for Connecting the 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 Across Early Childhood Systems

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Special Education Conference
The CESA 11 EdEvents Special Education Conference 2024 will be held from November 14-15, 2024, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Keynote speakers include Mills Rodgers, a national speaker on topics related to educational equity of diverse populations, and Kate Swensen, founder of Finding Cooper’s Voice. This year, the DPI Special Education Team will also have a number of sectional presentations on topics including Act 20 and special education, working collaboratively in special education, College and Career Ready IEPs at a Glance, Behavior as a Form of Communication, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Developmental Language Disorder, and DPI updates. Link to registration and more information.

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To learn more and to see a list of our contributing artists and educators, head to the website.

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Anti-Human Trafficking Webinars for School Staff 2024-25
The Department of Children and Families, in partnership with DPI, will again provide free learning opportunities in the 2024-25 school year. Click here to view a flier of the trainings with registration. The two sessions are:

‘It Happens Here’ Facilitation Guide & Lessons: Training for School Staff & Other Professionals Supporting Anti-Trafficking
'It Happens Here’ Documentary Community Screening & Discussion

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201 West Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703

Phone numbers and email addresses for DPI colleagues will remain the same.

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News from Around the State

175 years of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired via WMTV 15 News
The school was the first public institution chartered by the state legislature. This beautiful piece highlights the school's history and the accomplishments of its students and staff.

Wisconsin tribal leaders applaud Biden's apology for shameful Indian boarding schools via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Tribal leaders in Wisconsin are applauding President Joe Biden’s historic apology on Oct. 25 for the federal Indian boarding schools that abused Indigenous children.

Local businesses provide THS students with opportunity put job interview skills into practice via Tomahawk Leader
Business Instructor Connor Ahrens explained that through a series of mock job interviews, students engaged one-on-one with representatives from prominent local businesses, receiving both practical experience and individualized feedback.

Kaul asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear case on DPI’s request for $50M to fund reading bill via Wisconsin Public Radio
A Dane County judge rejected request to release the money.

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Dr. Jill Underly’s Upcoming Biennial Budget Request Meets Growing Needs of Wisconsin Students, Educators, Schools

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:00:42 +0000

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Dr. Jill Underly (Center) State Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks to media at a press conference in Appleton. To her left is Dr. Barb Novak, the Director of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s newly formed Office of Literacy.

State superintendent proposes universal school meals, youth mental health, education workforce, early literacy investments

Providing healthy meals for all Wisconsin students at no cost to families, expanding access to critical youth mental health services, investing in programs and strategies to recruit, retain and develop teachers, and supporting school districts in improving early literacy outcomes are key highlights in initial budget proposals unveiled by State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly recently.

Over the past two weeks, Dr. Underly visited schools around the state and announced several key initiatives that will be included in her 2025-27 Biennial Budget request. Additional initiatives will be proposed over the next two weeks.

Last week, Dr. Underly visited the Pulaski Community School District, where she highlighted a $304 million budget proposal aiming to improve mental health services in schools. Later in the week, she visited Kenosha Unified School District and announced a $294 million proposal to provide universal free meals to Wisconsin students. Earlier this week, Dr. Underly held an education workforce roundtable in the Madison Metropolitan School District, proposing $59.5 million in new investments aimed at resolving workforce challenges at schools around the state. On Wednesday, Dr. Underly visited with students and staff in early literacy classrooms in the Appleton Area School District and announced a $42 million budget proposal during a subsequent news conference.

“As the needs of Wisconsin schools, students and educators grow, the upcoming biennial budget presents an opportunity for our state to reinvest in public education and improve educational outcomes,” Dr. Underly said. “Our public education system has been underfunded by the legislature for far too long. The upcoming state budget is where we can make a real difference and meet those critical needs. Giving kids access to free healthy school meals and expanding mental health services are no-brainers and ensure they are ready to learn. When we support districts in resolving workforce challenges and build on Act 20 by providing sustainable state funding, we are making sure our next generation of leaders have what they need to succeed.”

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s full 2025-27 Biennial Budget proposal will be announced later this month and submitted to the governor. Additional information on initiatives included in the DPI’s budget, as announced by Dr. Underly, is below:

Dr. Underly’s full $311 million nutrition proposal creates a new supplemental nutrition aid program that offsets costs to students and families for meals received while at school – both breakfast and lunch. It also funds the School Breakfast Program, strengthens local food supply chains and fully funds the School Day Milk Program.

As about 60 percent of Wisconsin high school students saying they experienced at least one mental health challenge over the past year, Dr. Underly’s $304 million budget proposal expands access to critical services and resources. Specifically, the school-based mental health services program would grow so more schools can participate, more pupil services staff would be available in schools, training programs would expand to include more schools and more types of training, and middle school students would be able to participate in the peer-to-peer suicide prevention grant program.

