Wisconsin Education News

September 11, 2025

A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Purple Star School Program 

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is launching the inaugural Purple Star School Program during the 2025 - 2026 school year. DPI invites all schools to participate in the Purple Star School designation, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students. The primary focus of this designation is to help schools meet the unique needs of military-connected children, who often face educational, social, and emotional challenges when transitioning between schools with different curricula, expectations, and graduation requirements. Please see the Purple Star School Program Announcement flyer and share out with any interested parties. For more information on the Purple Star School Program, please visit DPI’s Military Children and Families webpage. 

Madison high schools adopt redesigned mascots, logos despite criticism

The four largest high schools in Madison are using redesigned mascots and logos this fall following surveys earlier in the year to gather community input. Although the changes had drawn some harsh criticism, the Madison Metropolitan School District went ahead and picked the new designs based primarily on student feedback. Jeremy Schlitz, the school district's athletic director, said adopting the new mascots and logos for East, La Follette, Memorial and West high schools would be “gradual.”

Waukesha school district advances plans to consolidate and close some schools

WAUKESHA, Wis. — The Waukesha Board of Education voted Wednesday night to move forward with plans to close and consolidate several schools, as it anticipates a 2% annual decline in enrollment over the next decade. During a tense board meeting, parents, students, and teachers took turns urging the board to reconsider which schools to close. Some parents said they felt they were being pitted against each other, competing to keep their schools open.

No vote on reinstating Appleton Area School District truancy policy after committee meeting

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - More questions than answers were raised Wednesday night about re-implementing a truancy ordinance in the Appleton Area School District. The committee once again tabled the topic for its next meeting, which is now the fifth time since it was introduced in the spring. A more than two-hour debate at Appleton City Hall ended without a vote Wednesday night as the city’s safety and licensing committee once again held off on reinstating the school district’s truancy policy.

Plans to potentially consolidate elementary schools in Eau Claire Area School District

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) - Wednesday night, we’re learning about potential plans to consolidate elementary schools in the Eau Claire Area School District. In an email sent to parents earlier Wednesday that was acquired by WEAU, Superintendent Mike Johnson details that the district has been in a planning process regarding elementary school enrollment for the past year.

Gun incident at Green Bay school prompts major change in district's backpack/bag policy

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- The Green Bay Area Public School District is implementing a new backpack/bag policy in the wake of a weapons incident at one of its high schools. On Tuesday afternoon, Green Bay police officers responded to two different lunchtime altercations at Preble High School. Further investigation revealed a juvenile student, who is believed to have been involved in the first fight, brought a handgun and ammunition into the school. Both were located by authorities in a backpack in a locked classroom.

Clinton principal earns Rural Principal of Year honor

CLINTON — Erika Stewart, principal of Clinton Community Junior/Senior High School has been named Rural Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA). Jeff Eide, executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said schools around the state nominate their local principals for the Principal of the Year honor. Nominations are then reviewed by the WIRSA 20-member board and a recommendation for the winner is made.

Sheboygan Teens Start Work on 2025 Project House

Work has gotten underway in Sheboygan for a student-built house. The Sheboygan Area School District held a groundbreaking event yesterday (September 9^th) for the 2025 Project House.

Forward Exam scores continue to lag pre-pandemic levels

Student assessment scores have not yet recovered from their decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s newly updated School DataTool shows. The Forward Exam, the state’s primary assessment for students in grades 3 to 8, underwent significant changes for the 2023-24 school year. This initially prevented comparability of the new exam scores to those from prior years, but the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction developed estimates of what previous years’ scores would have been under the updated exam and standards.  

Assembly GOP education package includes state standards for local student discipline

An education package from Assembly Republicans would set new state standards for student discipline in local districts, seek to boost math scores and encourage districts to consolidate to save costs amid declining enrollment. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, is also forming four task forces that will begin work this fall on: government efficiency, protecting kids, elder services and the administrative rules process. The final of the four will put together a constitutional amendment that would seek to negate a state Supreme Court ruling this summer that ended a joint legislative committee’s power to indefinitely suspend proposed rules.

Waukesha School District adds two more options for consideration in handling enrollment decline

The Waukesha School District has added two more options to the list it is considering as part of its efforts to deal with declining enrollment. One of the newest options would have three dual language sites, at Banting, Bethesda and Heyer elementary schools. Dual language involves students learning subjects in both English and Spanish.

Potential enrollment drop, tax levy reduction strategies eyed by Waunakee School District officials

A potential drop in enrollment and options for reducing the tax levy for the Waunakee School District’s 2025-26 budget were matters taken up by the budget committee last week. Steve Summers, the district’s executive director of operations, informed the committee that school officials are expecting a decline in enrollment when the third Friday in September student count is revealed. “All indications are that we’re going to be in declining enrollment,” said Summers. “That’s going to be a relatively new situation for our district. It’s occurring in many Dane County districts.”

Fiscal Facts: Student homelessness at a new high

The reported number of homeless students hit a high mark in Wisconsin’s public schools in the 2023-24 academic year, likely due to both an increase in family homelessness and improved identification of existing need. In response, school districts and communities may wish to develop targeted supports for these high-risk students.

Two Rivers High School Youth Apprenticeship Program Sees Record Growth

Two Rivers, WI: September 2, 2025 — Two Rivers High School is celebrating a year of remarkable growth in its Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program, with more than 60 students participating during the 2025–26 school year. This marks a significant increase from last year’s 46 students and showcases strong momentum and student interest in career-based learning. The Youth Apprenticeship program at Two Rivers High School is contracted through CESA 6 Youth Apprenticeship and coordinated by Molly Stolp, who partners closely with the school’s Career and College Readiness Coordinator, Lisa Klein.