Wisconsin Education NewsApril 27, 2026A daily update of education news and events that are taking place around Wisconsin. Mount Horeb students celebrate Arbor Day with hands-on learning MOUNT HOREB Wis. --To celebrate Arbor Day, the Parks Department partners with a different school district each year to teach kids about arborists. This year, Mount Horeb Middle School students were out at Stewart Lake. Dane County Parks brought out equipment to show kids exactly what arborists work with. MMSD parent-teacher organization raises more than $10K for Mendota Elementary School MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Mendota Scholar and Teacher Support (MSTS) raised more than $10,000 for Mendota Elementary School in a silent auction Friday evening. Hosted at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center, the event took months of planning and relied on donations from more than 80 local businesses. MMSD cancels school May 1 after staff signals mass absence for May Day protests MADISON (WKOW) — The Madison Metropolitan School District will close for all students on Friday, May 1 due to unavailable staff for the 'May Day' national day of action. The Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI) stated that they received 70% of staff signatures for 'May Day,' a national day event which calls for no school, work or shopping. The day is also holding events for "A Day without Immigrants," which calls for abolishing ICE and creating a pathway to citizenship for all. Amery school district to switch health insurers, saving $570,000 The Amery School District will move its employee health insurance coverage to a Wisconsin public sector trust this summer after benefit consultants presented the school board with a side-by-side comparison showing a potential savings of more than $570,000 compared to renewing with its current carrier. Wisconsin moves away from book bans after ranking second nationally for the bans in 2023-24 Wisconsin ranked second for most book bans by PEN America in the 2023-24 academic year for banning more than 400 books across multiple districts. Now, several of the districts are looking to reverse the bans and find a fair way to account for parental rights in education. Carthage College, RUSD launch ‘RISE’ program with 12 teachers to address special education shortage KENOSHA — Carthage College and the Racine Unified School District (RUSD) have partnered to create the Racine Initiative for Special Education (RISE), a new program aimed at tackling the ongoing shortage of special education teachers in the district, according to a joint press release. The initiative will support a cohort of RUSD educators enrolled in Carthage’s post-baccalaureate HyFlex Accelerated Certification for Teachers program. The coursework is designed to prepare participants for cross-categorical special education licensure while aligning closely with the district’s staffing needs. Oshkosh superintendent says no more teacher cuts despite $10.9M gap OSHKOSH – Classrooms may not be directly impacted by the district’s next round of reductions. Calling a bungled deficit projection “unacceptable,” Oshkosh Area School District Superintendent Bryan Davis guaranteed classroom teachers will not be cut as the district seeks another $3 million to make up for a ballooning budget shortfall. Davis gave the assurance at an April 22 board meeting while apologizing for the 2026-27 forecasted budget deficit essentially doubling from fall’s projections of $5.5 million to $10.9 million. Four Beaver Dam Schools Named "Schools of Recognition" (BEAVER DAM) The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has named four Beaver Dam Unified School District elementary schools as Wisconsin Schools of Recognition, whic highlights student achievement, growth, and closing opportunity gaps. Hmong Heritage event held at North High School EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - At Eau Claire North Friday night, Hmong students hosted a heritage event for the community. Authentic Hmong food, singing and performances came together for the community. Student organizers say it’s really fun to introduce Hmong culture to others. Teacher pathway event gives Milwaukee high school students window into the field Castillo told his story to about 120 Milwaukee high school students on Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee during Teach for America’s third annual teacher pathway conference. The students are taking dual enrollment courses at UW-Milwaukee and considering becoming educators. The event comes at a time when nearly one-third of people who complete their teacher training never enter the classroom in Wisconsin, according to a report released last month by the state Department of Public Instruction. Milwaukee students march downtown, calling for U.S. policy changes Chants could be heard for blocks as hundreds of Milwaukee Public School students gathered together April 24 to march through downtown Milwaukee for a Student Day of Action. High school students from across the city gathered with signs and banners and took the microphone to protest a variety of issues −the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's actions across the United States, the U.S. funding of overseas wars, and budget and staffing cuts at MPS schools. Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School stands alone in Wisconsin with national student leadership award WITTENBERG, Wis. (WAOW) — The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School Student Senate has been recognized as a 2025 National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The school was one of less than 500 high schools across the United States to receive the award this year. It was the only school in Wisconsin to earn the recognition. Bay View High School, MPS Unveil Student-Run Food Truck Cheers rose from a crowd gathered at Bay View High School Thursday afternoon as students pulled down a black sheet to reveal a new student-led food truck. The mobile restaurant, 414 ATE, will be managed by students under the direction of culinary arts teacher Ann Marie Sims. It is set to hit the streets later this year, aiming to provide summer employment for students while also helping them build career-ready skills in culinary arts, entrepreneurship, accounting and technology. Dani Damrow a Howards Grove graduate lands math teacher position at Kiel H.S. The way Lakeland University senior Dani Damrow landed her first teaching job was not part of her five-year plan. As she approaches graduation in December of 2026 (one semester early) with a double major of secondary education and mathematics, Damrow’s lifelong dream of becoming a math teacher is taking shape much quicker than she expected. A few weeks ago, a community member encouraged Damrow to apply for a full-time math teacher position at nearby