Public comment period open for draft academic standards

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is seeking public comment on new draft academic standards for Wisconsin Essential Elements: Social Studies.

 

Essential Elements standards create alternate academic achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The standards satisfy requirements from the U.S. Department of Education, are clearly linked to grade-level academic content standards, promote access to the general curriculum, and reflect professional judgement of the highest expectation possible.

 

The State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council recommended revision to current Wisconsin Essential Elements: Social Studies standards. The revision process was then initiated by the state superintendent. To develop updated standards, a writing committee representing Wisconsin educators, school leaders, higher education experts, and business leaders was established.

 

The draft standards are available for public review on the DPI’s website. More details can be found here. A public comment form on the draft standards Wisconsin Essential Elements: Social Studies is also available online. The public comment period opens July 13, 2021, and will close on August 12, 2021. The State Standards Writing Committee will then review all comments from the public and the state legislature and incorporate any necessary changes before submitting the standards to the State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council for its recommendations. The revised standards will then be submitted to the state superintendent for a decision on adoption. In Wisconsin, all state standards serve as a model. Authority to adopt academic standards rests with locally elected school boards.

 

Online forms for public comment are also open to determine if the DPI should revise the Wisconsin Standards for Nutrition Education, Essential Elements: English Language Arts, and Essential Elements: Mathematics. All online forms are open through August 12, 2021. To provide feedback on the nutrition standards review, visit this survey. To provide feedback on the alternate English language arts standards, visit this survey. To provide feedback on the alternate mathematics standards, visit this survey.