October 10, 2024
As announced last week, the DPI released students’ statewide test results on Tuesday. Though initial numbers may sound positive, education leaders warn that there’s more to the story because of the DPI’s standard slashing.
DPI Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly is quoted as saying: “… we are not lowering our standards; rather, we are reflecting actual student results using Wisconsin’s strong academic standards.”
But a report from the Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) found that:
- Statewide proficiency in math and reading increased by over 10%, surpassing national pre-pandemic scores for Wisconsin students. IRG looks to this as evidence of artificial inflation of scores due to the superintendent’s recent lowering of state standards.
- Black students’ performance dropped another 6% in reading and 8% in math. The achievement gap between Black and White students is now around 50%.
- Low income students and students with disabilities scores also dropped. IRG claims the new standards disproportionately favor advantaged students.
As part of the organization’s investigation into state standardized testing and scores, IRG obtained DPI correspondence via open records requests showing that the department had preliminary knowledge that change in cut scores would widen existing achievement gaps and inflate scores and still chose to adjust them. Read the report and quotes here.
In emails and an article published this week, Superintendent Underly has even admitted to being previously puzzled on how to interpret test results. It’s not anticipated that the changes will make it any easier as the DPI stated in its release that the 2023-24 scores “cannot be directly compared to prior years.”
When looking at scores, it’s important to note that parents of choice students have the right to opt their child out of state testing. In the 2023-24 school year, 79.7% of choice students were tested as compared to the 95.4% of public school students. Choice schools also only have to administer state tests if they enroll a certain number of students.
Test scores are included on schools’ DPI report cards that will officially be released in November. See what’s new on the 2023-24 report cards from the DPI here. Choice schools are required to post their report card and provide it to parents.
WCRIS has already fielded questions about schools’ report cards and requirements. Please contact us if you also have questions.
