Here & Now for May 19, 2023

... >> FOLLOWING PROGRAM PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> SO TODAY WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE SAID WITH ORIGINAL BILL WHICH WAS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN STATE HISTORY, WE ARE ACTUALLY EVEN GOING TO BE BIGGER WITH THE BILL WE ANNOUNCED TODAY.

>> ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS LATEST AND LAST ITERATION OF SHARED REVENUE PROPOSAL.

SENATE SAYS NOT SO FAST.

MEANWHILE FUNDS FOR COUNTY, CITIES AND VILLAGES RUNNING DRY.

I AM FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," LATEST ON PLANS TO FUND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INCLUDING HOW ONE CITY IS MAKING TOUGH CHOICES WITHOUT INCREASED FUNDING.

REVENUE SECRETARY PETER BARKA WEIGHS IN HOW THE FEDERAL DEBT DILEMMA EFFECTING WISCONSIN.

DEADLY DRIVING WREAKING HALVE OKAY IN WISCONSIN AND GARARADUAN RATES FOR WISCONSIN.

>> FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

♪ AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK, ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS RELEASE CHANGES TO SHARED REVENUE BILL TO INCREASE FUNDING TO WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES.

WITHIN THEIR PROPOSAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE WILL NOW SEE ADDITIONAL INCREASES, EXCEPT FOR MILWAUKEE WHICH IS TO REMAIN CAPPED AT 10%.

WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IS PROVISION ALLOWING MILWAUKEE TO IMPOSE A SALES TAX.

MUST BE APPROVED FROM VOTERS THROUGH A COUNTY REV -- NOT LONG AFTER MAKING THE STATEMENT ASSEMBLY SPEAKER VOSS SAID THEY ARE DONE NEGOTIATING.

>> WE FEEL LIKE THE BILL COMES FORWARD IS RESULT OF GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS, EVERYBODY HAS TO TAKE THEIR OWN POSITION.

WE ARE DONE NEGOTIATING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE CHANGES AND CHANGE THE BILL SUBSTANTIALLY.

WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS THE DEAL WE ARE SENDING TO OUR COLLEAGUES.

>> SPEAKERS COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE SENATE WERE NOT HAPPY.

>> THERE ARE TWO HOUSES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

UNFORTUNATE HE IS DRAWING THE LINE IN THE SAND WITH HIS VERSION OF THE BILL AND STOP NEGOTIATIONS NOT EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT.

WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.

IF THE ASSEMBLY REFUSES TO TAKE UP THE BILL MAKING CHANGES TO MUNICIPALITIES ALL AROUND THE STATE, HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO HIS CAUCUS AT THAT POINT.

>> AGAIN ASSEMBLY BILL BUMPS UP MINIMUM INCREASE IN SHARED REVENUE TO 15-%.

SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER TAKES US TO THE CITY OF BROADHEAD IN GREEN COUNTY.

AND 15% DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

>> MY CAMPAIGN WAS TO DRIVE AROUND THE STREETS.

>> HE LOSS THAT RACE AND SPENT MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE LIVING OUT OF STATE.

WHEN HE WON IN 2022 HE HAD A PLAN.

>> I HAVE SEVERAL BUSINESSES.

I FIGURE I COULD RUN LIKE THAT.

IT IS NOT CLOSE.

VERY SLOW.

>> FIRST THING HE RAN INTO WAS A CITY BUDGET STARVED OF INCREASE IN SHARED REVENUE FOR A DECADE.

>> THERE IS NOT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO CUT.

>> BROAD HEAD FIRE DISTRICT DECIDED TO MOVE FROM VOLUNTEERS TO FULL TIME STAFF.

CITY'S PORTION OF THE INCREASE MORE THAN $300,000 A YEAR.

>> LAST YEAR, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT $330,000.

10% OF THE BUDGET.

>> INSTEAD, MAJOR JONES SENT DISILLUSION LETTER TO BROAD HEAD FIRE DISTRICT STARTING PROCESS OF BREAKING UP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HE SAYS IT WASN'T JUST NEGOTIATING TACTIC.

>> IF YOU ARE BREAKING EGGS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BACK UP PLAN.

WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY VIABLE PLAN.

FIRST THING TO SAY HOW DO WE FIX WHAT WE HAVE?

>> CITY AND RURAL WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE DEAL THAT KEPT VOLUNTEERS.

IT WAS A ONE-YEAR FIX WHILE THE CITY OF BROAD HEAD WENT TO REFERENDUM TO ASK VOTERS FOR EXTRA $400,000 A YEAR.

