MILWAUKEE – The nation just dropped its newest report card for schools. It’s getting everything from compliments to concern when it comes to kids’ skill levels.

National Report Card

What we know: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called The Nation’s Report Card, came out Wednesday, Jan. 29. It’s given every two years, measuring the academic performance of students throughout the country.

The results show Wisconsin fourth and eighth grade students are above the national average in reading, math, writing and science.

But those scores are still below proficient as a whole.

The results show as a whole, Wisconsin students are nowhere near advanced in those four subjects and some are just barely inching above basic level.

Expert weighs in

What they’re saying:

Quinton Klabon is Senior Research Director at the Institute for Reforming Government.

“Things are not getting better, in some facets they’re actually getting worse,” he said. “Scores across Wisconsin are the lowest they’ve been in the last two decades.”

However, he pointed to some discrepancies with the Nation’s Report Card and Wisconsin Forward Exam.

“The NAEP test says that only 31% of 4th graders in Wisconsin are proficient in reading, the Forward Exam said 52%.”

State response

Big picture view: State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly addressed the report on Wednesday.

“While the NAEP results highlight some successes, today’s release serves as an urgent wake-up call for our state – one that demands we act with greater urgency to support our children, educators, and schools,” Dr. Underly said. “We have the power to achieve lasting change, but it starts with a fundamental commitment to properly investing in our public schools, rather than continuing the cycle of underfunding them, as our legislature has chosen to do for far too long.”

What’s next: Underly also called for additional investment in K-12 public schools after looking at the new data. She said that would help bring change.