Bill

Bill > SB18


WI SB18

Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE)


summary

Introduced
02/05/2025
In Committee
03/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 LRB-0976/4 FFK:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 18 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms Xbelow basic,Y Xbasic,Y Xproficient,Y and XadvancedY for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Wisconsin's educational assessment and accountability reporting system by requiring the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to maintain consistent performance evaluation methods. Specifically, for school and district accountability reports beginning in the school year the bill takes effect, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and qualitative descriptions that were used in the 2019-20 school year. For student assessments, the bill mandates two key changes: first, for the Wisconsin Forward Exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, DPI must align cut scores and performance categories with the National Assessment of Educational Progress standards; second, for PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, DPI must use the same cut scores and performance categories used in the 2021-22 school year. The bill also explicitly requires the use of specific performance category terms: "Below Basic", "Basic", "Proficient", and "Advanced". These changes aim to provide more consistent and standardized methods for evaluating school and student performance, ensuring that performance metrics remain stable and comparable across different school years.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (44)

Julian Bradley (R)* Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)* Dan Feyen (R)* André Jacque (R)* John Jagler (R)* Jesse James (R)* Chris Kapenga (R)* Howard Marklein (R)* Steve Nass (R)* Romaine Quinn (R)* Patrick Testin (R)* Cory Tomczyk (R)* Van Wanggaard (R)* Eric Wimberger (R)* Scott Allen (R),  Elijah Behnke (R),  Mark Born (R),  Lindee Brill (R),  Alex Dallman (R),  Barbara Dittrich (R),  Robert Donovan (R),  Cindi Duchow (R),  Chanz Green (R),  Rick Gundrum (R),  Nate Gustafson (R),  Brent Jacobson (R),  Dean Kaufert (R),  Dan Knodl (R),  Rob Kreibich (R),  Dave Maxey (R),  Paul Melotik (R),  Clint Moses (R),  Dave Murphy (R),  Jeff Mursau (R),  Amanda Nedweski (R),  Todd Novak (R),  Jerry O'Connor (R),  William Penterman (R),  Jim Piwowarczyk (R),  Jessie Rodriguez (R),  Shae Sortwell (R),  John Spiros (R),  Ron Tusler (R),  Robert Wittke (R), 

Last Action

Available for scheduling (on 03/14/2025)

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