Senate Bill 18 proposes amendments 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 school performance and improvement as were used in the 2019-20 school year for accountability reports. Specifically, it requires that for the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, DPI align its scoring with the National Assessment of Educational Progress standards. Additionally, for the PreACT and ACT with Writing assessments, DPI must use the same scoring criteria as in the 2021-22 school year, employing the performance categories of below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced.

The bill includes specific legal language changes, such as renumbering and amending existing statutes to reflect these new requirements. For instance, it renumbers the existing accountability index system and introduces a new provision that mandates the use of consistent cut scores and performance categories for future accountability reports. Furthermore, it amends the qualitative definitions for performance categories to ensure they align with those used in the 2019-20 report. Overall, the bill aims to standardize the assessment criteria and enhance the accountability framework for schools and school districts in Wisconsin.

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