Wisconsin Digital Learning Survey — Year-to-Year Comparison
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Digital Learning Survey: Year-to-Year Comparison
A descriptive comparison of selected results from the 2025–26 and 2026–27 Wisconsin Digital Learning Surveys.
Important context for interpreting the comparison
The 2025–26 survey was voluntary and included 320 district responses. The 2026–27 survey was required by state statute and included 424 district responses in the cleaned dataset used for these results. The 2026–27 survey included a mechanism for districts to submit their required wireless communication device policy to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Because participation requirements differed between years, the samples are different in both size and composition. These comparisons should therefore be interpreted as differences between the responses submitted in each survey year—not as changes measured within the same group of districts.
Changes are reported in percentage points. For example, a change from 40% to 45% is reported as +5.0 percentage points, not a 5% increase.
How questions were compared
- Only questions with sufficiently comparable wording, intent, and response categories are included.
- Where response categories changed, the page identifies the change and limits the comparison to shared categories when appropriate.
- Some questions cannot be meaningfully compared because the 2026–27 survey substantially changed the question or response structure; those are not presented as direct year-to-year comparisons.
- Question-level response counts may differ from the overall sample sizes because not every district answered every question.
Use of digital tools to support academic standards
2025–26: 320 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| To a very great extent | 16.2% | 11.3% | -4.9 percentage points |
| To a moderate extent | 26.6% | 31.8% | +5.3 percentage points |
| To a great extent | 53.8% | 55.9% | +2.1 percentage points |
| To a small extent | 3.4% | 0.9% | -2.5 percentage points |
Consideration of accessibility in procurement process
2025–26: 320 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
The response scale changed between years. Shared response categories are shown; because the available choices differ, these percentages should not be interpreted as a complete year-to-year distribution.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 75.3% | 92.0% | +16.7 percentage points |
| No | 24.7% | 1.4% | -23.3 percentage points |
Professional learning plan includes accessibility/Assistive Technology
2025–26: 317 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
The response scale changed between years. Shared response categories are shown; because the available choices differ, these percentages should not be interpreted as a complete year-to-year distribution.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 47.0% | 46.2% | -0.8 percentage points |
| No | 53.0% | 20.5% | -32.5 percentage points |
Investment in digital learning aligns with strategic goals
2025–26: 149 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
The response scale changed: 2025–26 used “Perfectly aligned,” while 2026–27 uses “Fully aligned.” The mapped category is shown as a corresponding response, so this comparison should be interpreted cautiously.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Well aligned | 0.0% | 46.7% | +46.7 percentage points |
| Moderately aligned | 0.0% | 28.5% | +28.5 percentage points |
| Slightly aligned | 0.0% | 9.4% | +9.4 percentage points |
| Not aligned | 0.0% | 2.1% | +2.1 percentage points |
| Perfectly aligned | 0.0% | 13.2% | +13.2 percentage points |
Community partnerships for authentic learning experiences
2025–26: 315 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
The 2025–26 survey included “Daily,” while the 2026–27 survey uses “Annually” instead. Shared categories are shown.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 12.7% | 46.9% | +34.2 percentage points |
| Monthly | 20.6% | 25.2% | +4.6 percentage points |
| Quarterly | 32.7% | 16.7% | -16.0 percentage points |
| Never | 3.2% | 0.9% | -2.2 percentage points |
Communication methods to engage families/community
2025–26: 315 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
The 2025–26 survey included “Daily,” while the 2026–27 survey uses “Annually” instead. Shared categories are shown.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 41.6% | 72.9% | +31.3 percentage points |
| Monthly | 13.0% | 19.8% | +6.8 percentage points |
| Quarterly | 4.1% | 5.2% | +1.1 percentage points |
Competency-based learning
2025–26: 312 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderately effective | 31.4% | 33.3% | +1.8 percentage points |
| Somewhat effective | 40.7% | 40.8% | +0.1 percentage points |
| Not at all effective | 17.0% | 8.7% | -8.3 percentage points |
| Extremely effective | 1.6% | 2.1% | +0.5 percentage points |
| Very effective | 9.3% | 15.1% | +5.8 percentage points |
Learning environments support flexible/student-centered learning
2025–26: 312 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| To a moderate extent | 42.9% | 46.2% | +3.3 percentage points |
| To a small extent | 25.0% | 11.6% | -13.4 percentage points |
| To a great extent | 24.0% | 34.7% | +10.6 percentage points |
| To a very great extent | 5.8% | 7.3% | +1.5 percentage points |
Leadership shared vision
2025–26: 312 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| To a moderate extent | 42.3% | 42.2% | -0.1 percentage points |
| To a small extent | 16.7% | 12.7% | -3.9 percentage points |
| To a great extent | 30.4% | 37.0% | +6.6 percentage points |
| Not at all | 3.5% | 0.5% | -3.1 percentage points |
| To a very great extent | 7.1% | 7.5% | +0.5 percentage points |
Collaboration/innovation/shared responsibility
2025–26: 312 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| To a moderate extent | 40.7% | 40.3% | -0.4 percentage points |
| To a very great extent | 10.6% | 10.6% | +0.0 percentage points |
| To a great extent | 40.4% | 39.6% | -0.8 percentage points |
| To a small extent | 8.0% | 9.0% | +0.9 percentage points |
| Not at all | 0.3% | 0.5% | +0.2 percentage points |
Engaging students/educators/families/community
2025–26: 312 responding districts | 2026–27: 424 responding districts
Response categories and question intent are sufficiently comparable for a descriptive year-to-year comparison.
| Response | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderately active | 43.6% | 47.9% | +4.3 percentage points |
| Slightly active | 14.7% | 17.7% | +2.9 percentage points |
| Very active | 35.6% | 28.5% | -7.0 percentage points |
| Extremely active | 5.8% | 5.7% | -0.1 percentage points |
| Not at all active | 0.3% | 0.2% | -0.1 percentage points |
Participation note
The difference between 320 voluntary responses in 2025–26 and 424 responses in 2026–27 reflects the different participation requirements and should be considered when reviewing all year-to-year comparisons.