March 3, 2026

WISEdash Public Portal Update: March 5, 2026

The WISEdash Public Portal will be updated on March 5, 2026, with newly certified data from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

These updates reflect the certified data submitted through the WISEdata December student snapshot. Thank you for your continued efforts to ensure accurate and timely data reporting to the DPI.

On the day of the release, a complete list of new data elements and dashboards will be available on the WISEdash Public Portal landing page. Data and dashboards part of this release include:

2025-26 School Year

• Enrollment
• October 1 Child Count
• Graduation requirements (high school completion)

2024-25 School Year

• Graduation Rate (high school completion)
• Attendance (including absenteeism graphs)
• Dropout rate
• Discipline
• AP Exams
• ACT Graduates
• Career and Technical Education

If you have questions about the WISEdash Public Portal, please submit a Help Ticket. You may also find the About the Data and FAQ pages helpful for additional information about available data and reporting.

Spring 2026 Wisconsin Statewide Assessments

The spring test windows for the Wisconsin Student Assessment System are approaching. These assessments are required by state and federal law. Districts must ensure participation of all enrolled students to maintain valid results for accountability, public reporting, and continuous improvement. Please note:

• Participation rates below 95% are flagged on the front page of school and district report cards.
• Participation below 95% also lowers the achievement score under ESSA accountability.

Statewide Assessments

• Forward Exam – Grades 3–8 and 10
• Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) – Grades 3–11 for students with significant cognitive disabilities
• PreACT Secure – Grades 9 and 10
• ACT with writing – Grade 11

Action Steps for District Leaders
Please work with principals, district assessment coordinators (DACs), and relevant staff to:

• Build testing schedules that include sufficient make-up opportunities within the assessment windows.
• Avoid conflicts with major local events, holidays, or activities.
• Monitor participation regularly in each assessment platform to ensure at least 95% participation overall and across all student groups.
• Coordinate with virtual schools to ensure all enrolled students in tested grades participate. (Exclusively virtual schools may be eligible to administer the Forward Exam remotely.)

Testing dates, assessment details, and family communication resources are available on the Assessment in Wisconsin webpage. Please contact the DPI with assessment questions at osamail@dpi.wi.gov and with accountability questions at oeamail@dpi.wi.gov.

Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) Revision Update

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, in partnership with state agencies, is revising the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) as part of an update to the state’s Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDGs).

From October to December 2025, Wisconsin partnered with Marzano Research to conduct a statewide public review of the current standards. Feedback from this process is summarized in the Wisconsin ELDGs Revision Project Phase 1 Findings Brief, which is now available (a Spanish version of this document is also available).

This year, Marzano Research will lead development of the revised ELDGs. District leaders will have an opportunity later this year to review and provide feedback on a draft prior to final publication. For project updates and resources, visit the DCF’s website.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting high-quality early learning across Wisconsin.