The pandemic has only made a bad situation in our schools worse. Recently, the MacIver Institute did a deep dive on recent test scores released by the Department of Public Instruction. You can read my comments on those results here.

 

It's not just test scores. Reading scores are abysmal in our state. Sixty-four percent of fourth-graders are not proficient in reading. Our state ranks dead-last in reading achievement among black students. Hispanic students dropped from 1st in the nation to 28th while white students fell from 6th to 27th. Despite historic funding for public education, less than one-third of students are proficient in English or math. 

 

Thankfully, there is hope to turn that around. The Legislature is sending three important education reforms to Governor Evers. This week, I sent him a letter urging him to sign them. You can read more about that below. 

 

Good luck to Homestead and Whitefish Bay High School in the WIAA State Football Tournament this weekend. Also, good luck to the Whitefish Bay Boys Soccer team as they play in the WIAA State Soccer Tournament. 

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I am urging Governor Tony Evers to put politics aside and sign three important education bills when they reach his desk. 

 

On Thursday, I sent a letter to the governor asking that he sign Senate Bills 463, 373, and 454. The legislation will empower parents, create transparency, and improve the way reading is taught in our schools. 

 

Under Tony Evers' leadership as State Superintendent and now Governor, his only solution to these problems has been more money. By now, I hope he understands the problems in education go beyond just funding. Each of these bills helps restore the balance of our educational system, provides more transparency, provides positive interventions, and engages parents in their children’s education. It’s my hope the Governor will sign all three bills and empower students, parents, and taxpayers.

I also included an article from the Capital Times Newspaper from three Madison High School students who also support Senate Bill 454.

You can read my full letter here.

Last week, I took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the $420 million Wisconsin Center expansion in Milwaukee.

 

The expansion will double the square footage of the main exhibition hall, provide a second ballroom with an outdoor terrace, add meeting rooms, indoor parking, and loading docks. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 constructions jobs, generate an estimated $12.6 billion in spending over the next 30 years, and bring 100,000 more visitors to Milwaukee each year. Click on the video above to see more!

 

The Wisconsin Center Expansion is the latest of some important projects that have helped and will help to revitalize the city. I fought for funding for the new Milwaukee Public Museum in the last budget. I also helped keep the Bucks in Milwaukee by authoring a funding deal that built a new arena and protected taxpayers. Not only did the Bucks win the NBA Championship last season, but the Deer District is also now a destination for all Wisconsin fans!

The new Wisconsin Blue Books will soon be here!

The Blue Book is an invaluable resource about our state's history, demographics, and data.

If you would like a copy, please click on the picture and fill out the form. We will mail one out to you at no cost.

We expect the Blue Books to arrive in a couple weeks. My office will ship them out as soon as possible.

One way you can help is by donating blood. If you have recovered from COVID-19, please especially consider donating your plasma.

You can find out where to donate here and here.

Hunger Task Force is conducting a virtual food drive. Click on the video for more information on how you can help people in need this month.