Letter to Wisconsin's Delegates in Congress on the 2005-06 Federal Budget

April 13, 2005

Sen. Herb Kohl
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510-4904

Dear Sen. Kohl,

I am writing to express my concern over several items in the President's budget. Dwindling federal resources for essential programs is exacerbated by state-imposed revenue limits, which has required Madison schools to cut nearly $38 million from our "cost-to-continue" budget and eliminate over 400 positions during the last decade. I urge you to fight to restore these important programs in the Department of Education to ensure continuance of these effective local/state/federal partnerships.

Comprehensive School Reform - Madison Schools received approximately $1 million this year to assist 11 schools with school reforms that focus on academic improvement. These grants have enabled our neediest schools to make substantial gains in student achievement and to build long-term capacity that will enable these gains to be sustained beyond the grant period. The federal resources are used for staff development and books, science kits and other classroom materials for students tied to the kind of research-based practices that are at the heart of the reforms promoted by the Department of Education in both the current and previous administration. Eliminating this program, as proposed by the President, is counter productive to the No Child Left Behind goal of improving academic performance of students and closing the achievement gap for disadvantaged students.

Even Start Family Literacy Partnership - This innovative program connects schools and families, helping parents learn how to support their child academically. Madison's Even Start grant features broad community partnerships, including the UW-Madison, Edgewood College, the Madison Literacy Council, the Madison Public Library and others. The program also provides assistance for parents to receive their GED certificate, helps with parenting skills and offers financial management classes. The federal contribution to operate the 3-year grant in two schools and several community locations is $281,250 annually.

21st Century Learning Centers - Madison has five schools and the Allied Drive Learning Center that receive $643,629 annually for academic, social and recreational opportunities for students after school. Nearly 1,200 students benefit from this program, with a strong focus on improved academic achievement. Several of the participating schools have a large majority of their students enrolled (Lake View El., 88%; Lincoln El., 78%; Lowell El., 72%). Similar to Comprehensive School Reform, it seems shortsighted for the President to highlight the need for academic improvement and then take away an important tool to accomplish that end.

Educational Technology Grants - With the elimination of over $500,000 annually to the district from the state's TEACH WI fund several years ago, losing Title IID Ed. Tech funding would be devastating. Essentially, federal ed. tech funds ($119,083 in entitlement funds, $250,000 in competitive grant funds) account for most of the district's instructional technology budget. Without these funds, the newly-developed sustainable online learning program for six area school districts (Dane Districts Online, www.danedistricts.org) would not have been possible. Through this program, hundreds of urban and rural high school students now have access to engaging online curriculum not otherwise available in their school or district. By supporting this collaborative effort, Title IID funds have helped these districts reduce duplication, minimize costs, and develop a program built on best practices.

Via its latest grant proposal, submitted on March 28, 2005, this consortium is now hoping to use Title IID competitive funds to design, develop, and implement a new Information Technology Career Pathways program in 11 area high schools. This technology-infused program will blend rigorous academics with career/vocational instruction to boost the high-school completion rate of low-income, underserved and disengaged students.

GEAR UP - In partnership with the University of Wisconsin, Madison Area Technical College, and seven non-profit community organizations, our district just submitted a $2.16 million 6-year competitive grant proposal that will help roughly 250 at-risk sixth-graders at Madison's three highest-poverty middle schools get prepared academically and financially to gain admission to - and succeed in - post-secondary education. These federal funds will leverage over $3.12 million in matching commitments from this wide-ranging group of partners. Eliminating this program, as proposed by the President, will not only leave these disadvantaged students behind but deny our community, our state, and our country of their productive potential as adults.

Thank you in advance for your attention to these issues. The Madison Schools and our community appreciate your ongoing efforts in behalf of Wisconsin's public school students.

Sincerely,

Art Rainwater
Superintendent