Badger InstituteBadger Institute
  • Home
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest news and updates from Badger Institute.

What's New

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility

March 9, 2023
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
TRENDING:
  • Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband
  • The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling
  • If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility
  • Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure
  • Foreseeing the Future of Wisconsin’s Flat Tax
  • Amid illiteracy, where was the urgency?
  • Calls to Police from MPS High Schools Up Dramatically Again
  • Wisconsin voters will be asked about welfare work requirements
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
DONATE
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
Home » Education » Wisconsin’s Internal Brain Drain
Education

Wisconsin’s Internal Brain Drain

By Badger InstituteMay 2, 1988
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

The state’s most valuable – and undeveloped – resource

By William Durden, Ph.D.

For a strong future, Wisconsin must develop fully the educational potential of its youth and retain the most talented as future state leaders. 

These goals are not being met sufficiently.  In several important measures of achievement, college-bound Wisconsin students rank well behind their peers in other states.  Among the most gifted Wisconsin students, significant numbers leave for higher education elsewhere. 

Educators, parents, and elected officials confront three challenges. First, they must discard the unwarranted complacency and self-satisfaction which exists in many quarters as to the effectiveness of the state’s schools.  Second, they must address what amounts to an internal brain drain, with too few of the state’s college-bound children reaching full potential.  Third, they must determine if, as some perceive, Wisconsin also is witnessing an external brain drain, with a disproportionate share of talented high school seniors leaving the state. 

An overview of current Wisconsin attitude and practice reveals misguided assumptions and inaction in the face of these challenges. This stands in contrast to neighboring states of Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, as well as numerous others where the educational system is seen as the focus of fundamental reform for meeting future social and economic challenges. 

One explanation for Wisconsin’s circumstance is complacency.  This is based on lndicators of educational achievement which might lead one to conclude that Wisconsin students are superior to those from most other states.  These supposed indicators of high achievement are test results from the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test Program (ACT). 

A more thorough assessment reveals a conflicting conclusion to that offered by SAT and ACT test scores. Further, In the context of efforts which characterize other states’ activities, Wisconsin does not fare well either in the general level of academic preparedness nor in its efforts to match its brightest youth with opportunities to foster emerging talent at an early age.  These opportunities include:  College Board Advanced Placement programs; gifted and talented initiatives; college-school partnership programs; and other special education initiatives. 

Download Report
Vol1no2Download
Reports
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
Badger Institute

Related Posts

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

Amid illiteracy, where was the urgency?

February 23, 2023

Family finds education freedom a “godsend”

February 16, 2023
Categories
Top Posts

Local pols filling old budget holes with massive COVID aid

December 8, 20221,447

This is not four years ago

November 10, 20221,283

A state without convictions

January 12, 2023643

Billions in federal spending in Wisconsin unaudited; results never measured

November 9, 2022484
Archives

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

Connect with Badger Institute
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
About Us
About Us

The Badger Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institute established in 1987 working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

What’s New

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility

March 9, 2023

Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure

March 2, 2023
© 2023 Badger Institute | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience.

Privacy settings

Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.

CRM Software

Customer Relationship Management Software

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.

For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

Powered by Cookie Information