The Institute for Reforming Government filed a suit against DPI and its Standard Setting Committee, alleging the agency violated Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Laws.
The suit alleges that the DPI and its Standard Setting Committee broke the law during a closed-door 2024 conference at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The lawsuit is seeking to invalidate the actions taken at the four-day event. An event where 88 educators participated in setting new cut scores for the Wisconsin Forward Exam, with a reported cost of about $368,885.
Lawmakers raised concerns earlier this year on why the DPI did not provide detailed receipts for staff time, food, travel, or lodging tied to the event after the event concluded. In response, State Legislators halted a $1 million funding package to DPI after the secret funding came to light. (RELATED: Trump Rallies Wisconsin Farmers Around GOP Cost-Cutting Message)
Documents released by DPI included nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and internal materials connected to the standard setting process. Participants were told to not share workshop feedback, recommendations or other event contents, and DPI officials did not provide recordings or meeting minutes from the event.
“You have this meeting that happened that we have no records of other than a private vendor worked with DPI on standardized testing,” said Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Omro). “Then we have the superintendent come out and lower standards across schools, and there is this cost with no record of what the standard is.”
In a report published by the Institute for Reforming Government, they said that DPI officials told lawmakers the meetings involved a private contractor, Data Recognition Corporation, and confidential testing materials. DPI also said the total included: lodging, meals, travel, laptops, hotspots, other meeting expenses and contractor work. (RELATED: Brewers Unveil Exclusive Truss Club at American Family Field)
A Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials analysis said the 2025-27 state budget will increase school revenue limits by $325 per pupil each year, creating nearly $1.4 billion in additional “spendable revenue” for K-12 schools. However, despite another increase in funding, Under the new scoring system, 48 percent of Wisconsin public school students met grade-level standards in English language arts, while 49.4 percent did so in math. Raising more questions about the efficacy of these standards and increased funding.