$59.5 million in new investments proposed by Dr. Underly helps districts recruit, retain and develop teachers. The proposal provides stipends to eligible student teachers to help cover expenses and reduce debt, creates a new, state-funded grow-your-own grant program to grow the workforce, and expands a support program for new educators.

Under Dr. Underly’s $42 million early literacy proposal, the state would increase help to implement early literacy coaching programs, fund intensive summer reading programs, and invest in community-based early literacy supports including high-dosage tutoring programs.

More details on each of these investment areas can be found on the DPI web site by following the links above.

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New History Resources From PBS Wisconsin Education

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:35:53 +0000

Thursday, November 7, 2024

PBS Wisconsin Education creates and curates classroom-ready, free-to-use media and resources for Wisconsin educators. Check out the latest content from two of its history collections, Wisconsin Biographies and The Look Back.

Wisconsin Biographies
The Wisconsin Biographies collection features animated videos, historical image galleries, digital books, and educator guides designed to introduce students in grades 3-6 to historical figures and make connections to our lives today.

Roberto Hernández: Working for La Comunidad is the latest story in the collection. It shares the life and legacy of Roberto Hernández, who became an advocate for better educational opportunities for his fellow Latino students at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. His story also provides context around other civil rights and labor movements organized by Latino communities throughout the 1960s and 70s.

The Look Back
Designed for students in grades 4-6, The Look Back features real historians who model historical inquiry as they explore Wisconsin historical eras through artifacts.

Season two of The Look Back launched in August, with new episodes premiering throughout the school year. The episode How Fake Photos Convinced People to Move to the Midwest explores the story behind tall-tale postcards that depict larger-than-life agriculture. In Did Kids Really Run Away to Join the Circus?, the crew heads to Circus World Museum to learn about life under the big top.

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Who is Literacy and Math?

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:57:57 +0000

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Just a few of the amazing human beings who make up the DPI's Literacy and Math Team.

Welcome to the newest ConnectEd recurring feature: Who Is...! The DPI has many different divisions and programs, and they're run by some of the most talented, compassionate people we know. (Ok, we might be a little biased here...) With such a wide variety of programs, services, and initiatives, we wanted to make it easier for you to know who we are and how we can help you with almost anything under the sun.

Meet Literacy + Math

The Literacy and Mathematics team provides leadership and support for meaningful teaching and learning in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, literacy, language learning, early childhood, global education, and leadership development. In collaboration with stakeholders, the team engages in resource development, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and leadership in ways that promote equity and advance learning for all students.

You might know us already! Here are some of the programs we work on:

High Quality Instructional Materials And Professional Learning
Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization
Global Educator of the Year
Global Scholars Program
Multilingual Learners
Seal of Biliteracy Program
Immigrant Children and Youth Grant
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
Collaborating with state and national mathematics speakers and researchers to build capacity in WI educators
Promoting Early Childhood Conference (PEC)
Kindergarten Sturdy Bridge
Early Literacy Implementation Zone
Promoting assets-based family early literacy
Supporting the implementation of 2023 Wisconsin Act 20(e.g., presentations, publications,communications)
Promoting high quality authentic texts through WISELearn OER grant-funded book study projects (i.e., Middle Grades Lit Study; Promoting Early Literacy Through Diverse Texts Project)

You might not know that we:

Advocate for mathematics learning and teaching that centers student thinking.
Supports school districts in educating students who are English learners (EL).
Award the Seal of Biliteracy to Wisconsin school districts committed to honoring, sustaining, developing, and recognizing students' multilingualism.
Promote and support practices that support early learners (ages 3-3rd grade).
Partner with the Department of Children and Families and Health Services.
Review and provide feedback on licensure portfolios and educator preparation program submissions
Review and provide feedback EPP’s Act 20 addendums and program reviews
Partner with literacy professionals and organizations (e.g., Greater Madison Writing Project, Professors of Literacy, Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium, WSRA)
Wrote a WISELearn OER grant to establish a community of practice that brings together professionals serving in the role of district reading specialists in Wisconsin school districts and CESAs, professors involved in reading specialist licensure programming, and literacy consultants from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in order to deepen understanding of their roles and publish related supports
Serve on the Advisory Council for the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Support DPI’s WIFT project
Complete ESSA LEA reviews
Help to develop Wisconsin’s AI Policies

Our next big things are:

Comprehensive State Literacy Plan
Early Childhood Transitions (ages 3-3rd grade) Resources and Support

We love helping people through:

Connecting educators to other educators and programs that leverage their strengths.
Reflecting and understanding that our personal math identities impact our work with children.
Understanding the importance of using Developmentally Appropriate Practices so that young children and families have meaningful educational experiences.
Fostering culturally and linguistically sustaining, asset-based, individualized, and inclusive approaches to literacy instruction
Advancing literacy learning by recognizing and supporting comprehensive literacy, connecting with literacy professionals, families, and community members, building on assets, and sharing resources that meaningfully bridge research to practice.

