PPI - Radically Pragmatic
  • Donate
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
  • People
  • Projects
  • Our Work
  • Events
  • Donate

Our Work

Pankovits for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin parents deserve truth about their children’s academic progress

  • December 14, 2024
  • Tressa Pankovits

Many states’ standardized test scores mislead the public about whether students have mastered the lessons taught at their grade level. In other words, scores some states label as ‘proficient’ doesn’t match the knowledge the nation’s top experts in student assessment say children should attain by their age.

Wisconsin now joins their ranks.

In June, with nary a public hearing, Jill Underly’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) unilaterally watered down Wisconsin’s achievement standards. Without input from the governor, legislators, parents, or assessment experts, DPI lowered the “cut” scores for the state’s annual Forward exam.

Not surprisingly, Underly’s new performance standards manifested as a mirage on the Forward exam scores released earlier this fall:

  • In 2023, 39% of Wisconsin students tested proficient in reading; in 2024, 51% did.
  • In 2023, 41% were proficient in math; in 2024, DPI claims 53% are.

That’s a 12% jump in both subjects in one year – extremely unusual, even when students get intensive academic remediation.

Read more in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Related Work

In the News  |  June 3, 2025

Kahlenberg in CBS News: Colleges are slightly less diverse as admissions officers seek ways to adapt post-affirmative action

  • Richard D. Kahlenberg
Op-Ed  |  June 2, 2025

Manno for Forbes: Microschools Go Macro And Provide More Learning Choices For Families

  • Bruno Manno
Press Release  |  May 23, 2025

PPI Statement: Supreme Court Decision is a Victory for Public Education

  • Will Marshall
Podcast  |  May 20, 2025

Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce, ft. Hans Meeder

  • Bruno Manno
Op-Ed  |  May 20, 2025

Kahlenberg for American Affairs: Renewing the Democratic Party

  • Richard D. Kahlenberg
Op-Ed  |  May 18, 2025

Manno for Forbes: How Are Teachers Today Thinking About Education?

  • Bruno Manno
  • Never miss an update:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
PPI Logo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Donate
  • Careers
  • © 2025 Progressive Policy Institute. All Rights Reserved.
  • |
  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Privacy Settings