SJ95011

__________________

report of committees

State of Wisconsin

Senator Michael G. Ellis

January 11, 1995

To the Honorable, The Senate:

Pursuant to Senate Rule 20, I have made the following change in Senate committee assignments:

Joint Audit, Senator Weeden to replace Senator Cowles.

Sincerely,

Senator michael ellis, chair

Committee on Senate Organization

petitions and communications

State of Wisconsin

Department of Health and Social Services

January 3, 1995

The Honorable, The Legislature:

1993 Wisconsin Act 251, Section 19(2)(a)(1), requires the Department of Health and Social Services to submit to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature a report that describes how emergency medical services can be organized on a regional basis. Attached is the Department's report.

Departmental staff are available if you have any questions or desire any additional information.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Lorang

Acting Secretary

State of Wisconsin

Department of Health and Social Services

January 1, 1995

The Honorable, The Senate:

Attached, pursuant to 1993 Wisconsin Act 98, is the final report of the Task Force on Improving Services to Children and Families. This report was developed by the Task Force in consultation with a local advisory group. The report:

1) describes barriers to collaboration between schools and social services agencies;

2) provides an analysis of state law revisions and federal waivers of law revisions needed to enhance collaboration; and

3) provides an inventory of state and federal programs and funding sources that serve children and families.

Although this report, along with the recommendations submitted to Governor Thompson on October 1, 1994, fulfill the mandate to the Task Force, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Public Instruction will continue to work together to improve collaboration and to enhance the delivery of services to children and families in Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

richard w. lorang

Acting Secretary

State of Wisconsin

Department of Health and Social Services

January 5, 1995

The Honorable, The Legislature:

Section 46.03(26) of the statutes requires the Department of Health and Social Services to report annually on information system projects under development. The attached report is a summary of the departmental systems currently under development.

Sincerely,

Richard w. lorang

Acting Secretary

State of Wisconsin

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

January 4, 1995

The Honorable, The Senate:

RE: SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT INFORMATION

In compliance with Section 38.12(11)(c), I am submitting this report and a copy of the brochure that we use in informing our students about sexual assault and sexual harassment. This brochure is given out at the orientation sessions and is available for students throughout the year.

Sincerely,

robert j. hansen

Dean of Student Services

Referred to committee on Education, and Financial Institutions.

State of Wisconsin

Department of Public Instruction

January 6, 1995

The Honorable, The Senate:

S13 As required by s.119.23, Wis. Stats. enclosed for distribution to the appropriate standing committees is the fourth-year report on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Authored by John Witte, professor with The Robert M. LaFollette Institute of Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the report is comprehensive and balanced in its independent review of the program.

Among the findings of the report are the following:

* The vast majority of evidence presented in the report is consistent with and confirms the evidence contained in the three previous reports.

* The program accomplishes its intent of making alternative school choices available to low-income families in Milwaukee.

* The number of students participating has increased each year, from 341 in fall 1990, to 521 in fall 1991, to 608 in fall 1992, to 742 in fall 1993, to 830 in fall 1994. Eligible number of students is 1,450 in 1994-95, or 1.5 percent of the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) enrollment.

* The number of participating schools was seven in 1990-91, six in 1991-92, 11 in 1992-93, and 12 in 1993-94 and in the current school year. Approximately 11 other nonsectarian schools in Milwaukee could participate in the choice program.

* The attrition rate, which was very high, is declining. Excluding graduates and non-alternative schools, the attrition rate from school choice schools was 44 percent between the first and second years, The second-year attrition rate was 32 percent; third year, 28 percent; and fourth year, 23 percent. Attrition rates are higher with alternative schools included: 46 percent in the first year, 35 percent in the second, 31 percent in the third, and 27 percent in the fourth year.

* Pupil attendance in the choice schools is high but only slightly higher than MPS. Attendance by choice students in the non-alternative schools (thus excluding Exito and Learning Enterprises for 1993-94) averaged 94 percent in 1990-91, 92 percent in 1991-92, 92.5 percent in 1992-93 and 93 percent in 1993-94. Average attendance in MPS elementary schools in the last three years has been 92 percent each year.

