PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — For the first time in more than a decade, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is making changes to its school report card system.
It’s part of the state’s accountability system, which measures how individual schools and districts are doing.
K-12 school and district report cards were first introduced in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction during the 2011-2012 school year.
That was also the last time “cut scores” — which are used to rate the performance of schools and districts — were updated.
“Think of it kind of like a GPS system,” Wisconsin DPI Interim Communications Director Chris Bucher said. “You wouldn’t use a GPS system from 10, 12 years ago in 2025 to get you to where you want to go. The roads might have changed, traffic patterns might have changed.”
Each year, the DPI creates a report card for all public schools and districts, giving them an overall accountability score. It looks at their performance in four areas — Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes and On-Track Graduation — and gives them a rank in each category.
“The overall goal of this is just to make sure that report cards remain fair, transparent and aligned with the way that performances actually being measured today,” Bucher said.
Come this summer, a group of about two dozen education leaders from across the state will come together to recommend changes. They’ll look at data from over time to determine what new cut score benchmarks for districts will be.
“Really, this is a chance to realign these report cards with what the metrics are today in 2025,” Bucher said.
These changes come on the heels of controversy over a change in standards made by the DPI last year, when critics said the bar was lowered. However, Bucher said this report card change is unrelated to academic standards and these changes are typical in other states.
One of the education leaders taking part is from the Green Bay Area Public School District. They’re looking forward to having a voice in the discussion.
“I think we’re really excited to have someone that understands how we use the state report cards in communicating with our families in our community, and understanding the importance in having good representation on how our students are successful,” GBAPS Director of Communications Lori Blakeslee said.
Blakeslee said it’s important to have continuous changes in the system to ensure education is improving. It’s unclear right now what specific changes will be made.
Updated report cards will be released in November, following approval from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly.
The first report card standard setting meeting will be held virtually June 10. In-person meetings will take place August 12-14.
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