The State Superintendent of Public Instruction says Wisconsin students are scoring well on standardized tests, but there are growing concerns about the gap in student achievement that's occurring across the state.
Burmaster told a legislative hearing on Monday that students from low-income families, tracked by those who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs, are not performing as well as their peers. She says the number of impoverished students is also growing.
Burmaster says the current No Child Left Behind Act makes it difficult for the state to address the gap, because schools that under perform lose the money they need to improve. She says states need more control over what needs to be done to help struggling students.
Reauthorization of NCLB is currently being considered in Congress. If it is renewed, Burmaster says it needs to be properly funded and schools must have the tools to help disadvantaged students.
