Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative

06/04/2026

Did you miss the Rural Teacher Workforce Summit? The recording and materials are now available!

You can now catch up on this critical conversation featuring WEC Co-director Dr. Brad Carl. The summit highlights actionable, research-backed policy solutions to address the rural educator shortage, including practical strategies like "grow your own" programs and paid student teaching.

If your work touches rural education, we highly recommend watching the panel of rural superintendents and regional experts discuss how to turn these findings into everyday practice.

💻 Watch the recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/ISy1kCa7nVI?si=J718pVCkRuQSGiIC

📄 Read the foundational working papers:
https://wcer.wisc.edu/docs/working-papers/WCER_Working_Paper_No.2023-4.pdf
https://wcer.wisc.edu/docs/working-papers/WCER_Working_Paper_No.2025-4.pdf

How do we solve the rural educator shortage? It starts with actionable, research-backed policy. 📝

Join our colleague Dr. Bradley Carl at the Rural Teacher Workforce Summit where he will share practical strategies for Wisconsin schools, including "grow your own" programs and paid student teaching.

A panel of rural superintendents and regional experts from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois will also discuss how to turn these findings into everyday practice.

🗓️ Date: April 15 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Monona Terrace (In-person with lunch!) or via Livestream

Learn more and register to attend:
https://thompsoncenter.wisc.edu/event/rural-teacher-workforce-summit/

Read the foundational working papers here:
https://go.wisc.edu/201eyx
https://go.wisc.edu/eyh081

06/03/2026

How do we actively address and reduce antisemitism in our public high schools?

Our colleague Michal Avera Samuel and the Shalom Curriculum Project (SCP) housed here at WEC are exploring a powerful approach: highlighting the rich racial and ethnic diversity of the Jewish community.

Recently featured by the Jews of Color Initiative, SCP's new pilot study engages high school students in critical conversations about identity and assumptions. By showcasing the true multiracial reality of Jewish life, the project aims to equip students with a deeper understanding as they head into universities and the workforce.

We are incredibly proud of the SCP team for turning research into practical, community-centered tools to combat hate.

Read the full feature here: https://thejoci.org/newsletter/how-shalom-curriculum-project-is-rethinking-antisemitism-education/

05/28/2026

June 25th is almost here! 🗓️

Who is joining WEC, WCER, and our partners to learn from Wisconsin's top educational leaders at the Creating a Culture of Excellence for All conference?

Let us know in the comments if you are attending, and register here if you haven't yet:

🔗 https://go.wisc.edu/9g8wm9

How do schools translate the goal of "continuous improvement" into actual, measurable results?

They learn from the leaders doing the work on the ground. We are proud to share that the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative and the Wisconsin Center for Education Research are once again partnering with AWSA, WASDA, and the CESA Statewide Network for the Creating a Culture of Excellence for All conference.

We are bringing together top Wisconsin school and district leaders to share the practical strategies and real-world results behind their success. If you are looking for actionable insights to take back to your own district, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Learn more and register here: https://go.wisc.edu/9g8wm9

05/26/2026

We are incredibly proud to announce that our WEC colleague, Dr. Hazel Symonette, will be delivering the keynote address at the upcoming Centre for Equitable Systems Design (CESD) annual conference on May 29! 🎉

Navigating the complex boundaries of our professional and personal work requires deep intentionality. In her keynote, Hazel will explore how we can activate our "best selves" to discern and engage with relevant boundaries and borderlands in our practice. She will provide attendees with the practical insights needed to answer the question of "Now what?", turning complex challenges into spaces for meaningful engagement and action.

🗓️ Date: May 29
📍 Location: Virtual
🔗 Learn more & register: https://extendedlearning.ubc.ca/courses/ubc-centre-equitable-systems-design-annual-conference/0607

05/21/2026

How do you know if your programs are truly making an impact?

We specialize in contextually responsive evaluation. We don’t just look at the numbers; we look at the community, the culture, and the context behind them.

Swipe ➡️ to see how we support partners with:
✅ Evaluation Planning
✅ Strategic Planning
✅ Capacity Building
✅ Data Collection
✅ Data Visualization
✅ Continuous Improvement Systems

We involve our partners in the entire process to ensure the work is relevant and sustainable.

🔗 Link in bio to connect with our team!

04/29/2026

How do schools translate the goal of "continuous improvement" into actual, measurable results?

They learn from the leaders doing the work on the ground. We are proud to share that the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative and the Wisconsin Center for Education Research are once again partnering with AWSA, WASDA, and the CESA Statewide Network for the Creating a Culture of Excellence for All conference.

We are bringing together top Wisconsin school and district leaders to share the practical strategies and real-world results behind their success. If you are looking for actionable insights to take back to your own district, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Learn more and register here: https://go.wisc.edu/9g8wm9

04/16/2026

WCER and the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative are pleased to once again partner with the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators, and the CESA Statewide Network for the Creating a Culture of Excellence for All conference. Join us in Madison on June 25–26 for this collaborative event that showcases accomplished Wisconsin school and district leaders who will share their continuous-improvement journeys, practical strategies, and measurable results.

Register to attend at https://sites.google.com/awsa.org/culture-of-excellence/home

04/16/2026

How do we build more inclusive classrooms from day one?

The Columbus Jewish News recently highlighted the Shalom Curriculum Project (SCP), a WEC-housed initiative that equips early childhood educators with diverse educational materials.

The broader utility of this work extends far beyond a single lesson. By giving educators practical tools to teach diversity early on, SCP helps foster belonging and reduce antisemitism from the ground up.

Congratulations to the SCP team on this wonderful feature!

📰 Read the article:
https://go.wisc.edu/r20b64

🧰 Discover SCP's tools: https://shalom.education.wisc.edu/

04/14/2026

How do we solve the rural educator shortage? It starts with actionable, research-backed policy. 📝

Join our colleague Dr. Bradley Carl at the Rural Teacher Workforce Summit where he will share practical strategies for Wisconsin schools, including "grow your own" programs and paid student teaching.

A panel of rural superintendents and regional experts from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois will also discuss how to turn these findings into everyday practice.

🗓️ Date: April 15 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Monona Terrace (In-person with lunch!) or via Livestream

Learn more and register to attend:
https://thompsoncenter.wisc.edu/event/rural-teacher-workforce-summit/

Read the foundational working papers here:
https://go.wisc.edu/201eyx
https://go.wisc.edu/eyh081

04/06/2026

📢 We are excited to share more results from our ongoing evaluation of Wisconsin's Achievement Gap Reduction ( ) program.

What is the key to successful reduction? 🤔 Principals say it's about more than just the numbers! As one principal explained:
"Reducing class sizes for AGR is not going to [improve student outcomes] alone. You have to think about what are you doing within your instructional practices..."

Effective implementation requires:
▶️ Changing instructional practices.
▶️ Ensuring the right conditions so benefits are found "through the teaching and learning."

Want to know more about the positive impact of AGR? What's working best? Dive into the full report to explore the data and findings: https://go.wisc.edu/a76g08