Wisconsin state assessment results show voucher students’ performance lackluster. The state’s response: remove the requirement that voucher students take the assessments and expand the voucher program to include wealthy families.

Wisconsin state assessment results show voucher students’ performance lackluster.   The state’s response: remove the requirement that voucher students take the assessments and expand the voucher program to include wealthy families.

For the first time in 20 years of Milwaukee’s Parental School Choice Program, the state of Wisconsin required the voucher students to take the same state assessments as their public school peers.  In reviewing the results, State Education Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers was generous when he said, “Having invested 20 years and over $1 billion in school choice, these lackluster results are especially troubling given the large disparity of children with special education needs between the two programs.”

Read his recommendations and summary of the program here:

http://newsdesk.learfielddemos.com/files/2011/05/budget_voucher_memo.pdf

Review the disaggregated data here:

Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Parental Choice Schools 2010-11 WSAS Number and Percent Proficient and Advanced (PA) for Students With and Without Disabilities

http://dpi.wi.gov/oea/pdf/mps-mcpc-swd.pdf

Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Parental Choice Schools 2010-11 WSAS Number and Percent Proficient and Advanced (PA) for English Language Learners and English Proficient Student

http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/oea/pdf/mps-mcpc-ell.pdf

Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Parental Choice Schools 2010-11 WSAS Number and Percent Proficient and Advanced (PA) for Students by Race/Ethnicity

http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/oea/pdf/mps-mcpc-rcomp.pdf