(The Center Square) – The criticism continues to roll in for Wisconsin’s
new school report cards.
The state’s Department of Public Instruction released the report cards from
last year Tuesday. DPI said the report cards show that more than 90% of schools in Wisconsin got passing grades.
“Of the 378 public school districts receiving report cards, 355 (94%) met, exceeded, or significantly exceeded expectations,” DPI said in its report card announcement.
But some education reformers, including the Institute for Reforming Government, said that 94% number is misleading.
“DPI’s state report cards say rich districts are worth the property taxes, even when they aren’t, and poor districts meet expectations, even when they don’t. Meanwhile, DPI underrates many of Wisconsin’s best districts,” IRG’s Quinton Klabon said.
He added to the criticism on social media.
“DPI’s report cards measure poverty, not quality,” he wrote. “There is not a single 1-star district. [In fact] 51% of schools are 4 or 5 stars, up from 2024.”
IRG said that discrepancy punishes some districts that do a good job teaching students to read, write and do math.
“DPI says lower-poverty, low-performing districts like Lodi, Lake Mills, and Saint Croix are 4 or even 5 stars. Even worse, DPI says higher poverty, high-performing districts like Wisconsin Dells, Sheboygan, and Janesville are just 3 stars,” the Institute said in a statement.
The IRG said DPI has lowered the bar by changing what it means to “meet” expectations, or become a 5 star district, Klabon said that has left parents with a false sense of how well their kids’ schools are doing.
“Parents should not have to play a guessing game about where their children can learn best,” Klabon added.
