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