Wisconsin Schools face new, tougher report cards

Alan Borsuk:

One of the most dramatic signs of the momentous changes in how Wisconsin is trying to improve schools, teachers and student performance is about to hit every public school community in the state.

There have been a lot of warnings that a new way of picturing how schools are doing is coming and that the view isn't going to be as cheery as the old grades. But it's unlikely many people except school officials have been paying attention.

You can bet a lot more people will take notice when the state Department of Public Instruction releases report cards for every school and school district on Oct. 22.

The new data is going to be massive and sometimes complex. There will be a two-page summary report on each school, as well as an 18-page report.

Backers of the new approach - and a broad array of education and political figures - say that the report cards are a pillar of efforts to get more children in Wisconsin better prepared to go on to college and the work world.

But a lot of people almost surely will look at the grades for their local schools and ask: What in heaven's name is going on? How did local schools we thought were A or B quality suddenly get worse?

Posted by Jim Zellmer at October 7, 2012 5:28 AM
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