Corri Hess

Educators worry excessive screen time is causing speech delays in early childhood “When I look into a baby's eyes and ‘goo go ga ga,’ and the baby makes those sounds back, that child is learning how to make that hard G sound with me,” Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jef...

Educators worry that excessive screen time is causing speech delays children
"Parental tech use has been likened to secondhand smoke in that it might endanger children’s health and development in ways we don’t even fully understand yet."

Here's my latest feature for WPR:
www.wpr.org/news/schools...

Wisconsin teacher turnover rates are improving since pandemic, but remain high A new Wisconsin Policy Forum report released Friday found turnover rates for teachers dropped to 14 percent in 2024 and are at 12.9 percent this year.

You guys are great! Thank you to everyone who responded!

Wisconsin teacher turnover rates are improving since pandemic, but they remain high
www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

Excited to be part of the Meet the Media event next week hosted by PRSA with my colleagues where we can chat about the evolving world of our industry 👀. Hope you can join us!

Are you a Wisconsin educator who has left the profession in the last five years? Would you be willing to talk to me about the reasons why? If so, shoot me a message at corri.hess@wpr.org

Thanks! Corri

Federal grant that funded Wisconsin foreign language for more than 60 years cut The federal grant program that has helped fund foreign language education and programming at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and across the country for more than 60 years has been canceled by the ...

The federal grant program that has helped fund foreign language education and programming at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and across the country for more than 60 years has been canceled by the Trump administration.

www.wpr.org/news/federal...

Federal funding cut for Wisconsin program for kids with hearing and vision loss The U.S. Department of Education has cut another nearly $11 million in grants to Wisconsin, this time to some of the state’s most vulnerable children.

Federal funding cut for Wisconsin program serving children with hearing and vision loss
www.wpr.org/news/federal...

Milwaukee County wants WIAA to address hate speech in high school sports A Milwaukee County Board committee is urging the organization in charge of high school sports in Wisconsin to address hate speech and harassment that happens during games.

Milwaukee County asking WIAA to address hate speech/harassment in high school sports.
"Our kids are actually making positive choices. And what do they get? Racism and no school official backing them up.”
www.wpr.org/news/milwauk...

Head of Milwaukee Public Schools wants grade reconfiguration Over the next year, Milwaukee Public Schools will decide how to manage its 149 school buildings — that includes possible grade reconfiguration.

Head of Milwaukee Public Schools wants grade reconfiguration

www.wpr.org/news/milwauk...

UW-Madison announces budget cuts up to 7 percent for all departments Facing funding cuts from the Trump administration and uncertainty from the Wisconsin Legislature, the leader of the state’s flagship university directed all departments Monday to cut their budgets bet...

UW-Madison announces budget cuts up to 7 percent for all departments

www.wpr.org/news/uw-madi...

Can virtual reality solve Wisconsin’s school math problems? A Republican-sponsored bill would require the state Department of Public Instruction to pilot a virtual reality technology program to teach math.

Can virtual reality solve Wisconsin’s school math problems?

www.wpr.org/news/virtual...

Milwaukee Reading Coalition would use state funds to train teachers in early literacy The coalition needs bipartisan support, which activist Howard Fuller and Mayor Cavalier Johnson hope can be allocated in the next state budget.

There are 31,000 kids in K-3 attending private or public school in Milwaukee — but only about 3,000 of them are meeting targets in reading.
A new Milwaukee Reading Coalition wants to use state funds to train teachers in early literacy.
www.wpr.org/news/milwauk...

Wisconsin Road Trip Get in, let’s go! WPR reporters are making pit stops across the state to showcase some of the people, places and things that make Wisconsin summers special. If you’re looking […]

WPR reporters are making pit stops across the state to showcase some of the people, places and things that make Wisconsin summers special.
If you’re looking for your next adventure, we’ve got something for everyone. Check it out!
wpr.org/roadtrip

Wisconsin Public Radio has launched a new daily newsletter!
Here’s what you can expect: The day’s top stories, must-listen audio pieces, feature photos and behind-the-scenes conversations with reporters and producers.
www.wpr.org/contact-us/n...

Reading Corps brings high-impact tutoring to schools across Wisconsin Reading Corps is a nationwide AmeriCorps program that's in about 60 Wisconsin school districts across the state, including in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Dane, Brown, La Crosse, Sauk, Marinette, Eau C...

Reading Corps brings high-impact tutoring to schools across Wisconsin

www.wpr.org/news/reading...

This Wisconsin school excels at teaching math. Can its approach work statewide? An elementary school in Grant County has changed its approach to teaching math — and it has paid off. Now, nearly 80 percent of the students at Winskill Elementary School are at grade level. That's do...

