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Milton board votes to request Act 95 waiver to use weighted class rankings for 2027
Summary
The board approved a recommendation asking the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for a waiver under Act 95 to allow Milton High School to rank students using a weighted system that gives credit for more rigorous coursework for the class of 2027.
The Milton School District board voted to request a waiver from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction that would allow Milton High School to apply a weighted ranking system under Act 95 for the class of 2027. The change would give deference to students who take more rigorous coursework when determining the top percentages that trigger guaranteed admission under the Wisconsin guarantee.
The request, recommended by the district's instructional committee, was presented by Billhorn, a district administrator who outlined how Act 95 currently guarantees admission for top-ranked students to the UW System and how districts may seek waivers to use weighted rankings. "Act 95 was a...state statute that, for the Wisconsin guarantee, which guarantees admission for incoming seniors," Billhorn explained while describing the waiver process and the district's need to sign a waiver that DPI must approve.
Committee members said the waiver rewards students who choose heavier course loads — for example, students who take AP or honors classes — and noted Milton already maintains a law-day score and manual methods to calculate rank. Board members asked about student notification and past experience; Billhorn said the waiver was approved quickly the prior year and that other districts have requested Milton's waiver language.
Board member (unnamed) moved to recommend the request for a waiver to DPI; the motion was seconded and carried. The recommendation now goes to DPI for final approval, and district staff said they would notify students about rank calculations and continue manual verification processes. The board recorded no additional conditions tied to the recommendation.
Board action: The board recommended that the district submit a waiver request to DPI to apply a weighted ranking method under Act 95 for the class of 2027. The motion passed without further amendment.
What happens next: The waiver request will be sent to the Wisconsin DPI for review; if DPI approves, the district will implement the weighted ranking procedure and communicate how class rank is calculated to affected students and families.