>> IF THEY VOTE NO, NEXT YEAR WE HAVE TO CUT SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

THEN WE LOST THE REFERENDUM.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE IN WISCONSIN DELLS TODAY.

>> JONES KNEW THE STAKES FOR HIS CITY WHEN HE TRAVELED TO WISCONSIN DELLS AND WAITED SIX HOURS TO GET TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK BEFORE THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.

>> I AM MAJOR JOINS FROM CITY OF BROAD HEAD.

I RETIRED 20 YEARS AGO.

IT DIDN'T FIT.

>> JONES EXPLAINED WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN SHARED REVENUE HE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE TO POOL.

>> WE HAD A POOL, PARKS AND REC, ALL THOSE THINGS.

LOOKS LIKE MY HOMETOWN IS NO LONGER GOING TO HAVE THEM.

THAT IS HOW DIRE IT IS.

>> POOL COST ABOUT $80,000 A YEAR.

MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE REPUBLICAN PLAN WILL GIVE BROAD HEAD EXTRA $109,000 A YEAR.

>> AT THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DELAY THINGS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> WHILE THE POOL WILL STAY OPEN THIS SUMMER.

JONES KNOWS THIS ISN'T A PERMANENT FIX.

>> IT IS A START.

THAT IS -- YOU HAVE TO TAKE LITTLE VICTORIES.

>> REPORTING FROM BROAD HEAD, I AM ZACH SCHULTZ FOR "HERE & N NOW."

>> LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLING TO MAKE DOWN TO A WIRE DEER TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT.

WHAT WOULD A NEAR DEFAULT MEAN FOR WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY?

WE TURN TO WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SECRETARY PETER BARKA.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO A CLOSE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT GOING INTO DEFAULT, DOES REACHING THE EDGE DO ITS OWN KIND OF DAMAGE?

>> CERTAINLY DOES.

2011 LAST TIME THEY CAME UP TO EDGE OF DEFAULT, UNDER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, AAA TO DOUBLE A PLUS NEVER ELEVATED AGAIN.

IF THEY DO THIS AGAIN VERY WELL COULD SEE ANOTHER DOWNGRADE, CATASTROPHIC IN MANY WAYS.

FIRST OF ALL, COST MORE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BORROW.

SECONDLY, MARKETS ALWAYS TIP.

MEANS FOR SENIORS, WHO ARE DEPENDING ON 401KS, THEY GET WORRIED AND TAKE A DIP.

BEING CLOSE IS BAD ENOUGH.

IF THEY DEFAULT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, 16,400 JOBS LOST IN WISCONSIN ACCORDING TO LOUISIANA ANALYTICS, DECLINE IN PAYROLL.

WITH HOLDING TAXES GO DOWN, CORPORATE TAXES GO DOWN.

IT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON WISCONSIN AS WELL.

>> WHERE AND WHY ARE THOSE JOBS LOST?

>> WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WHEN THE MARKETS SUFFER, THAT IS THE FIRST STAGE.

INVESTMENT DOLLARS ALSO START TO DRY UP.

SO BUSINESSES THAT MAYBE WERE GOING TO EXPAND OR DEPENDENT ON HAVING EXTRA CAPITAL ALL THE SUDDEN HAVE TO LAY PEOPLE OFF.

THAT IS THE OTHER DEVASTATING THING.

EFFECT IS UNEVEN.

EFFECTS SENIOR CITIZENS DEPENDING ON INVESTMENT INCOME.

YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST ONES TO BE LAID OFF.

IT IS NOT EVEN IN EFFECT THOSE PEOPLE ARE MIDDLE INCOME YOU KNOW, EDGE OF SOCIETY.

THEY ALWAYS GET HURT THE WORST.

>> THEN THERE IS THE SPECIFIC VERY INSTANT EFFECT, RIGHT OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY NOT GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS?

>> OF COURSE.

THAT IS NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THAT.

IF IN FACT, THEY DO DEFAULT, THEN THE TREASURE SECRETARY HAS TO START TRIAGING AND MAKING DECISIONS IF YOU ARE GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS OUT ON TIME.

WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE JUST ABOUT TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID OR MEDICARE.

OF COURSE LOTS TO HEAR ABOUT VETERANS AND THEIR BENEFITS.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE RIPPLE EFFECT.

PART THAT IS SO SAD IT IS SO UNNECESSARY.

