The first U.S. charter school opened in 1992, and the scale of the charter movement has since grown to 4,000 schools and more than a million students in 40 states plus the District of Columbia. With this growth has also come a contentious debate about the effects of the schools on their own students and on students in nearby traditional public…

Reports on a follow-up study of secondary migration among Indochinese refugees resettled by Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Suggests that cultural misunderstanding, rigid sponsorship approaches, and an insensitivity to the special mental risks of refugee populations have contributed to the incidence of secondary…

Focusing on the experiences of Southeast Asian refugees in small Wisconsin cities, this paper addressed two broad issues: First, how do non-white ethnic groups survive in their majority white environments? And second, what creative support systems have emerged from within these groups or from the interested efforts of non-minority community…

The intent of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 is to hold schools accountable for ensuring that all their students achieve mastery in reading and math, with a particular focus on groups that have traditionally been left behind. Under NCLB, states submit accountability plans to the U.S. Department of Education detailing the rules and…

This is the second year report in a five-year evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP). This program, which began in 1990, provides government-funded vouchers for low-income children to attend private schools in the City of Milwaukee. The maximum voucher amount in 2007-08 was $6,607, and approximately 20,000 children use a…

This study examined the relationship between educational achievement and ethnicity as related to enrollment patterns of Wisconsin high school and college students. The purpose of the study was to identify the points at which minority students leave the educational system. The data utilized for the study were the enrollment data for 1973-74 and…

Surveys 458 adult residents of La Crosse (Wisconsin) by telephone to determine knowledge about their attitudes toward Southeast Asian immigrants (largely Hmong). Data suggest that the community is evenly divided in support of immigrants. The greatest variance is accounted for by ethnocentrism, although economic factors play a role. (SLD)

This year the Center on Education Policy analyzed data on the achievement of different groups of students in two distinct ways. First, it looked at grade 4 test results to determine whether the performance of various groups improved at three achievement levels--basic and above, proficient and above, and advanced. Second, it looked at gaps between…

The information presented in this manual is directed to teachers, administrators, and the general public who encounter students of limited English proficiency. It is divided into three sections: (1) "Historical Landmarks of Bilingual Education in Wisconsin and the United States," by Frank M. Grittner; (2) "Discussion Outline on…

This report compares the educational performance of Asian and Hmong students with that of other students in six urban school districts across Wisconsin. These six districts were chosen because Hmong students are the largest minority group in each of the districts. Data from standardized tests given in grades 3, 4, 8, and 10 in these districts…

Pushing the boundaries of Asian American educational discourse, this book explores the way a group of first- and second-generation Hmong students created their identities as "new Americans" in response to their school experiences. Offering an opportunity to rethink the "norm," this important volume pays particular attention to…

This report compares Wisconsin's reading and mathematics performance on the most recent administrations of the state assessment with performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). To indicate how Wisconsin is doing in narrowing the academic achievement gap between African American and Latino students and their white, middle…

The Forum's 16th annual report on public schooling in Southeastern Wisconsin reveals that spending increased 4% in Southeastern Wisconsin school districts to $2.8 billion last year, although the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) experienced a significantly smaller increase (2.7%). Part of this relatively small increase can be attributed to the…