* The researchers found no systematic evidence that choice students do either better or worse than MPS students on achievement tests, once test scores are controlled for gender, race, income, grade, and prior achievement. Choice students' reading scores increased the first year, fell substantially in the second year, and have remained approximately the same in the third and fourth years. In math, choice students were essentially the same in the first two years but recorded a significant increase in the third, followed by a significant decline this last year.

* Parental attitudes toward choice schools and the education of their children were much more positive than their evaluations of their prior public schools. Similarly, parental involvement, more frequent than for the average MPS parent in prior schools, was even greater for most activities in the choice schools.

* The choice students come from poor, often single-parent households. Similar to MPS parents, approximately 60 percent are receiving AFDC or public assistance. The parents also expressed considerable dissatisfaction with prior public schools, and based on prior test scores, there is clear evidence that their children were not doing well in those schools (both in relative and absolute terms).

* Parents reported high satisfaction with information and assistance received from choice schools and the Department of Public Instruction.

* Staff turnover was up slightly in 1994-95, from 18 percent to 24 percent. Four of 12 schools had new principals or head administrators.

* Teaching staff in Milwaukee choice schools are generally positive about the small class sizes, the autonomy in the classroom, the usually congenial atmosphere in the schools, and the administrative support they received in disciplinary matters. They expressed dissatisfaction with low pay and benefits. Sixty-four percent of the teachers were Wisconsin certified.

* Choice schools received an estimated $3,209 per pupil in 1994-95. When the choice program began in 1990, four of the original seven schools were in serious financial difficulty. With the exception of one school which closed, all are in better financial condition today, and their facilities have improved. A new facility for one of the schools opened in 1993.

* The recommendations in the report are similar to those in the first-, second-, and -third year reports and highlight needed changes in governance, financial reporting, program accountability, information and selection procedures, transportation, and the exclusion of children with exceptional education needs, among others. Most of the recommendations were included in both the governor's budget and the budget of the Department of Public Instruction in 1993 but were not acted upon by the Legislature.

I believe this report provides continuing evidence that while the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program provides an option for low-income parents who have been dissatisfied with the educational alternatives available for their children, it has not provided the dramatic academic improvements in students achievement that would label it a success. The experiment should continue only on a limited basis, but we must realize that it does not deal directly or substantially with the challenges the Milwaukee Public Schools face.

The Department of Public Instruction's biennial budget included a request to reallocate department funds to support recommendations from the Urban Initiative Task Force. Those recommendations, while offered to schools throughout the state with a high incidence of poverty, are targeted to assist 110 schools in Milwaukee. The Urban Initiative recommendations are founded on research that demonstrates improved academic achievement and call for an achievement guarantee contract that includes local solutions to address:

* smaller class sizes in the elementary grades and in academic subjects in the middle school so teachers and students can form more caring relationships;

* a rigorous curriculum that respects diversity;

* schools as centers for coordinated health, recreational, and social service programs; and

* a system of training and accountability for school staff members.

For additional information about Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, please contact Susan Freeze at [phone].

Sincerely,

john t. Benson

State Superintendent

Referred to committee on Education and Financial Institutions.

State of Wisconsin

Department of Transportation

January 3, 1994

The Honorable, The Senate:

The attached report entitled "Public Safety Radio Systems Maintenance And Repair Study" has been completed in response to a mandate that was included in the 1993-95 Biennial Budget (1993 SB 44) The mandate is included in Section 9154 (3) of that bill.

S14 The report includes five sections. "Section I - Background" provides a brief description of the purpose and format of the report. "Section II - State Agency Mobile Radio Repair And Maintenance Facilities" includes an inventory of those state agencies that utilize mobile or portable radios, and the state facilities or contractual arrangements with private vendors that are used for the repair and maintenance of those radios. Mobile radios are normally installed in vehicles, and portable radios are typically worn by individuals. The majority of the mobile and portable radios are used by law enforcement personnel. However, these radios are also used by certain civilian employees assigned to institutions or the field.