THREE TIMES IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THEY DID THIS.

I THINK OF IT AS A FAMILY.

WHEN OUR CREDIT CARD BILL IS DUE, I AM NOT GOING TO PAY SO I PAY INTEREST IN PENALTIES.

PAY YOUR BILLS WHEN THEY ARE DUE AND MAKE DECISIONS BUDGET PROCESS, APPROPRIATE SPENDING TAX RELIEF.

ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY THEY NEED TO DO THIS AT THIS JUNCTURE.

IT IS AT A VERY PERILOUS TIME.

FEDS INCREASING INTEREST RATES.

WE SAW FOR FISCAL BUREAU.

SLIGHT DIP IN TERMS OF SURPLUS.

YOU WORRY ABOUT TRAJECTORY.

>> SO MOODY'S SAYS IT IS NOT LIKELY IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN SAYS HOLD ON PEOPLE, JUNE 1 IS THE DAY.

SHE IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THIS.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> KNOWING WE DON'T WANT TO GET UP AGAINST THAT LAST DAY OR TWO IN CASE IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THE VOTES OR GOES SOUR.

WE ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE.

PLAYING WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES, ECONOMY, AND EFFECT ON SO MANY FAMILIES, I JUST HOPE TO GOODNESS THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE NEXT WEEK.

>> SPEAKING OF MCCARTHY AND HIS CAUCUS AND MEMBERS, IS IT WORSE NOW, THIS KIND OF UP TO THE BRINK?

>> I THINK IT IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, WHETHER DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN SPEAK OR MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE, GENERALLY SPEAKING, MEMBERS TRUSTED LEADERS AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY TO WHATEVER VOTE IS REACHED.

WHEN MCCARTHY AGREED TO BECOME PART OF THE -- HE HAS TO BE ALL THE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT DEAL HE STRIKES.

I AM SURE HE MUST HAVE TO BE ON THE PHONE CONTINUALLY.

>> HAVE WE SEEN ANY INDICATION YET BECAUSE WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THAT JUNE 1 DATE IN MARKETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> OUR ECONOMISTS WATCHING THIS CLOSELY.

WE ARE VERY NERVOUS OURSELVES.

WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE AT A TIME WHEN WISCONSIN HAS NOT BEEN STRONG.

WE DO HAVE AAA BOND RATING.

LOWER NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNEMPLOYMENT EVER.

GREATEST GROWTHS IN MANUFACTURING JOBS.

LAST THING WE WANT TO SEE.

[LAUGHTER].

>> PUBLIC SAFETY NEWS, LAST WEEKEND IN MILWAUKEE FIVE KILLED INCLUDING A BABY WHEN A DRIVER GOING 80 MILES AN HOUR ON A CITY STREET RAN A RED LIGHT.

THE 20 YEAR OLD BEHIND THE WHEEL DID NOT HAVE A LICENSE ACCORDING TO POLICE.

RECKLESS DRIVING HAS HAD THE ATTENTION OF LAWMAKERS.

2020 A RECORD 107 PEOPLE DIED.

LAST WEEK TONY EVRS SIGNED A BILL.

OUR NEXT GUEST WOULD SAY IT IS ABOUT TIME.

TRACEY KNOWN AS MILWAUKEE ACTIVIST DIRECTOR OF PEACE FOR CHANGE ALLIANCE ACTIVE ON THIS FRIGHTENING PROBLEM IN HIS CITY.

HE JOINS US FROM HIS VEHICLE IN MILWAUKEE.

THANKS FOR DOING SO.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TWO YEARS AGO YOU WERE QUOTED AS SAYING PEOPLE WERE TIRED AND AFRAID.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE DEADLY CRASH LAST WEEKEND?

>> TWO YEARS AGO TIRED AND AFRAID, NOW TIRED AND ANGRY.

THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED EVEN A BABY KILLED.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

WHOLE CITY IS DEVASTATED.

WE ARE TIRED AND ANGRY AND IT IS TIME FOR ACTION.

UM, YEAH, THAT IS ALL THE EMOTIONS, YOU KNOW.

FIGHTING BACK BASICALLY.

>> YOU ARE AN UBER DRIVER.

YOU DRIVE THE STREETS OF MILWAUKEE WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

>> IT IS LIKE THE INDY 500.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CUT YOU OFF, RUNNING RED LIGHTS.

THEY ARE RECKLESS.

THEY DON'T HAVE NO SENSE OF VALUE OF LIFE.

COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE YOU KNOW, I ALMOST WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE SOMEBODY BLEW THROUGH A RED LIGHT, A STOP SIGN.

SOMEBODY ALL THE SUDDEN TRIED TO BEAT TRAFFIC AND TURN IN FRONT OF US.

IT IS JUST, IT IS LIKE MAKE PS PEOPLE NOT WANT TO DRIVE ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS SO CRAZY OUT HERE.

>> RECENT STUDIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY A PROBLEM IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> UM, THAT, I MEAN, YOU SEE A HIGH SENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVE ON NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE YOU CAN SAY BLACK COMMUNITY, YES.

ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE WE ARE SO RELAXED WHEN IT COMES TO UM, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND THEN IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WE STAY IN MILWAUKEE SO SEGREGATED.

NORTH SIDE, BLACK COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE NO VALUE.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE TOUGH ON CRIME HERE IN MILWAUKEE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THESE SAME DRIVERS WILL NOT DO THIS IN THE SUBURBIAN CITIES.

THEY WON'T DO IT IN OAK CREEK, IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE.

THEY KNOW THEY HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE.

WE NEED ZERO TOLERANCE HERE IN MILWAUKEE.

>> WHAT IS THE MINDSET OF DRIVERS WHO ROAR AROUND BEHIND THE WHEEL BLOWING RED LIGHTS?

>> THEY THINK IT IS COOL.

THEY DO IT.

SOME RECORD IT AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU KNOW, FOR VIEWS, FOR LIKES, FOR ATTENTION.

THAT IS THE INTHING.

THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.

THEY WANT TO YOU KNOW, JUST SPEED.

IT IS LIKE THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF VALUE OF LIFE AND IF THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR LIVES, WHY SHOULD THEY CARE ABOUT YOURS.

>> THAT GOES FOR -- >> GO AHEAD.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE NEW LAW INCREASE IN JAIL TIME MIGHT CHANGE THIS FOR THE BETTER?

>> UM, I SUPPORT IT.

SOME PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T NEED PIPELINE TO PRISON.

WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

THAT IS TRUE.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO OWN UP TO THEIR ACTIONS.

RIGHT NOW IT IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE LAW IS AFRAID TO APPLY TOUGH ER PENALTIES ON PEOPLE OF COLOR BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED OF SEEING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PRISON, IN JAIL.

YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATE IN THE COUNTRY SO THEREFORE THEY TRY TO BE MORE LENIENT WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

YOU KNOW.

BUT NOW IT IS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE.

IT IS TIME FOR ZERO TOLERANCE.

I SUPPORT THE JAIL TIME.

YOU GET THE YOUNGER GENERATION FEELS CURRENT LAW IS A JOKE.

A SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR TEENAGERS.

IT IS LIKE THEY'LL GET ARRESTED.

FEW HOURS LATER BACK OUT AND STEALING ANOTHER CAR AND DRIVING OFF AGAIN.

WE NEED TO HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE IN CITY OF MILWAUKEE.

OAK CREEKS, SOUTH MILWAUKEE.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO RECKLESS DRIVING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TRACEY, WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT ON THIS.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE ON THE ROADWAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>>> TURNING TO EDUCATION, SOPHISTICATED ALGORITHM CALLED DROP OUT EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS DO'S USED BY WISCONSIN ONLY A FEW LIKE IT.

SYSTEM TRIES TO PREDICT WHETHER A STUDENT EXITING MIDDLE SCHOOL IS LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT FROM MARK UP.

PUBLICATION THAT LOOKS AT USE OF BIG TECH.

NUMBER OF DATA POINTS, TEST SCORES, DISCIPLINARY RECORDS AND FAMILY INCOME.

UNIQUE AND CONTROVERSIAL DATA POINT IS RACE.

DPI SAYS DO'S USES WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

ALL IN ORDER TO CHANGE COURSE AND HELP INSURE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS AT-RISK DOING IN FACT GRADUATE ON TIME BY DIRECTING RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS TO STUDENTS THAT MAY NEED THEM.

WE TURN TO REPORT'S AUTHOR TODD FEATHERS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU SEEM TO HAVE UNCOVERED PREDICTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION MOST OF US HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> IT IS A SYSTEM BUILT IN 2012 TO PREDICT WHETHER STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE ON TIME.

GENERATES PREDICTION EVERY STUDENT 6-9TH, MILD, MODERATE OR LOW RISK OF DROPPING OUT.

