Gov. Evers critical of DPI lowering test standards, 'surprised' by decision

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Months after the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) implemented a new controversial tool to measure students' academic performance, Governor Tony Evers is now describing the decision as a "mistake."

During a press conference with reporters meant to look ahead at 2025, Evers was critical of a DPI decision to change the testing cut scores that categorize how students did on Wisconsin's Forward Exam and the national ACT standardized test.

Evers maintained there should have been more input from more people ahead of time.

"I think there should have been some information and dialog happening with all sorts of people before that decision was made," Evers said. "The mistake was there wasn’t enough conversation with stakeholders, parents ahead of time."

Evers has been outspoken on the issue before, but this marks his most vocal criticism of the new testing standards since they were enacted in June. Evers was the one who enacted the old scale in 2012 when he was state superintendent.

The change aligned Wisconsin's scores with the National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) test, which is widely considered to have high standards. In September, Evers defended the high standards.

"I think we need to have as high of standards as possible. I don't think we should be lowering them," he told reporters then. "But the fact of the matter is that's a DPI issue, not a governor's issue."

When asked at Friday's news conference if he was surprised by the new standards, Evers responded, "Hell yes." 

"I'm not even sure how many school people knew about it," he added.

State Superintendent Jill Underly, who faces reelection this year, has defended the changes. She told CBS 58 in September the new benchmarks "will give us a better measure of where kids are."

In response to Evers' criticism, a spokesperson for the DPI sent a statement on behalf of Underly.

"Educational standards were not lowered – our achievement benchmarks were updated to better align to Wisconsin standards," Underly said. "And, most importantly, we worked with — and listened to — a statewide group of teachers – nearly 90 educators from all over the state – to determine these new achievement benchmarks."

Recent test scores by DPI show nearly half of students are testing at grade level in reading and math. However, this year's scores can't be compared to previous years due to the changes.

Are standards lower? 

DPI officials have defended the new benchmarks, saying they align more directly with the state's Forward Exam and teaching standards. Underly noted other states, such as Oklahoma and New York, have recently lowered their testing benchmarks.

However, the Institute for Reforming Government, a conservative think tank, points to changes for the benchmarks on ACT testing.

The changes adopted last year mean students who score a 19 on the exam are considered to be meeting expectations. That standard was formerly labeled as "proficient," but the DPI also softened the language with changing the cut scores, replacing terms like "basic" and "below basic" with "approaching expectations" and "developing."

"[The ACT] passing standard basically went from a 21 to a 19," Klabon said. "That is the definition of lowering standards."

The ACT, itself considers a 19 at the low end of its "average score range," which includes scores between 17 and 24. According to a 2011 primer put together by the Portage School District, a 19 on the ACT would've been lower than the minimum score required for admission to every UW System school.

According to DPI data, the average statewide composite ACT score in the 2023-24 school year was 19.2.

Underly maintained the cut scores were lower, but the DPI was raising teaching standards in key areas.

"Look, achievement benchmarks – known colloquially as 'cut scores' – are not the same as 'standards.'" Underly said. "We have actually raised standards for career and technical education, and implemented higher standards for mathematics and science."

Klabon, meanwhile, joined Evers in saying the DPI should have gotten input from more people than teachers when changing the cut scores. DPI primers on the changes said 90 educators were involved in changing the benchmarks for the Forward Exam, while 26 educators had a hand in changing the ACT cut scores.

"I think any process to set standards for Wisconsin test scores should have included national experts on testing, on standards," Klabon said.

It's why critics, including Evers, have argued the adjustments as they were implemented make it nearly impossible to measure students' academic performance.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) called the new testing standards "preposterous" and said his caucus will introduce legislation to address it in the coming weeks.

"We want to pass legislation to guarantee the standards are the same and you don't get to jigger them every time you want to run for reelection," Vos said.

Underly is vying for a second term this spring. She faces a challenge from Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jeff Wright and education consultant Brittany Kinser, who most recently worked for a Milwaukee charter school

The primary is Feb. 18, which will narrow the field to two candidates. Voters will then pick the next superintendent in the April 1 spring election.

Evers declined to endorse a candidate in the race.