Stateline Midwest Is Published 11 Times a Year Low-Performing Ones
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Stateline Vol. 26, No. 8 • September 2017 MidwestTHE MIDWESTERN OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS INSIDE CSG Midwest Issue Briefs 2-3 New plans for K-12 success • Agriculture: States and siting regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations New direction in accountability puts emphasis on student • Economic Development: Wisconsin’s pending deal with Foxconn growth, postsecondary readiness, and chronic absenteeism • Criminal Justice & Public Safety: Nebraska law aims to help people if they can’t pay fines by Tim Anderson ([email protected]) • Great Lakes Legislative Caucus: New plan after Asian carp found nearer to Lake Michigan n the coming years, the Midwest’s legisla- than two times the weight as proficiency: Status of states’ Every Student tors are likely to hear much more about 50 percent of the state’s total evaluation of Around the Region 4 Succeeds Act plans in Midwest Occupational license reforms in the Midwest, and Iand be asked to act on a range of issues K-8 school performance vs. the weight of a new national project to ease interstate licensure surrounding education accountability. (as of end of August) 20 percent given to levels of student profi- How well are elementary and middle ciency in math and English/language arts. Capital Closeup 5 schools doing on our state’s measures of The Illinois proposal stands out among Kim Reynolds’ transition to governor prompted academic growth among all students, at all ESSA plans for how much it stresses a close look of the state’s succession laws learning levels? academic growth, says Brendan Wright, Question of the Month 5 Are our high schools adequately prepar- editorial director of the Fordham Institute. ing young people for success in college However, he adds that every state will now be Do states prohibit suspension of driver’s licenses for failure to pay fines/fees? and/or careers? Do our schools provide for using academic growth (to varying degrees) a well-rounded education and a climate as part of its overall assessment of the per- Profile 8 conducive to learning? formance of elementary and middle schools. Indiana House Majority Caucus Chair How prevalent is chronic absenteeism Plan approved by U.S. Department “In the early years of No Child Left Rep. Kathy Kreag Richardson among our state’s students, and what of Education in August Behind, that wasn’t a part of state account- policies can reduce it? What type of state Initial plan submitted in spring; ability systems at all,” Wright says. “Under FirstPerson 9 interventions have helped turn around the revised plan still needs approval the Every Student Succeeds Act, it wasn’t from U.S. Department of Education Ohio Rep. Jonathan Dever on legislation to help lowest-performing schools? a requirement. But it’s what states have victims of human trafficking rebuild their lives These issues aren’t new, and certainly Plan to be submitted in September chosen as another academic indicator for U.S. Department of Education CSG News & Events 10 policymakers have tried to tackle them in approval [besides the mandate that they still track BILLD begins its Minnesota chapter, and legislators the past, but they will get even more atten- rates of proficiency]. tour the U.S.-Canada border at Detroit-Windsor tion because of the Every Student Succeeds “That is a huge improvement.” Act and, in particular, new state plans in this approved by the U.S. Department of As a result, schools will get credit when Capitol Clips 12 region to implement it. Education. their children make significant academic This 2015 federal law (along with some One of the big changes in Illinois will be progress, even if those students haven’t • New Illinois laws ease transition from prison • Nebraska aims to keep pregnant teens in class of the waivers granted to states under its fed- a shift away from evaluating schools largely yet reached proficiency. Many states, too, • Michigan’s tax incentives for high-paying jobs eral predecessor, the No Child Left Behind on their percentage of students who have will give schools credit when students Act) has ushered in a new era in the state- reached levels of proficiency (based on their move beyond proficiency to higher levels • Two-state tax reciprocity deal dead, for now federal relationship on education — more standardized test scores in math and reading). of achievement (“advanced,” for example). flexibility for states, including new options Instead, for K-8 schools, Illinois will fo- “Before, schools and teachers were for evaluating schools and intervening in cus more on student progress — comparing incentivized to focus on ‘bubble kids’ Stateline Midwest is published 11 times a year low-performing ones. test scores from one year to the next to see — those students just around that line by the Midwestern Office of “We’re not seeing any cookie-cutter how much