Wisconsin
Wisconsin students making progress after pandemic achievement losses
Wisconsin reading achievement scores are returning back to 2019 levels, but students are still struggling to make up for pandemic learning losses in math, according to a new report.
Researchers at Stanford and Harvard found U.S. students achieved historic gains in math and reading during the 2022-23 school year, the first full year of recovery from the pandemic.
But despite those improvements, students still made up only one-third of the pandemic loss in math and one-quarter of the loss in reading.
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“Students overall haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels of achievement,” said study co-author Sean Reardon, faculty director of the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. “But clear progress is being made.”
School districts are worried the learning achievements made could be lost when federal pandemic funds run out this fall.
Even if they maintain last year’s pace, students will not be caught up by the time federal relief expires in September, the report found.
Poorer students fell further behind, so recovery is taking longer
Between 2019 and 2022, achievement in Wisconsin fell by 37 percent of a grade equivalent in math and 28 percent in reading, according to the report.
Between 2022 and 2023, math achievement across the state increased by 22 percent, but most districts remain far below 2019 levels.
Disparities across Wisconsin persist:
- Milwaukee Public Schools and Racine Unified and West Allis-West Milwaukee School District all lost a full grade equivalent or more in math between 2019 and 2022.
- Howard-Suamico, Elmbrook and Appleton school districts are already scoring above their 2019 levels.
- Green Bay, West Allis-West Milwaukee, and Sheboygan students remain more than half a grade equivalent behind in reading.
The achievement gaps between high- and low-poverty districts in Wisconsin have widened, but that’s the result of larger initial losses in poor districts and the slower recovery of poor students within the average district, Reardon said.
“The recovery has been pretty even, but it’s not undoing the inequality,” Reardon said. “So in other words, kids in most districts are recovering, on average about the same amount. But because the poor districts fell behind so much further, they’re still much further behind.”
Educators in the school districts have used similar outreach and programing to try to reach students with the help of federal pandemic funds.
A tale of two districts
The Howard-Suamico School District just outside of Green Bay, initiated a task force focused on continuous improvement when the pandemic hit.
Amanda Waldo, director of teaching and learning for the district, said one of the key strategies has been to put in place study teams for students who are struggling with reading or math.
Teachers use data and create intervention plans for those children to get them back on track, Waldo said.
Last summer, the district launched Learning Leap Academy, a targeted summer school program for students who are in need of academic support.
“It’s almost like a camp,” Waldo said. “They get the bookmobile, our zoo comes and visits them, but they’re also reading every single day, and they’re practicing math every single day. And we’ve seen a lot of great growth from that program as well.”
The tactics have worked. The district’s change in average reading scores in 2022-23 was 35 percent above the national average compared to pre-pandemic levels. Scores for math were 20 percent above the national average last year.
Howard-Suamico has about 5,700 students. More than 85 percent of them are white and about 19 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch.
In Racine Unified School District, where there are 16,000 students and 60 percent are economically disadvantaged, educators have also launched targeted summer programs, early literacy programs and a new math curriculum for middle school students.
But the results haven’t been the same.
The district’s change in average reading scores in 2022-23 was 38 percent below the national average compared to pre-pandemic levels. Scores for math were 18 percent below the national average last year.
Janell Decker, acting academic officer for the Racine school district, said attendance and engagement is just starting to get back on track since the pandemic.
And getting parents to participate in academic programs isn’t always easy.
Pandemic money has helped, but will soon be gone
Wisconsin’s public schools received nearly $2.4 billion in three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER funds, meant to help students make up for learning loss during the pandemic.
Wisconsin received about $1.5 billion dollars in its final round of federal recovery funding. As of February, more than $300 million still needed to be allocated and spent by the end of September, according to conservative Institute for Reforming Government, which reviewed public DPI disclosure documents.
Programs like Howard-Suamico’s Learning Leap Academy and Racine’s literacy work has been made possible by pandemic relief funds.
Both districts worry about what will happen to these programs when the money runs out.
“We are currently looking at our operating budget and seeing what really worked best and trying to keep some of the supports that are showing really good gains,” Decker said. “But I think I speak on behalf of all the districts in saying that it’s impossible to keep all of the things that we see working.”
Reardon said a study is currently underway at Stanford to determine how much of the learning loss recovery is due to ESSER funds. But early estimates show the money has been a significant catalyst.
“The recovery has been much larger than you would predict based on the amount of ESSER funds that were awarded and spent,” Reardon said. “So we don’t know if the ESSER funds caused it, but we do know that the amount of recovery is quite large relative to what even the most optimistic prediction you would have made based on the amount of extra funds available.”
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 25, 2024, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
05-35-45-60-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
0-9-4
8-1-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
3-2-7-4
0-0-7-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
Midday: 02-03-04-05-08-10-11-13-15-19-22
Evening: 01-02-03-04-09-11-12-14-17-18-20
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
03-06-15-18-25
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
08-17-28-30-32-34, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.
According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.
”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”
He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.
”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.
People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.
”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”
If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”
According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.
Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2024 WMTV. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin
Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium
MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.
2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.
Running back
1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.
2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.
Receiver
1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.
2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.
Receiver
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.
Slot recever
1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.
2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.
Tight end
1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.
2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.
Left tackle
1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.
2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.
Left guard
1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.
2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.
Center
1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.
2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.
Right guard
1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.
2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.
Right tackle
1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.
2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.
DEFENSE
Line
1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.
2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.
Line
1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.
2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.
Outside linebacker
1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.
2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.
Inside linebacker
1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.
2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.
Inside linebacker
1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.
2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.
Outside linebacker
1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.
2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.
Cornerback
1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.
2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.
Strong safety
1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.
2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.
Free safety
1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.
2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.
Cornerback
1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.
2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.
Nickel back
1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.
2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.
2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.
Field goal kicker
1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.
2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.
Kickoffs
1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.
2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.
Long snapper
1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.
2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.
Holder
1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.
2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.
Punt returner
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.
Kickoff returner
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.
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