92% of choice schools use standardized tests, report says
By Sarah Carr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Last Update: Feb. 17, 2004
As the debate over accountability in Milwaukee's choice program rages, a new Public Policy Forum report shows that nearly all of the schools say they administer some form of standardized test.
Ninety-two percent of Milwaukee's voucher schools report that they use a standardized test, according to the forum. The local research firm surveys the choice schools on different issues every year. It asked the schools about standardized tests for the first time this year.
According to the survey results, 64 of the schools say they administer the Iowa Test of Basic Skills; 40 the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (which is used by public schools in the state); 33 the TerraNova; and 22 another exam. Nine schools reported that they do not administer any standardized test.
The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program allows low-income families to receive state-funded tuition vouchers to send their children to private schools.
"We were pleasantly surprised that nine out of 10 schools are administering tests," said Emily Van Dunk, the research director at the forum. "I don't think if we had sat down and guessed, we would have thought it would be that high."
But the forum's report also advises that school administrators and policy-makers develop a means to publicly report test results, which are often used solely for internal use by the schools.
"There needs to be a lot more transparency," Van Dunk said. She added: "This is of interest to 13,000 families who don't know how their school is doing compared with the school down the street."
Policy-makers have clashed recently over whether schools in the program should be required to administer standardized tests -- and release the results. This fall, Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a proposed longitudinal study of the program, which would have included standardized tests, partly because participation was voluntary for schools.
Anti-voucher organizations, such as the Wisconsin Education Association Council, argue that voucher schools should have to comply with all of the testing requirements of public schools because they receive public funds.
But some choice advocates have argued that while they support accountability, some groups seeking mandatory testing are out to destroy the program, not to improve it.
The forum report also found:
-- One-fifth of schools in the program have changed location at least once in the past five years.
-- Enrollment continues to rise steadily in every grade, but most sharply at the high school level.