State joins American Diploma Project Network

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and Governor Jim Doyle recently announced that Wisconsin has joined the American Diploma Project Network, a national effort dedicated to making sure every high school graduate is prepared for family-supporting jobs or postsecondary studies.

“Wisconsin citizens recognize the importance of preparing for the future by investing in the education of our children,” Burmaster said. “The American Diploma Project Network will support our efforts to keep Wisconsin competitive by helping us align our standards, assessments, and requirements with 21st century expectations.”

“Education has been my top priority since day one, and we must do all we can to keep Wisconsin a place where students get a world-class education,” Doyle said. “We must ensure that our schools prepare our young people for work and life in the 21st century.”

The American Diploma Project Network’s common policy agenda does not require a one-size-fits-all approach. States are expected and encouraged to use different approaches to address network goals.

As an American Diploma Project Network member, Wisconsin PK-12, higher education, and business leaders will be reviewing state academic standards and proficiency levels to ensure they are consistent with the knowledge and skills students require for the 21st century.

Both Burmaster and Doyle noted that the goals of the American Diploma Project Network are consistent with many of the efforts already under way in Wisconsin. Those efforts include

• Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin Agenda, which promotes collaboration among business, education, and government leaders to create good paying jobs and a “high end” economy by investing in education and training a highly skilled and qualified workforce.
  
  
• Doyle’s Wisconsin Covenant, which ensures that if students do their part, work hard in school, are good citizens, and graduate from high school, there will be a place for them in higher education in Wisconsin and a financial aid package to help them attend.
  
  
• Burmaster’s New Wisconsin Promise, which promotes a quality education for every child by increasing student achievement and closing the gap between economically disadvantaged children, children of color, and their peers.
  
  
• Wisconsin’s participation in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, which builds on core subject expertise and emphasizes new 21st century competencies such as information and communication technology literacy; critical thinking; communication; collaboration; global awareness; and business, economic and civic literacy.
  
  
• The statewide PK-16 Leadership Council, which strives to create a seamless educational system across all levels.
  
  
• The State Superintendent’s High School Task Force, whose recent report emphasized rigor, relevance, and partnerships for the state’s high schools.

Wisconsin becomes the 27th state to join the American Diploma Project Network. In each state, governors, state superintendents of education, business executives, and college and university leaders are working to invigorate education by raising the rigor of high school standards, assessments, and curriculum to better align these expectations with the demands of postsecondary education and work.

Last updated on 1/29/2007