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As measures evolve, standard setting critical to ensure performance ratings remain fair, accurate and aligned
MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced today it has convened a group of Wisconsin education leaders to review and update the performance rating thresholds used in the state’s school and district report cards — a necessary step to ensure the system remains valid, fair, and aligned with current expectations.
Since school and district report cards were launched nearly 15 years ago, both state law and performance measures have evolved to better capture student growth, show differences in outcomes among student groups, and more. As a result, a standard setting process is a critical piece to keep the accountability system accurate and meaningful.
“Just as you wouldn’t rely on a decade-old GPS to find your way today, we can’t use outdated performance benchmarks to guide school improvement,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “In Wisconsin, where we maintain a high academic bar aligned to rigorous state standards, it is essential that our accountability systems keep pace with changes to performance measures — based on today’s data, today’s measures, and today’s expectations…not yesterday’s.”
This summer, a panel of more than two dozen education leaders representing public, private choice, and charter schools across Wisconsin will review and recommend updates to the score ranges that determine the overall accountability ratings in school and district report cards. The group’s work will be guided by Wisconsin’s Technical Advisory Committee and facilitated by the Center for Assessment, a national expert in accountability systems. Their recommendations will be submitted to the state superintendent and will be implemented beginning with 2024-25 report cards, set for release in fall 2025.
Each year, the DPI produces school and district report cards for every publicly funded school and district in Wisconsin as required by state law. These report cards use multiple years of data across four priority areas — Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-Track to Graduation — and assign an overall accountability rating ranging from “Fails to Meet Expectations” to “Significantly Exceeds Expectations.” Since the introduction of these report cards in 2011-12, both state law and the ways in which student and school performance are measured have evolved. Key updates include:
- Greater emphasis on growth for schools serving more low-income students
- Adoption of value-added methodology for academic growth
- Replacement of the “Closing Gaps” priority area with “Target Group Outcomes” to better gauge progress for students most in need of support
- Adjustments to how chronic absenteeism is measured to improve impact
- Incorporation of updated assessment data based on revised academic standards
The first standard-setting meeting will be held virtually in June 2025, and then multi-day in-person meetings will occur in August. Following thorough review and discussion, the group will recommend updated report card rating category thresholds to be shared with the Technical Advisory Committee and presented to the state superintendent for adoption.
More information on this process can be found in this informational handout. Additional information on school and district report cards can be found on the DPI’s Office of Educational Accountability’s webpage.
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Contact: Media.Inquiries@dpi.wi.gov
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