PK-16 Collaboration
Low levels of student persistence and success are a national issue at colleges and
universities. “The Challenge of College Readiness,” an article written by David T.
Conley and published in Educational Leadership (April 2007), reports that “only about 35
percent of students who entered four-year colleges seeking a bachelor’s degree in 1998
had earned their degree four years later.”
Also, “only 56 percent had graduated six years later.” If it is desired to improve access, achievement, engagement, and retention of UWParkside students, perhaps it is best to start at the beginning. It is for this reason the Provost’s office is proposing the PK16 Collaborations project. The purpose of this project is to positively affect the academic achievement, professional skills, and overall climate within a designated “learning lab school”. This project hopes to create a systemic, needs-based, collaborative approach to programming offered by the University of Wisconsin – Parkside and its affiliated partners. The goals of this project include:
• Create a clear understanding of academic standards and expected achievement
outcomes at all levels (PK-16)
• Aid students graduating from Southeastern Wisconsin schools in acquiring the
essential knowledge and skills necessary for achievement both in higher education
and employment
• Develop a smooth transition from high school to college by aligning curricula and
admissions standards
• Increase the retention of UW-Parkside students
• Provide professional development opportunities for PK-16 faculty/educators to
increase their content knowledge and pedagogical skills
• Provides initial educators to the school districts in Southeastern Wisconsin that
both represent and understand the student population and are highly qualified in
the content they teach
• Access grant opportunities from funding organizations requiring or giving priority
to existing partnerships
