Governor Jim Doyle says Wisconsin’s second application for Race to the Top education funding will need some improvements.
A score sheet released by the US Department of Education this week put Wisconsin in the bottom half of states that applied for the first round of funding under the federal program. Governor Jim Doyle says he found some of the factors used to score the applications a “little unusual.”
Wisconsin ranked 26th out of the states applying for funding, with its application receiving a grade of C-.
Doyle says the state is working on another application, which is due in June. Based on comments on the first attempt, he says it’s clear some changes will need to be made to improve Wisconsin’s chances, possibly including legislation. He’s continuing a push for lawmakers to take up a bill that would change the governance of Milwaukee Public Schools. However, Doyle says action is at least needed on a bill that would allow the state Superintendent to take over failing school districts.
Governor Doyle also questions why the two states that were granted funding received so much money. Tennessee and Delaware came out on top of the first round, receiving $500 million and $100 million respectively. Only $4.35 billion has been set aside for the stimulus program, and Doyle says Wisconsin was told it could only apply for about $250 million in funding.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)