The Universities of Wisconsin Office of Educational Opportunity (OEO), in partnership with educators, community organizations, families, and dedicated individuals, exists to expand access to high quality, innovative educational opportunities for students across Wisconsin by authorizing and overseeing public charter schools that meet local needs, interests, and demands. It is our goal to improve educational outcomes for students, especially those who are historically underserved and may not have access to high-quality educational options.
Our Team
Leadership
Cynthia Gonzalez, Office of Educational Opportunity (OEO) Director
Advisory Council
The OEO Advisory Council meets quarterly or as needed to advise the OEO Director on:
- Operational Policies
- Budget Development
- Charter School Application Process and Criteria
- Charter School Monitoring Functions
- Charter School Evaluation Process and Criteria
- Universities of Wisconsin Policy and Procedures
- Relationships with Outside Agencies
- UW Campus relationships: interfacing with the programs and research assets of each campus, including its educator preparation programs.
Membership
Members are drawn from the following Universities of Wisconsin units:
- The Division of Academic and Student Affairs;
- The Office of Government Relations;
- The Office of Financial Administration; and
- The Office of Public Affairs, Communications, & Branding.
Members serve for 2 years and may be reappointed by the OEO Director. The Advisory Council also receives legal advice and support from the Office of General Counsel
Application Review Committee
Members of the Review Committee follow a specified process for evaluating the application and collectively determining its merit as a Universities of Wisconsin charter school. As a committee, members:
- Members will participate in training on conducting application reviews.
- Members will independently read, evaluate, and participate in capacity interviews for each assigned application.
- Members will collectively provide recommendations and feedback to the OEO director regarding the approval or non-approval for each assigned application based upon the criteria outlined in the Rubric.
- The OEO director presents recommendation(s) to the President of Universities of Wisconsin, the President of Universities of Wisconsin has the final approval of each application.
Membership
The OEO solicits the participation of highly qualified individuals from diverse educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds, who work in various education fields. The OEO solicits and appoints individuals with expertise in at least one of the following areas, but not limited to:
For each application received, at least five (5) members will be assigned to each application. At least one member of the Advisory Council and at least four (4) members of the community from rolling committee list. When a member of the Advisory Council is unable to review applications, the OEO director will seek an additional member from the Application Review Committee. The OEO director will assign members applications based on the area of need for each application and upon the availability of members. Members serve for the duration of the application review cycle, with the specific period specified by the OEO director.
