Promoting Excellence for All: A Report from the State Superintendent’s Task Force on Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap

For Wisconsin to be innovative in the 21st century, and for communities to remain strong, all students must graduate college and career ready. As Wisconsin’s student population becomes increasingly diverse, the persistence of racial disparities in the educational system (as well as in health, housing, and employment) poses real challenges to opportunity and economic progress.

In 2014, the Midwest Comprehensive Center (MWCC) facilitated the meetings of a task force focused on closing achievement gaps in Wisconsin. MWCC worked in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction to help task force members identify relevant strategies used within their schools and districts.

State Superintendent Tony Evers invited representatives from these schools to participate in the Promoting Excellence for All: State Superintendent’s Task Force on Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap task force. The task force was charged to:

• Examine and recommend proactive instructional strategies to close achievement gaps in Wisconsin;
• Develop resources for Wisconsin practitioners working to close achievement gaps in their schools and districts; and
• Recommend local board policy changes that can support efforts to close the achievement gaps in Wisconsin schools.

The work culminated in this report, which has served as a guidepost as the agency continues to tackle this issue.