The UW Board of Regents discussed new plans to improve Wisconsin's early education programs and their relationship to higher education Thursday.
The Wisconsin K-12 Common Core Standards Initiative is a new state-led initiative the Wisconsin System plans to implement. The initiative was developed with help from non-profit academic standards organization Achieve and testing organization College Board, and has been supported by ACT Inc.
Part of the initiative includes the Common Core State Standards, which mandate student learning outcomes for every grade level and create a common language throughout school districts.
The CCSS uses student data in elementary and high schools to help create new systems for evaluating and assessing teachers and principals.
""From the higher education point of view, it will provide changes on how teachers are prepared in the state of Wisconsin."" said Paul Sandrock of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
The CCSS aims to benefit students by providing them with tools and knowledge to be able to succeed in college and in their future careers.
Francine Tompkins, director of the UW System's PK-16 Partnerships and Initiatives, also presented the Student Teaching Assessment of Content Knowledge [STACK] Initiative to the Board of Regents.
The STACK Initiative incorporates the values of the CCSS by promoting K-12 student learning and improving teacher effectiveness.
A lack of consistency in the rating of teachers has brought overall criticism to current assessment programs.
""Though assessment practices have improved over time, we continue to be challenged to find valid methods to link teacher performance with student learning outcomes,"" Tompkins said.
The Capital Budget Committee also approved of funding requests for UW-Eau Claire, UW-Milwaukee and repair and maintenance projects at nine UW System campuses.
