Technical Notes
Kindergarten Readiness
Assessments:
- Currently, there is no single indicator used to measure Kindergarten Readiness in Wisconsin.
- We have used the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screener (PALS) as a proxy.
Notes:
- PALS was a required exam in the state of Wisconsin, but starting with the 2015-16 school year, DPI granted districts the freedom to choose their preferred screener. As a result, DPI will no longer collect/provide this data. MPS has chosen to continue using PALS. Going forward, Milwaukee Succeeds will no longer report data on this indicator.
- YoungStar ratings are on a 1 to 5 scale intended to offer parents, educators, and researchers information on the varying quality of childcare centers.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
Sources:
- Immunization: Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Immunization Registry
- YoungStar: Department of Children and Families
- PALS: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- WKCE: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
3rd Grade Reading Proficiency
Assessments:
- The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) was the standard exam required in Wisconsin to measure student progress from 3rd to 8th and 10th grade prior to the 2014-15 school year.
- The Badger exam replaced the WKCE for the 2014-15 school year in an effort to conform to Common Core standards.
- In the 2015-16 school year, the Forward exam replaced the Badger exam.
- MPS used the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) up until 2015-16, at which time they switched to the STAR assessment as their progress monitoring tool. Other schools still use the MAP as a progress monitoring tool.
Notes:
- Because of the three different exams, score comparison is discouraged as the exams have different result distributions, and were administered at different times of the year and through different methods
- Proficiency is defined by a code given by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) based on exam scores, measuring from 1 to 4. Those students who scored a 3 or 4 are considered proficient or advanced.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories
Sources:
- WKCE: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Badger: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
8th Grade Math Proficiency
Assessments
- The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) was the standard exam required in Wisconsin to measure student progress from 3rd to 8th and 10th grade prior to the 2014-15 school year.
- The Badger exam replaced the WKCE for the 2014-15 school year in an effort to conform to Common Core standards.
- In the 2015-16 school year, the Forward exam replaced the Badger exam.
Notes:
- Because of the three different exams, score comparison is discouraged as the exams have different result distributions, and were administered at different times of the year and through different methods.
- Proficiency is defined by a code given by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) based on exam scores, measuring from 1 to 4 Those students who scored a 3 or 4 are considered proficient or advanced.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
Sources:
- WKCE: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Badger: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
High School Completion
Notes:
- High School Completion Rate is calculated by dividing those students who graduated High School in 4 years by the total number of students in their cohort.
- Attendance rates are calculated by dividing the total days that students attended class by the total possible days that students could have attended class.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
- Currently, we only have this data for public and charter school students.
Sources:
- High School Completion: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Attendance: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Postsecondary Enrollment
Assessments:
- The ACT is a college placement exam offered to high school juniors and seniors that measures a student’s college readiness.
Notes:
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free service offered to any high school student looking to attend a postsecondary institution operated by the US Department of Education.
- On the charts, 1st month refers to the first month the applications were open, 2nd month refers to the second month applications were open, and so on.
- For years prior to 2016-17, the 1st month was January.
- Beginning in 2016-17, the application period opened October 1st in students' senior year of high school.
- Postsecondary Enrollment rates are calculated by dividing the number of seniors enrolled in a postsecondary institution by the number of students that completed high school.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
- Currently, we only have this data for public and charter school students.
Sources:
- Enrollment rates: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- US Department of Education, Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- ACT scores: ACT, Inc., customized report
Postsecondary Completion
Notes:
- Completion rates are calculated by dividing the number of students in a cohort who enrolled in a postsecondary institution by the number of students in that same cohort who graduated from a postsecondary institution within 6 years. Milwaukee Succeeds prefers to measure completion as the percentage of students who graduate from a postsecondary institution within 150% time (3 years for a 2-yr degree; 6 years for a 4-yr degree), but we are currently unable to get this differentiated data.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
- Currently, we only have this data for public and charter school students.
Sources:
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, customized report
- The Deveraux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) is an assessment designed to track progress in students’ social emotional learning in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
- The Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) is a survey designed to assess how youth in 6th to 12th grade are faring in their social and emotional health.
Notes:
- The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) was developed in Chicago to promote the expansion of SEL health. Milwaukee Succeeds is seeking to work with CASEL to develop a unified SEL approach in Milwaukee schools.
- Second Step is a curriculum endorsed by CASEL and offers lessons that teach social and emotional learning to students in early learning through 8th grade through a variety of and methods.
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a system that has been in place in MPS for many years that provides an extra-curricular framework of academic and behavioral practices to improve student behavior outcomes.
- The measure “Economically Disadvantaged” is used when a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch.
- In some cases, data is redacted to protect the privacy of students and respondents, which may result in reports with missing categories.
Sources:
- Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)