This Wisconsin school excels at teaching math. Can its approach work statewide?
www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

Republican plan to overhaul the federal student loan system will affect more than half of Wisconsin students Republican proposals to overhaul how families pay for college could affect nearly half of the students attending the Universities of Wisconsin and about 40 percent of students at the state’s private s...

Republican plan to overhaul the federal student loan system will affect more than half of Wisconsin students
www.wpr.org/news/republi...

Wisconsin schools losing $8M in federal mental health grants after Trump administration decision Wisconsin will lose $8 million in federal grants that school districts have been using to hire mental health professionals, including school counselors and social workers.

Wisconsin schools losing $8M in federal mental health grants after Trump administration cancels funding over DEI
www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

As Wisconsin teachers grapple with artificial intelligence, Trump order calls for AI to be taught in schools Since AI emerged, teachers have struggled with how to approach the technology. Should they ban it? Should they incorporate it into their lessons? Now the Trump administration is trying to make the dec...

always a pleasure to talk to @corrihess.bsky.social about teaching- www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

NIH guts its first and largest study centered on women The Women’s Health Initiative has produced numerous influential findings

NIH guts its first and largest study centered on women | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Visa termination update as of 4-14:
UW-Madison: 27 including 15 current students and 12 recent alumni working on campus
Universities of Wisconsin System: 16 including 13 at UWM
MATC: 1 reported so far; nearly 150 students are attending MATC on an F-1 visa.

Wisconsin Supreme Court finds brothers who stole from school district were wrongly fired The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in favor of two brothers who say they were wrongfully terminated after stealing scrap metal from the Oconomowoc Area School District.

Justice Protasiewicz wrote that, in following the law, the justices arrived at a “strange result.”

“As a result of today’s decision, the [Oconomowoc Area School] District may not fire employees who it suspects stole from the District."

www.wpr.org/news/wiscons... via @corrihess.bsky.social

Wisconsin superintendent says schools will not comply with federal request to eliminate DEI programs Wisconsin school districts won't comply with a directive from the Trump administration to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs until the districts have more information.

Wisconsin superintendent says schools will not comply with federal request to eliminate DEI programs
www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

Wisconsin public schools have 10 days to remove DEI programs or risk federal funding The Trump administration is giving public K-12 schools 10 days to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs or be at risk of losing federal funding.

Public schools have 10 days to remove DEI programs or risk federal funding. Wisconsin school leaders trying to interpret latest Trump directive.
www.wpr.org/news/public-...

ESPN’s Pat McAfee and others amplified a false rumor. A teenager’s life was ‘destroyed’ An Ole Miss freshman has engaged legal representation and says she intends to take action against McAfee, ESPN, and potentially others

As the mother of a teenage daughter, I can't stop thinking about this story. This is what passes for "journalism" these days. This disgusting bro behavior has to end.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

Wisconsin school board races attract attention from national conservative groups High-profile controversies including vaccine mandates, LGBTQ+ rights, and teaching about race and American history have led to big gains for Republicans on Wisconsin’s school boards.

Wisconsin school board races attract attention from national conservative groups

www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

How Marquette men's basketball super fan Rick Smith became the 'Jump Around Guy' - Wisconsin Life Rick Smith first started jumping around to show his fellow Marquette University alumni that he could cheer on the men’s basketball team just as enthusiastically as the students.  The year was 2007.  T...

#MarchMadness is here! One particular #marquette basketball fan will have the cheers directed at him. Here's the story of "The Jump Around Guy," a super fan who's been going to Marquette games for more than 50 years.
wisconsinlife.org/story/the-ju...

Wisconsin's largest voucher school bringing in $40M by recruiting virtual students A private Christian school in Milwaukee has grown over the last five years to become the largest recipient of funding through Wisconsin's Private School Choice Programs.

A WI private school is bringing in $40M+ in taxpayer dollars via its virtual academy. 21% of its students meet DPI expectations in language arts, 15.4% in math.
The school uses curriculum from Bob Jones U. & Pensacola Christian College.
More from @corrihess.bsky.social:
www.wpr.org/news/academy...

Milwaukee Christian voucher school growing exponentially by recruiting virtual students A private Christian school in Milwaukee has grown over the last five years to become the largest recipient of funding through Wisconsin's Private School Choice Programs.

A private Christian school in Milwaukee has grown over the last five years to become the largest recipient of funding through Wisconsin’s Private School Choice Programs.

www.wpr.org/news/academy-of-excellence-voucher-school-growing-exponentially-recruiting-virtual-students

Facing an operating deficit UWM announced today it is freezing employee pay, hiring and out of state travel.

Good question. I asked and nobody could give me any numbers. But I believe you are right, it will be a small percentage.