What’s Happening at DPI?
The Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) has issued a formal demand letter to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) after the agency failed to release public records requested more than one year ago.
The request was originally submitted by the Dairyland Sentinel to enforce Wisconsin’s public records law and ensure transparency for taxpayers.
The Records Request
Submitted January 21, 2025, the request seeks documents related to DPI’s decision to revise performance benchmarks for the state’s Forward Exam, including internal communications and meeting records.
What DPI Has (and Hasn’t) Provided
In February, DPI offered only a partial response, referencing a list of nearly 100 “experts” said to be involved in revising the standards.
What’s missing?
-
Emails and correspondence
-
Meeting minutes or agendas
-
Vetting documentation
-
Cost breakdowns paid by taxpayers
In short, DPI has not explained who made the decisions, how they were made, or what they cost.
What the Law Requires
Wisconsin law is clear: agencies must respond to public records requests “as soon as practicable and without delay.” That’s why IRG is stepping in to demand that DPI produce public records.
A records custodian has only two lawful options:
- Produce the records
- Deny the request
Keeping a request in indefinite limbo is not allowed.
What They’re Saying
“The public shouldn’t have to engage legal representation to get DPI to comply with the law,” said Brian Fraley of the Dairyland Sentinel, “but I’m certainly happy the team at IRG is willing to engage in this fight.”
“Transparency delayed is transparency denied,” said Jacob J. Curtis, IRG General Counsel and Director of the Center for Investigative Oversight. “Wisconsin law is clear: records must be provided ‘as soon as practicable and without delay.’ Keeping the public in the dark for a year is not just a bureaucratic failure, it is a violation of the law. We are hopeful that DPI will choose transparency over litigation.”
Why This Matters
Public records laws exist to hold government accountable.
When agencies ignore those laws:
-
Trust erodes
-
Taxpayers are left in the dark
-
Major policy decisions go unexplained
IRG will continue pressing DPI to comply with the law and choose transparency over litigation.
