MONROE - Local superintendents seem to agree that taxpayer-funded schools need to be held accountable, but finding a uniform set of rules to judge accountability is difficult.
Monroe District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner said she hopes the same assessment measures currently used are utilized.
"For accountability purposes of this importance, using the same assessment measure only makes sense," Hirsbrunner said.
The current standards set by the Department of Public Instruction rate schools on student achievement, student growth, post-secondary readiness, test participation, dropout rate and other criteria. A district's overall score is rated as significantly exceeds expectations, exceeds expectations, meets expectations, meets few expectations or fails to meet expectations.
Republican lawmakers have proposed two versions of a school accountability bill, one in the state Assembly and one in the state Senate. The Assembly bill would have forced public schools deemed to be failing for several years to close and reopen as independent charter schools. It also sought to rate schools with letter grades and allow state-funded private schools to use different achievement tests than public schools, though following a lengthy public hearing, the bill is being reworked.
The current version of the Senate bill would do away with those stipulations, but would create a state board meant to help schools given the lowest rating with improvement plans. Both versions of the bill would not allow failing private voucher schools to accept new taxpayer-subsidized students. Public hearings have been held in both houses, but as of Thursday, nothing is scheduled on the state legislative calendar in the next few weeks concerning the bills.
Under current DPI ratings, failing schools don't face any consequences, which is partly why the state legislature is ironing out a new school accountability bill.
Hirsbrunner said the Monroe school district tends to score very well, so punishments would not negatively affect the schools, but she said she worries about low-performing schools.
"A much more effective path for those in need of improvement would be focusing on evidence-based interventions," she said. "Multiple assessments are certain to reduce validity, transparency and reliability when comparing the performance of different schools."
"Trust in the accountability system is a must," Hirsbrunner said.
Superintendent of Black Hawk Schools Willy Chambers said he thinks the current system gives the public a greater understanding of a district's standing than an A, B, C, D or F rating, as proposed by the Assembly bill.
"We are all used to seeing the A, B, C, D or F scores, and there's a sense that a C means not good enough - and to most, a C is average," Chambers said. "None of us shoot for average. ... In order to truly evaluate, they would need to come into the school and experience what our students experience."
According to DPI data for the 2013-2014 school year, Monroe received an overall accountability (OA) rating of meets expectations and an OA score of 70.5 out of a possible 100. Black Hawk Schools had a rating of meets expectations and a score of 71.2; New Glarus had a rating of exceeds expectations and a score of 81.2; Juda Schools had a rating of meets expectations and a score of 67.3; and Darlington had a rating of exceeds expectations and a score of 75.6.
Juda Schools Superintendent Traci Davis said she also disagrees with a letter grading system that could lead to a negative impression of the school. She also warned that graduation rates of smaller schools should also be a factor in determining the overall score.
"With small schools, they almost need an alternative for accountability because our sample size is so small," Davis said.
New Glarus Schools Superintendent Jennifer Thayer said she wants accountability in schools and for the public to be able to understand the rating system.
"Accountability should be comparable across schools and easy for the public to understand," Thayer said.
State Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said it's too early to place credence in the way the bills are drafted now because they may not pass.
"It's a work in progress, and you know it's going to be changed many, many times. ... I think we're all supportive of the concept of accountability, but, as always, the devil is in the details," Marklein said.
Marklein said he has heard both support and opposition to the bills, but his focus is to keep tabs on the bill and take input from his constituents when they reach a final vote.
State Assemblyman Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, echoed Marklein's concerns, saying it is too early to nail down what the bill will finally be.
"We are very fortunate that in Southwest Wisconsin we have some of the best schools in the state," Novak said. "The final bill has not come forward yet, and I am assuming there will be some major changes."
Monroe District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner said she hopes the same assessment measures currently used are utilized.
"For accountability purposes of this importance, using the same assessment measure only makes sense," Hirsbrunner said.
The current standards set by the Department of Public Instruction rate schools on student achievement, student growth, post-secondary readiness, test participation, dropout rate and other criteria. A district's overall score is rated as significantly exceeds expectations, exceeds expectations, meets expectations, meets few expectations or fails to meet expectations.
Republican lawmakers have proposed two versions of a school accountability bill, one in the state Assembly and one in the state Senate. The Assembly bill would have forced public schools deemed to be failing for several years to close and reopen as independent charter schools. It also sought to rate schools with letter grades and allow state-funded private schools to use different achievement tests than public schools, though following a lengthy public hearing, the bill is being reworked.
The current version of the Senate bill would do away with those stipulations, but would create a state board meant to help schools given the lowest rating with improvement plans. Both versions of the bill would not allow failing private voucher schools to accept new taxpayer-subsidized students. Public hearings have been held in both houses, but as of Thursday, nothing is scheduled on the state legislative calendar in the next few weeks concerning the bills.
Under current DPI ratings, failing schools don't face any consequences, which is partly why the state legislature is ironing out a new school accountability bill.
Hirsbrunner said the Monroe school district tends to score very well, so punishments would not negatively affect the schools, but she said she worries about low-performing schools.
"A much more effective path for those in need of improvement would be focusing on evidence-based interventions," she said. "Multiple assessments are certain to reduce validity, transparency and reliability when comparing the performance of different schools."
"Trust in the accountability system is a must," Hirsbrunner said.
Superintendent of Black Hawk Schools Willy Chambers said he thinks the current system gives the public a greater understanding of a district's standing than an A, B, C, D or F rating, as proposed by the Assembly bill.
"We are all used to seeing the A, B, C, D or F scores, and there's a sense that a C means not good enough - and to most, a C is average," Chambers said. "None of us shoot for average. ... In order to truly evaluate, they would need to come into the school and experience what our students experience."
According to DPI data for the 2013-2014 school year, Monroe received an overall accountability (OA) rating of meets expectations and an OA score of 70.5 out of a possible 100. Black Hawk Schools had a rating of meets expectations and a score of 71.2; New Glarus had a rating of exceeds expectations and a score of 81.2; Juda Schools had a rating of meets expectations and a score of 67.3; and Darlington had a rating of exceeds expectations and a score of 75.6.
Juda Schools Superintendent Traci Davis said she also disagrees with a letter grading system that could lead to a negative impression of the school. She also warned that graduation rates of smaller schools should also be a factor in determining the overall score.
"With small schools, they almost need an alternative for accountability because our sample size is so small," Davis said.
New Glarus Schools Superintendent Jennifer Thayer said she wants accountability in schools and for the public to be able to understand the rating system.
"Accountability should be comparable across schools and easy for the public to understand," Thayer said.
State Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said it's too early to place credence in the way the bills are drafted now because they may not pass.
"It's a work in progress, and you know it's going to be changed many, many times. ... I think we're all supportive of the concept of accountability, but, as always, the devil is in the details," Marklein said.
Marklein said he has heard both support and opposition to the bills, but his focus is to keep tabs on the bill and take input from his constituents when they reach a final vote.
State Assemblyman Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, echoed Marklein's concerns, saying it is too early to nail down what the bill will finally be.
"We are very fortunate that in Southwest Wisconsin we have some of the best schools in the state," Novak said. "The final bill has not come forward yet, and I am assuming there will be some major changes."