Beginning this week, anyone with a computer or smart phone and access to the internet will be able to take a closer look at how the School District of Beloit is performing by using raw, unbiased data.
Beloit Public Library will unveil the new School District of Beloit Data Tool at noon on Wednesday, December 18 as part of The Civics Academy, the library’s lunch-and-learn series aimed at engaging residents with their local government through a variety of local topics.
Produced by the statewide nonpartisan, independent policy research organization Wisconsin Policy Forum, the SDB Data Tool takes a closer look at key educational indicators for the School District of Beloit and area schools using data from the Department of Public Instruction databases.
This new tool was modeled after a similar one developed for the Sheboygan Area School District and unveiled this past spring. Beloit’s project was funded by the BPL Foundation and created in partnership with the School District of Beloit.
The SDB Data Tool will compare Beloit data to nine peer school districts that have similar enrollment levels (1,900-20,000 students), makeup of economically disadvantaged students (at least 54% economically disadvantaged), and rely heavily on state aid (at least 55% of their revenue). Comparable districts include Green Bay Area Public Schools, Manitowoc Public School District, Menasha Joint School District, Racine Unified School District, School District of Cudahy, School District of Janesville, School District of South Milwaukee, Sheboygan Area School District, and West Allis-West Milwaukee School District.
At the December 18 event, Wisconsin Policy Forum Director Jason Stein will present the tool, show how to use it, dive into some of the data, and help the public understand the findings.
This presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but the first 25 who register will receive a free lunch courtesy of Stateline Community Foundation and Beloit Public Library Foundation. Registration is accepted online at beloitlibrary.org/about-us/civicsacademy/ or by phone at (608)364-2905.
