Lasee Has the Answer!

No one came up with the correct answer to my question from last week. Minnesota scored ahead of Wisconsin on average ACT scores and I wanted to know if anyone knew what the main difference was between the two states with regards to K-12 education. Well there are THREE main differences:

1) Minnesota does NOT have 4-year old kindergarten

2) Minnesota only pays for 1/2 day regular kindergarten. The parents must pay for the full day if they want it.

3) Minnesota spends LESS per child than Wisconsin. How much less? Read Frank Lasee’s article here:

Lasee’s Notes
August 22, 2006

Is Second Good Enough?

The ACT College test results and rankings were released last week. Wisconsin high school students had the second highest in the nation. This is the second year in a row our kids have outperformed students in all but one of the 25 states that use the ACT exam. That’s great news. Compared to other states (but not other nations) our kids are getting a good education.

Minnesota students achieved the top ranking for the third year in a row. Granted their average student score was slightly higher than ours (22.2 for Wisconsin kids compared to 22.3 for Minnesota kids).

Minnesota is educating their children better and they are spending less to do it. They are paying their teachers more and have less of them. Why isn’t Wisconsin doing what they are doing? They are consistently getting better results at less cost.

According to the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, in 2004 Wisconsin taxpayers spent $9,881 (nearly ten grand) per child in our K-12 schools. Minnesota spent $9,239 per student. That’s more than $600 less per child.

If we did what Minnesota’s educational system does and put their best practices to work in our schools, Wisconsin taxpayers could potentially save more than $565 million ($565,000,000) per year ($642 X 881,480 students) — while improving our kids’ education and better preparing them for their future.

Quality education is important and is the responsibility of the government. It brings future success and greater earnings over a lifetime. This is good for individuals and good for our state and country. Minnesota is reaping benefits. People in Minnesota, on average, earn about 15 percent more than Wisconsinites.

Why is this important to you?

Because we are paying for it and well educated kids grow up to be more productive and creative adults. They make more and pay more in taxes (and can afford them more easily). It helps our economy greatly. Wisconsin has a problem attracting college educated people from other states. Without a Wisconsin connection the smart and educated are choosing to live in other states. Nearly every state allows them to keep more of the money they earn. To spend, save, and invest.

Why aren’t our educational leaders looking to Minnesota for ways to improve the education of our children and save taxpayers money in the process? Great question. Could it have anything to do with WEAC (the teacher’s union)?

Let’s follow Minnesota’s lead and use their education strategies and immediately put these practices into our classrooms. The savings we realize should be returned directly to property taxpayers. It works in Minnesota, why can’t it work here? Second is not good enough and it’s time we did something about it.

State Superintendent of Schools, Elizabeth Burmaster, please lead us to better results at a better cost. We don’t need more money, we need leadership.

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