Wisconsin?s proposal for holding schools accountable is short on details and lacks ambitious goals to improve student achievement, according to a federal review. As a result, the state?s request for flexibility under the federal No Child Left Behind law could be at risk of being denied, said Doug Harris, a UW-Madison associate professor of education and public policy who is following the school accountability reform process.
….Gary Cook, a research scientist at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research who has reviewed past state applications for Education Department programs, said the most serious criticism was Wisconsin?s application lacked ?ambitious annual measurable? goals for improving student achievement.