Assessment in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Student Assessment System

The Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) is a comprehensive statewide program designed to provide information about what students know in core academic areas and whether they can apply what they know. The WSAS includes:

• The Wisconsin Forward Exam at grades 3-8 in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, at grades 4 and 8 in Science, and 4, 8, and 10 in Social Studies 
• Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) at grades 3-11 in ELA and Mathematics, at grades 4 and 8 - 11 in Science, and at grades 4, 8, and 10 in Social Studies,
• PreACT Secure at grades 9 & 10 in English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science,
• The ACT with Writing at grade 11 for Reading, English, Mathematics, Science, and Writing.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires all states to test all students in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school. ESSA also requires students be assessed in Science once each grade span (3-5, 6-9, and 10-12 grades). Wisconsin State statute also requires students to take grade 9 and 10 assessments as well as the social studies test. These tests together create the Wisconsin Student Assessment System. Student performance on these assessments is reported in proficiency categories and student performance on ELA and mathematics assessments is used for accountability determination at the school, district, and state levels.

Wisconsin Statewide Test Results

Statewide test results are published annually on the WISEdash Public Portal. Results can be viewed by district, school, grade, subject, and various student demographics. About the Data pages include information about the tests and test results. Various Interpretive resources are available under the Data and Results section for each assessment. These resources may include performance level descriptions, scale score ranges, and percentile tables.

A New Balance: Wisconsin's Strategic Assessment Systems

In Wisconsin, more than simply balancing the types of assessments to provide a variety of data, educators recognize the need to strategically choose high quality assessment tools and practices, and then coherently and purposefully use that information to directly impact student achievement. Click here to learn more about Strategic Assessment Systems in Wisconsin.

Other Wisconsin Assessments

Assessment for ELs

Federal and state laws require that students identified as English Learners (ELs) be assessed annually to determine their level of English language proficiency (ELP) and ensure that they are progressing in achieving full English proficiency. This includes students who receive special education services. Most ELs will take the ACCESS for ELLs assessment annually. ELs recognized under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 2004) as having a significant cognitive disability and who are expected to participate in the Wisconsin Alternate Assessment are eligible to take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs in place of the ACCESS for ELLs®.

Early Literacy Assessment for Reading Readiness

Wis. Stats 118.016 requires an early literacy screener to be administered to all 4 year old kindergarten to 3rd grade students, and a diagnostic assessment for students below the 25th percentile on required screening in 5K through 3rd grade students enrolled in public school districts and charter schools.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)