a student has grown academically, of proficiency,” Wright says. In contrast, The Council of State Governments. plans,” Abigail Potts, director of college, regardless of whether he or she has reached many of the new accountability systems Annual subscription rate: $60. career and civic readiness for the National proficiency. will reflect how well schools are helping all To order, call 630.925.1922. Association of State Boards of Education, Under Illinois’ new accountability levels of learners. says about the state ESSA plans, which system, academic growth will receive more In South Dakota, for example, academic had to be submitted in September to the U.S. Department of Education. “They’re all PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 pursuing equity and excellence in education, but they all reflect different state priorities States are developing new ways CSG Midwestern Office Staff and visions.” of evaluating K-12 schools and Michael H. McCabe, Director There are, however, some notable trends holding them accountable. Under Tim Anderson, Publications Manager the federal Every Student Succeeds Jon Davis, Assistant Editor/Policy Analyst emerging in school accountability across the Act, the lowest-performing schools Cindy Calo Andrews, Assistant Director states. Here is a look at some of them. Ilene K. Grossman, Assistant Director must be identified and provided Lisa R. Janairo, Program Director The move beyond proficiency with evidence-based supports that Laura Kliewer, Senior Policy Analyst lead to better student outcomes. Gail Meyer, Office Manager In August, Illinois became the first Laura A. Tomaka, Senior Program Manager Midwestern state to have its ESSA plan Kathy Treland, Administrative Coordinator and Meeting Planner Katelyn Tye, Policy Analyst CSG MIDWEST ISSUE BRIEFS Issue Briefs cover topics of interest to the various groups and policy committees of CSG Midwest, including the Midwestern Legislative Conference, Great Lakes Legislative Caucus, Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission and Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee. Economic Development receive tax incentives based on how many jobs they Tax incentive package for new Manufacturing employment in create and how much they invest in the facility.” Wisconsin component plant Midwest, 2016 (as % of nonfarm promises jobs, raises questions According to the bill, a credit would only be given for jobs paying at least $30,000 per year with benefits. employment)* n August, Wisconsin lawmakers advanced an The average salary is expected to be about $54,000. economic incentive bill (ASA 1) to forge a “There are also claw-back requirements to 5.6% Ideal with computer component manufacturer protect taxpayers if Foxconn were to ever stop doing 10.9% Foxconn to build a new facility in the state. business in Wisconsin,” says Ballweg. 9.6% 16.1% The Taiwanese firm, which supplies companies Despite the promise of so many new jobs and the 13.8% such as Apple, Google and Amazon, announced in payback provisions, some worry about the investment of 13.3% 9.6% July its desire to locate a $10 billion factory employing public dollars in private companies and have asked how 12.5% 9.5% 16.8% up to 13,000 people in southeastern Wisconsin. long it will take the state to make its money back. The With the number of potential jobs and 20 million Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates a payback 11.5% square feet of floor space, the facility, which will primar- time of 20 years, but says this does not include the ily produce flat-screen LCD displays, would be one of impact of spin-off businesses resulting from the plant. * The nationwide gure is 8.6 percent. the largest manufacturing campuses in the world. An Ernst & Young report assessing the incentives’ Source: National Association of Manufacturing The proposed incentives would include tax credits potential impact estimates that 35,000 new jobs and exemptions on the state’s construction sales tax. could be realized as a result of the facility’s indirect to the state and country,” Ballweg says, “I am confident The plan, which has been approved by the benefits, including its construction. Also, Foxconn has the state will see a worthwhile return on its investment.” Wisconsin Assembly (the Senate had not voted on the estimated the facility’s annual payroll at $700 million In light of the state’s low unemployment and short- bill as of the time of publication) would give Foxconn $3 and said it would purchase $1.4 million per year in age of skilled workers, it is likely that some workers billion in refundable tax breaks over the next 15 years. goods from Wisconsin firms for its supply chain. will come over from Illinois (where unemployment is “The incentive package is ‘pay-as-you-grow,’ ” “When you account for all the other ways Foxconn higher), decreasing income tax revenue in Wisconsin. explains Rep. Joan Ballweg, a member of the committee will have an impact on the state, ..