This week Governor Walker released his education reform legislation based off the recommendations of the Read to Lead taskforce and aimed at improving Wisconsin’s stagnant reading scores.  The task force was composed of Governor Walker, State Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers, educators, reading experts, elected officials from both parties, and philanthropic and nonprofit representatives. The Task Force was charged with reviewing Wisconsin’s current reading standards and developing a plan for improvements. 

Every year Wisconsin’s school children in grades four and eight take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test that is uniformly administered across the nation.  NAEP is the largest continually administered assessment, testing students in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, and U.S. history.  Since 1992, Wisconsin has continually held a top position in reading scores until recently.   Interestingly enough Wisconsin scores have not lowered; instead the rest of the nation has passed us by.  Other states such as Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina now all consistently score higher than Wisconsin.  As early as 1994 Wisconsin students scored 3rd in the nation in reading, contrast that with 2009 when Wisconsin students scored 30^th.

It is well known that reading is the most important skill for future success.  The literary skills children learn early in life are the building blocks that provide the foundation for future learning.  Knowing the importance of early reading success and our state’s stagnant scores I introduced Assembly Bill 583 and 584 in 2009.  AB 584 would have required the Department of Public Instruction to develop or adopt a screening device to identify pupils in grades kindergarten through fifth who are at risk of reading failure.  Students in grades three through five would be screened if they scored in the lowest 40 percent of all students on a statewide standardized test.  AB 583 would have required those teaching reading to elementary grades to pass a supplementary examination developed or adopted by DPI which assesses specific teacher skills essential to the teaching of reading.  Neither of these bills received a hearing from the democrat- controlled education committee because of objections from WEAC.

The Read to Lead (RTL) taskforce recommendations are considerably similar to what I had proposed over two years ago.  Specifically, the RTL called for increased early childhood screenings in grades pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, with students in first and second grades who are struggling readers being tested more.  The RTL also recommends teachers receive advanced training in the teaching of reading and calls for a new teacher exam with greater focus on the evaluation of a teacher’s ability in the instruction of reading. 

 The recommendations of the RTL taskforce are commonsense changes that need to be made in order for Wisconsin students to again lead the nation in reading.  I would have enjoyed serving as a member of the taskforce, but appreciate that the group has found merit in my work with the Wisconsin Branch of the International Dyslexia Foundation. While I support the work of the taskforce, it is unfortunate it took a change in governor and another school year before Wisconsin finally took action.  Resting on our laurels put us in this position and more and more children fall farther and farther behind.

Wisconsin December Jobs Number

The Department of Workforce Development released Wisconsin's December jobs numbers and end of the year results.  For the month, Wisconsin lost a net of 1,700 jobs but finished the year with a positive result of 21,000 additional Wisconsinites working over last year.  Wisconsin's unemployment rate also dropped from 7.3% to 7.1%.

I continue to focus on jobs as the number one priority  and will as long as Wisconsin's economy continues to lag.  While work in the Wisconsin State Assembly begins next week, Washington continues to struggle with a lack of leadership and political strife.  Until our President begins to  focuses on jobs instead of scoring political points, our economy will continue to languish. 

Dialing 511 provides you with free real-time travel conditions.  This toll-free number is a useful resource for drivers to get instant updates on the condition of state roadways.  It’s a step forward for road safety and a great use of technology to give people a new advantage over the weather.

As in the past I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation.  Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work.  As before I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.  Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (608) 266-3404, or Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov. 

Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 47^th Assembly District. If there is anyone you know who would like to be included please respond to this email with their email address. 

I want to remind everyone that my door is always open and you can always visit me at my Madison office in the Capitol (223 North).   Please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues you maybe facing.  You can call my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov.  I look forward to hearing from you.