Assembly Bill 1 proposes significant changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report in Wisconsin. The bill mandates that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) utilize the same cut scores, score ranges, and qualitative descriptions for performance categories in accountability reports as were used in the 2019-20 school year. Specifically, it requires that for the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, DPI align its performance metrics with those established by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Additionally, for the PreACT and ACT with Writing assessments, DPI must use the same performance categories and scoring criteria that were applied in the 2021-22 school year.

The bill includes several amendments and new provisions. It renumbers and amends existing statutes to reflect these changes, including the introduction of a new subdivision that specifies the use of consistent performance categories and qualitative definitions for accountability reports. The language also emphasizes the importance of maintaining established standards for evaluating pupil performance, ensuring that terms such as "below basic," "basic," "proficient," and "advanced" are consistently applied across assessments. Overall, the bill aims to standardize the evaluation process for schools and districts, thereby enhancing accountability in educational performance.

Statutes affected:
Text as Enrolled: 115.385(1)(c), 115.385
Bill Text: 115.385(1)(c), 115.385