February 20, 2025 at 11:15 a.m.

Wisconsin schools failing students


Dear Editor,

The Nation's Report Card was released last week and the news is not good. It shows that U.S. students had record low reading comprehensive test scores last year.  The National Report Card showed that 70% of eighth graders nationally were below proficient in reading and 40% of fourth graders nationally do not even meet the basic reading level. Recently they rated the top 40 countries in education. U.S. ranked dead last, 40th out of 40 countries. The U.S. spends more money per student than any other country in the world, yet, we have the worst scores. Schools nationally also burned through $190 Billion in Covid19 relief money resulting in lower test scores. However, educators secured an 8% permanent raise in most districts. Drilling down to the state level of Wisconsin, the Cap Times reports that "Wisconsin's achievement gap worst among U.S. states".

Since the test scores were so bad in Wisconsin, the DPI (Department of Public Instruction) recently lowered the standards on their tests, which in reality is "dumbing down" Wisconsin students even more. 

Why are the good people of Wisconsin allowing such poor management and decision making by so-called educational leaders within the state of Wisconsin? As for our educators in WI, fact-based data and results do not lie. Collectively, most all educators in WI have not met expectations and need to change course quickly. In the private sector, these results get you fired. Please, stop complaining about everything that is wrong and just do your job and educate our children. Educators are being paid to teach our children reading, writing, and math. If they cannot do that, then they need to find another career. 

Patrick Franzen

Middleton, WI

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