Vouchers Aren't the Answer

Lisa Kaiser:

Today the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released new results for the statewide exam.

Not surprising to those who have been paying attention, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) did better than schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), otherwise known as the voucher program.

Overall, MPS had 47.8% of its students scoring as proficient in math, with 59% proficient in reading.

Among economically disadvantaged kids, MPS scored 43.9% in math and 55.3% in reading.

Those scores are lower for students in the voucher program--all of whom are economically disadvantaged, although that could change if Gov. Scott Walker has his way and opens up the program to middle-class and wealthy kids. Only 34.4% of voucher students scored proficient in math, while 55.2% were proficient in reading, about the same as MPS.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 2, 2011 1:38 AM
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