Welcome to Refocus Wisconsin
Refocus Wisconsin is a bold project that seeks to provide a blueprint for a new Wisconsin. With the help of nationally respected writers and academics, the project examines Wisconsin's recent past and provides prescriptions for restoring the state's reputation for excellence.
Refocus Wisconsin Polling
Refocus Wisconsin Issue Papers
- Leaving the Middle Behind: Wisconsin at a Turning Point - By John Gurda
- Public Opinion in Perspective: Wisconsin's Mind on Education - by Kenneth Goldstein and William Howell
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Maybe Elvis Should Have Stayed In the Building - By Alan Borsuk
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Desperately Seeking a New Tax System - by Richard Chandler
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Great Schools? Not Without Great Teachers - by Sarah Archibald
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Sustaining a Great Public University - by Mike Knetter and Gwen Eudey
- The State Crisis and a Need for a New Charter - by Stephen Goldsmith, with Jayson White and Ryan Streeter
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Wisconsin - We've Got a Problem - by Tom Hefty, John Torinus, and Sammis White
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Saving Money and Teachers' Jobs in One Simple Stroke - by Scott Niederjohn
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Wisconsin's Great Disconnect: Worried but Still Happy - by Ken Goldstein
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Growing Anger Over Free Government Pensions - by WPRI Staff
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Lessons in Budgeting: Listening to Our Founders - by Christian Schneider and George Lightbourn
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Sounding the Alarm: A Wakeup Call With Directions - by Frederick Hess and Olivia Meeks
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Public Education in Wisconsin: Facing Reality - by Rose Fernandez
About Refocus Wisconsin
- A project of the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, Refocus Wisconsin was developed with the belief that Wisconsinites born in recent years are facing a starkly different life than the one their grandparents enjoyed. Concerned about our slow, little-noted descent, Refocus Wisconsin hopes to open more people’s eyes to the real issues facing our state, so together, we can envision some genuine solutions.
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Refocus Wisconsin Authors
Multimedia Room
- Rick Chandler Discusses Tax Restructuring with Ben Merens of Wisconsin Public Radio - October 19, 2010
- Wisconsin May Be Losing its Best and Brightest Students - WFRV-TV, Green Bay
- Broadcast Journalist Aaron Brown Reflects on Career - WUWM "Lake Effect," September 20, 2010
- Ken Goldstein Discusses the Refocus Wisconsin Poll - WUWM "Lake Effect," September 17, 2010
- WPRI's Mike Nichols discusses Refocus Wisconsin on "Sunday Insight with Charlie Sykes," August 29, 2010.
- Ken Goldstein explains the Refocus Wisconsin poll results on "Up Front with Mike Gousha," August 29, 2010.
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Charlie Sykes of 620 WTMJ Radio discusses the Refocus Wisconsin poll [mp3], August 30, 2010.
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Ken Goldstein discusses the Refocus Wisconsin poll with Gene Purcell of Wisconsin Public Radio (RealPlayer needed) September 8, 2010.
Media Room
- A Crumbling Middle Augurs Ill for Us All - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 26, 2010
- Group's Blueprint Calls for Innovation, Statesmanship - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 24, 2010
- For Aaron Brown, it' Now Policy Over Politics - OnMilwaukee.com, September 22, 2010
- Surveys Find Wisconsinites are Worried but Still Happy - by Ken Goldstein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 22, 2010
- How Massachusetts Education Raced Past That of Wisconsin - by Alan Borsuk, Janesville Gazette, September 21, 2010
- Why No Bids for Teacher Health Benefits? - by Scott Niederjohn, Ph.D. - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 21, 2010
- "Charter Government" places citizens at the Center - by Stephen Goldsmith, Jayson White, and Ryan Streeter - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 19, 2010
- Give UW-Madison the Flexibility and Autonomy it Needs - by Mike Knetter and Gwen Eudey - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 17, 2010
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State Needs a New Pay System for Teachers - by Sarah Archibald - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 16, 2010
- Reform Wisconsin's Tax System to Help Economy Grow - by Richard G. Chandler - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 15, 2010
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Heed Lesson on Education Reform From Massachusetts - by Alan Borsuk - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel September 14, 2010
- John Gurda: For a State That's Lost its Way, it's Time to "Refocus." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 12, 2010
- Poll Finds "Brain Drain" a Statewide Concern: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 29, 2010.
- Poll Shows Madisonians Like Their Public Schools: The Capital Times, August 30, 2010.
- At-A-Glance Milwaukee Polling
- At-A-Glance Green Bay Area Polling
- At-A-Glance Madison Area Polling
- At-A-Glance Statewide Polling
- At-A-Glance Statewide Polling on Education
- Milwaukeeans' Attitudes Toward Schools Starkly Different Than Elsewhere In State
- Green Bay-area Grades Local Public Schools Higher than other Wisconsinites
- Madison-area Grades Local Public Schools Higher than other Wisconsinites
- Green Bay-area Residents Say Best and Brightest Leave State
- Madison-area Residents Say Best and Brightest Leave State
- Wisconsinites Say Best and Brightest Leave State
- Wisconsinites Outside Milwaukee Twice as Likely to Give Local Schools High Grades
About WPRI/Contact Information
Social Media
The Government and the Governed
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