Kiel High School. DPI again recognizes Abraham Lincoln Elementary MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has named Abraham Lincoln Elementary School a 2024–25 Wisconsin School of Recognition, an honor that highlights the school’s dedication to student growth and achievement. In all, 95 schools statewide earned Schools of Recognition honors. The awards celebrate exceptional efforts of educators, students, families, and school staff in ensuring educational success for all students, especially among those facing economic challenges. Edgewood Elementary students make 1,000 sandwiches for homeless shelter, earn national recognition GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Students at Edgewood Elementary in Greenfield have made 1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and donated more than $1,400 to The Guest House in Milwaukee, which supports men experiencing homelessness, as part of the school's service learning program. Adaptive Aquatics swim meet at North High School EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Adaptive Education students from across the Chippewa Valley joined together at North High School Friday for a swim meet. Liv Weix is one of the adaptive physical education teachers at North High School. She says this competition is an opportunity to put a spotlight on students that aren’t always highlighted. Local middle schoolers show off STEM skills in machine-building competition MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Middle school students from across Wisconsin put their creativity and engineering skills to the test Friday at Waukesha County Technical College. Teams of students designed multi-step machines using everyday materials, all with one goal: water a plant. Shiocton schools return to in-person classes following historic flooding SHIOCTON, Wis. (WFRV) – Following historic flooding, the administration of the School District of Shiocton has announced that students will return to in-person classes starting on Monday, April 27. According to a release from the district, school officials confirmed with village officials and local law enforcement that the schools have met the building and village safety standards to allow daycare and PK through 12th-grade students to return to school in person. Madison public schools projected to lose 700 students in next 5 years The Madison school district is projected to lose more than 700 students over the next five years due to declining birth rates, fewer anticipated students in new housing developments and other factors, according to a new analysis. The projections are part of the district’s “Building for the Future” initiative that includes redrawing the maps determining where students attend school. The School Board plans to vote on new maps next February after rounds of community feedback. Memories And More Culminate Madison Elementary Legacy Celebration Memories and history were shared at a soon-to-be-closed Manitowoc elementary school over the weekend. A little over 250 people attended the Madison Elementary School Legacy Celebration last Saturday (April 24th) to look back at the building’s opening in 1956. Washington Elementary students return to class Monday at alternate sites; more storms expected JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - Washington Elementary School students are heading back to class at alternate locations in Janesville on Monday after severe flooding forced the school to shut down, and with more storms potentially on the way. The School District of Janesville announced on April 21 that kindergarten through third-grade students, along with P4J and Early Childhood students, will attend classes at Adams Elementary School, 1138 E. Memorial Drive, Janesville. Fourth-, fifth-grade and Talk and Learn students will have classes at Madison Elementary School, 331 N. Grant Avenue, Janesville. National Exchange Bank Reach Agreement for Football Field Naming Rights in Sheboygan Falls The Sheboygan Falls School District has started a partnership with a local bank. The district has announced that, via donation, National Exchange Bank has acquired the naming rights to the football field at Sheboygan Falls High School. Beaver Dam Fire Department receives $25K grant for youth firefighter programs BEAVER DAM, Wis. — The Beaver Dam Fire Department has received a $25,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for establishing or expanding youth firefighter recruitment and training programs for middle and high school students. The announcement came over the weekend, with Beaver Dam being one of four fire departments awarded a grant. Qualified fire departments, technical colleges, and school districts can receive up to $25,000. In Focus: How school districts are handling AI in schools This week on "In Focus," the show focused on AI in education in Wisconsin, with an emphasis on the policies and recommendations in place statewide for school districts, data showing how students and teachers are currently using artificial intelligence in the classroom and the push for new laws that could limit certain facets of AI and Wisconinites' interaction with it. Rachel Yurk, chief information and technology officer for the Pewaukee School District, joined the show and discussed how Pewaukee Schools have put their current AI policies in place, the use of its schools' current AI platform called "Brisk," and the pros and cons of students putting artificial intelligence to use in their daily education. MTEA Files Prohibited Practices Complaint Against MPS Alleging Failure to Bargain in Good Faith MILWAUKEE – On Friday, April 24, the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) filed a Prohibited Practices complaint against Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC). Since opening bargaining in February, MPS has falsely claimed to MTEA’s bargaining team, MPS employees and the media that their three less-than-inflation cost of living proposals would save MPS between “$10 and 20 million.” These false figures have been published repeatedly in the media, including in reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as recently as April 21. MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), kicked off “National Apprenticeship Week” in Wisconsin by celebrating that, for the fifth year in a row, Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program for high school students saw record-high enrollment. During the 2025-26 school year, a record 12,141 students enrolled in the program, a seven percent increase from the prior year. Gov. Evers recently traveled across the state, highlighting his administration’s efforts and successes over the past seven years to support the state’s workforce, including the state’s Registered and Youth Apprenticeship programs.
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