A panel discussion at Beloit Public Library on October 31 will answer questions brought forth by changes to the way the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) plans to evaluate the effectiveness of school districts within the state.
The panel discussion, titled “Changes in How the State Evaluates the Effectiveness of Wisconsin’s Schools Panelists,” will feature two leaders in the education field: Colleston Morgan Jr., Executive Director of City Forward Collective in Milwaukee, and Alan Borsuk, Senior Fellow in Law and Public Policy at Marquette University.
The DPI issues annual “Report Cards” for all 421 Wisconsin school districts, providing detailed insights into each district’s performance. Recently, the DPI announced new classifications for student performance—changing from “Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic” to “Advanced, Meeting (Expectations), Approaching, and Developing”—and an intent to lower cutoff scores for each classification.
Many are reporting that these updated metrics will superficially inflate scores to make poor-performing districts look better. Panelists will explain these changes and examine how they may impact Beloit schools, students, and the broader community.
This event is free and open to the public. Free coffee and refreshments will be provided by the Beloit Public Library Foundation. This event is hosted by: City Center Council, The Civics Academy, Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Civic Affairs Committee, and Beloit Public Library.
Learn more and register to secure a seat: https://beloit.librarycalendar.com/event/scorecard-presentation-9331.
More about the speakers
Colleston Morgan, Jr.
Born and raised in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood, Colleston Morgan, Jr. was appointed Executive Director of City Forward Collective in 2023. Previously, he served as the organization’s Vice President, Strategy & Policy. He began his career as a social studies teacher at G.W. Carver High School, where he was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year. Colleston then spent time working at the Louisiana Department of Education, and at New Orleans Public Schools, culminating in a Cabinet-level role as the district’s
Chief Strategy Officer. While at the district, Colleston was a key leader in the development and implementation of the district’s plan to return to local governance of New Orleans’ system of public charter schools, after more than a decade of state control. Colleston has been recognized as a national leader in charter school authorizing practices and school accountability. Colleston earned an A.B. in Government from Harvard University, a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and is an alum of the Pahara Institute, Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship, and the New Leaders Council. Outside of work, Colleston is the proud father of two school-aged daughters.
Alan Borsuk
Alan Borsuk was a reporter and editor at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 1972 to 2009. Since 2009, he has been a senior fellow in law and public policy at Marquette University Law School. In both roles, he has written about education issues in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and nationwide for more than 30 years. His work has focused on the growth of school choice in Wisconsin, the state of public school systems (especially Milwaukee Public Schools), efforts (generally not very successful) to improve overall outcomes for low income and minority children, changes in how reading and math are taught, and the shaping and re-shaping of accountability systems, particularly in Wisconsin. He was also involved in the opening and growth of his own children’s schools, which taught him a few things about what to do (and not to do) when it comes to schools. Alan is a native of Madison and has lived for many years in the Sherman Park neighborhood in Milwaukee.