Our team is amazing, and we want you to know that as people, we are:

Passionate
Caring
Collaborative
Dedicated
Knowledgeable
Experienced
Compassionate
Flexible
Forward Thinking.

Thank you to the Literacy and Math team for your amazing work, and your committment to all Wisconsin educators, staff, and students!

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Personal Financial Literacy: Pulling Together to Implement Act 60

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:52:39 +0000

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Think back. How did you learn about money and finances? Did those who supported your learning include family, friends, and others in the community? We can now continue to add teachers to the mix through the passage of Act 60, which requires students to earn one-half credit of personal financial literacy to graduate. Act 60 is one way to equip and empower students to make informed financial decisions, leading to stronger communities and economies. Interestingly, the passing of Act 60 did not include any implementation funding, so you might wonder what implementation will look like. Be assured: We are not without resources, but all of us will need to pull together to create a smooth roll-out. And good news: No school is starting from scratch.

Centering Teacher Voice
More than 230 Wisconsin high schools already have a stand-alone personal financial literacy (PFL) course, and additional schools have offered it as an elective before the passage of Act 60. Questions sometimes come up regarding which licensed teachers can teach the course. As there is no personal financial literacy teacher license, if the district adopted the Wisconsin Standards for Personal Financial Literacy and the course is built using these standards, then teachers holding licenses to teach social studies¹, family and consumer sciences, or business and information technology are qualified to teach PFL because of the connection between their standards.

For schools that do not have staff licensed to teach PFL, the PFL FAQ offers more licensing options. The key is to lift teacher-to-teacher expertise and provide the professional development to make it happen. For example, Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) is offering stipends of $500 to the first 250 educators who earn 20 hours of NGPF PD. The more people are thinking about PFL, the more students are learning.

Partnering for Good
Thanks to a significant private gift, NGPF has joined DPI to provide two years of limited funding for a PFL Statewide Coordinator, Marti Diaz, a PFL Educator At-Large, Sarah Campbell, and 13 PFL Educator Fellows. The statewide coordinator will work with the designated PFL education consultants to develop and prioritize the Fellows’ work.

Fellows will serve as ambassadors for centering teacher-to-teacher support for implementing Act 60. Fellows will work to develop a culture that values creativity, cooperation, and success, and to empower everyone to contribute to shared objectives. Specifics are in development and will be shared as they become available.

Collective Resources
No matter how far your school has come in preparing for Act 60, you can start today to access resources. Be sure to check out the Wisconsin Standards for Personal Financial Literacy to lay the foundation. Then, look into some of these resources:

Gap Analysis Tool – Use this to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of your current PFL curriculum.
PFL curriculum resources – Choose from among the best educational and curriculum resources available today.
The PFL WISELearn Resources group – This archive has more than 140 curated resources, and the collection is growing! Go to the link, join the group, and watch as your curriculum options expand!
Off to a Strong Start in Financial Literacy – Learn from a seasoned PFL educator about how to make the PFL classroom engaging.

If you have questions about implementing Act 60 or PFL in general, email [email protected]">[email protected] and join in the conversation on the [email protected]">PFL listserv anytime!

¹This includes the new social studies license (2700) and social studies licenses prior to the repeal and recreation of PI 34 in 2018 (1710 - economics, 1701 – Broadfield social studies, and 1700 – social studies).

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State Superintendent Statement on Tuesday’s School Referendum Results

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Dr. Jill Underly calls on state to sustainably fund public schools

In the evening of Tuesday, November 5, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly released the following statement regarding school referendums on the ballot across Wisconsin:

“Wisconsin families value public education and understand our schools need sustainable funding to keep the lights on and provide a high-quality education to our kids. At the same time, they understand this responsibility should not disproportionately fall on local taxpayers.

“Our state legislature has severely underfunded public schools for well over a decade, and it has led to a record number of districts going to referendum to try and fix severe financial constraints on their own. Too many communities were forced to vote Tuesday on increasing property taxes just so their local schools can pay staff, heat and cool their buildings, and provide a quality education.

“There’s a better path. We must reinvest in our public schools and the future of our kids. The upcoming biennial budget provides yet another opportunity for the legislature to uphold its responsibility to appropriately fund public schools, and to stop forcing Wisconsin communities to make impossible choices.”

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