SUPPOSED TO HELP STOOLS AND DIRECT RESOURCES, SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS THAT NEED IT MOST.

WHAT WE FOUND SYSTEM IS WRONG NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF THE TIME A STUDENT WON'T GRADUATE.

LACK OF HISPANIC, THAN WHITE STUDENTS.

ON TOP OF THAT, ACADEMIC RESEARCH BASED OUT OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY CONDUCTED STUDY LARGEST OF ITS KIND ON DO'S.

NOT ACHIEVED PRIMARY GOAL.

>> SO THIS QUESTION IF IT IS WRONG ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORTING, THREE QUARTERS OF THE TIME, WHY IS THAT?

>> SO BY SOME STANDARDS, DO'S IS VERY ACCURATE.

IT IS CORRECT 97% OF THE TIME A STUDENT WILL GRADUATE.

WHAT DPI DID IS CALL -- CALIBRATE IT.

SO THEY ARE SAYING, WE ARE WILLING TO LABEL A LOT OF STUDENTS LIKELY NON GRADUATES IN ORDER TO CAPTURE ALL OF THE ONES.

>> COULD IT BE ERROR AS A RESULT OF RESOURCE AND INPUTS GIVEN TO THE STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE PREDICTED NOT TO GRADUATE?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY RESEARCHES TESTED FOR.

THEY WERE GOING TO STUDENTS LABELED HIGH RISK, YOU WOULD EXPECT TEN YEARS OF DATA FOR IMPROVED GRADUATION RATES.

DATA SHOWED NO IMPACT ON GRADUATION RATES AND IDENTIFIED.

>> TURNING TO ANOTHER DATA POINT LOADED INTO THIS ALGORITHM, THAT IS RACE.

SOMETHING YOU CALL IN YOUR ARTICLE QUOTE A RACIALLY INEQUITABLE ALGORITHM BUILT BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN WHY RACE IS USED AS A PREDICTOR?

>> IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS ALGORITHM DESIGNED BACK IN 2012.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY HOW WE UNDERSTAND ALGORITHMS AND BIASES IN THE WAY, THINGS LIKE RACE CAN FACTOR INTO THESE PREDICTIONS.

THIS ALGORITHM HASN'T CHANGED MUCH.

BACK AT THAT TIME, EVEN STILL CURRENTLY, RESEARCHERS IN THIS FIELD OF EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS, USING DATA POINTS LIKE RACE IMPROVES ACCURACY.

BETTER AT PREDICTING WHO WILL AND WON'T GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

WISCONSIN STARK RACIAL DISPARITIES, WHITE STUDENTS GRADUATING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN BLACK STUDENTS.

GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC ARGUMENT SAY A SMALL ACCURACY IS NOT ENCODING HISTORICAL BIASES.

>> I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING THE DPI TOLD US, YOU QUOTED A SPOKES PERSON SAID EDUCATION SYSTEM IS SYSTEMATICALLY RACIST.

SHE TOLD US, WHEN IT COMES TO LABELLING STUDENTS, I AGREE WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THE WORDS HAVE ON OUR LEARNERS.

YET INTENTION OF THE LABEL IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE INTERVENTIONS THESE STUDENTS NEED.

I WISH WE DIDN'T NEED A LABEL.

IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE LEARNERS THAT NEED IT MOST AND SCHOOLS NEED TO IDENTIFY FOR THEM.

HOW DID THE STUDENTS LIKE LABELED HIGH-RISK AND RACE WAS PUT INTO THE ALGORITHM?

>> YOU KNOW, FIRST THING NONE OF THE STUDENTS SPOKE TO KNEW THE ALGORITHM EXISTED OR SCHOOL WAS LOOKING AT THIS INFORMATION AND MAKING DECISIONS HOW THEY TREAT THEM.

SHOCKED A LOT OF THE STUDENTS.

SHOCKED ME WHEN I FIRST HEARD.

BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS OFTEN FELT LIKE SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITHIN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS.

THEY WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN WHITE STUDENTS.

THEY FEARED HAVING THE BEHIND THE SCENES LABELS WOULD PERPETUATE KIND OF THE CONSCIOUS BIASES.

YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR INCOMING 9TH GRADERS, FIRST THING YOU SEE ABOUT A STUDENT I AM MODERATELY LOW RISK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TODD FEATHERS, REALLY COMPLICATED AND INTERESTING REPORTING.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.

CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TICKS AND LYME DISEASE THIS SEASON.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I AM FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

♪