Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 118 - General school operations.
118.30 - Pupil assessment.

118.30 Pupil assessment.
(1) The state superintendent shall adopt or approve examinations designed to measure pupil attainment of knowledge and concepts in the 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the state superintendent may not adopt or approve assessments developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.
(1g)
(a)
1. By August 1, 1998, each school board shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography, and history. The school board may adopt the pupil academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January 13, 1998.
2. By January 1, 2000, or by January 1 of the 1st school year of operation, whichever is later, each operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography and history. The operator of the charter school may adopt the pupil academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January 13, 1998.
3. The governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 and the governing body of a private school that, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 3., or 119.9002 (3) (c), is responsible for the operation and general management of a school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119 shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography, and history. The governing body of the private school may adopt the pupil academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January 13, 1998.
4. The governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 118.60 shall adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography, and history. The governing body of the private school may adopt the pupil academic standards issued by the governor as executive order no. 326, dated January 13, 1998.
(c) Each school board operating elementary grades and each operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) that operates elementary grades may develop or adopt its own examination designed to measure pupil attainment of knowledge and concepts in the 4th grade and may develop or adopt its own examination designed to measure pupil attainment of knowledge and concepts in the 8th grade. If the school board or operator of the charter school develops or adopts an examination under this paragraph, it shall notify the department.
(1m) Except as otherwise provided in this section, annually each school board shall do all of the following:
(a)
1. Except as provided in subs. (6) and (7), administer the 4th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the 4th grade.
2. Except as provided in sub. (7), if the school board has developed or adopted its own 4th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the 4th grade.
(am)
1. Except as provided in subs. (6) and (7), administer the 8th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the 8th grade.
2. Except as provided in sub. (7), if the school board has developed or adopted its own 8th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the 8th grade.
(ar) Except as provided in sub. (7), beginning in the 2014-15 school year, administer the 9th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the spring session of 9th grade.
(b) Except as provided in sub. (7), administer the 10th grade examination to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the spring session of the 10th grade.
(c) Except as provided in sub. (7), beginning in the 2014-15 school year, administer the 11th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the school district, including pupils enrolled in charter schools located in the school district, in the spring session of the 11th grade.
(d) If the school board maintains an Internet site for the school district, annually publish information on that Internet site about the examinations administered under this subsection to pupils in the school district.
(1r) Annually the operator of each charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall do all of the following:
(a)
1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 4th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the 4th grade.
2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the operator of the charter school has developed or adopted its own 4th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the 4th grade.
(am)
1. Except as provided in sub. (6), administer the 8th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the 8th grade.
2. Beginning on July 1, 2002, if the operator of the charter school has developed or adopted its own 8th grade examination, administer that examination to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the 8th grade.
(ar) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, administer the 9th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in spring session of the 9th grade.
(b) Administer the 10th grade examination to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the spring session of the 10th grade.
(c) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, administer the 11th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils enrolled in the charter school in the spring session of the 11th grade.
(d) If the operator of the charter school maintains an Internet site for the school, annually publish information on that Internet site about the examinations administered under this subsection to pupils in the school.
(1s) Annually, the governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 119.23, other than a private school at which fewer than 20 pupils in grades 3 to 12 are attending the school under the program under s. 119.23, and the governing body of a private school that, pursuant to s. 115.999 (3), 119.33 (2) (c) 3., or 119.9002 (3) (c), is responsible for the operation and general management of a school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, or subch. II of ch. 119 shall do all of the following:
(a) Administer the 4th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 4th grade in the private school under s. 119.23.
(b) Administer the 8th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 8th grade in the private school under s. 119.23.
(bm) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, in the spring session administer the 9th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 9th grade in the private school under s. 119.23.
(c) In the spring session, administer the 10th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 10th grade in the private school under s. 119.23.
(cm) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year in the spring session administer the 11th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 11th grade in the private school under s. 119.23.
(d) Administer to pupils attending the private school under s. 119.23 all other examinations in reading, mathematics, and science that are required to be administered to public school pupils under 20 USC 6311 (b) (2).
(e) If the governing body of the private school maintains an Internet site for the school, annually publish information on that Internet site about the examinations administered under this subsection to pupils in the school.
(1t) Annually, the governing body of each private school participating in the program under s. 118.60, other than a private school at which fewer than 20 pupils in grades 3 to 12 are attending the school under the program under s. 118.60, shall do all of the following:
(a) Administer the 4th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 4th grade in the private school under s. 118.60.
(b) Administer the 8th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 8th grade in the private school under s. 118.60.
(bm) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, in the spring session administer the 9th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 9th grade in the private school under s. 118.60.
(c) In the spring session, administer the 10th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 10th grade in the private school under s. 118.60.
(cm) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, in the spring session administer the 11th grade examination adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) to all pupils attending the 11th grade in the private school under s. 118.60.
(d) Administer to pupils attending the private school under s. 118.60 all other examinations in reading, mathematics, and science that are required to be administered to public school pupils under 20 USC 6311 (b) (2).
(e) If the governing body of the private school maintains an Internet site for the school, annually publish information on that Internet site about the examinations administered under this subsection to pupils in the school.
(2)
(a) To the extent possible, all examinations under this section shall be free of bias.
(b)
1. If a pupil is enrolled in a special education program under subch. V of ch. 115, the school board, operator of the charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), governing body of the private school participating in the program under s. 118.60, or governing body of the private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall comply with s. 115.77 (1m) (bg).
2. According to criteria established by the state superintendent by rule, the school board, operator of the charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), governing body of the private school participating in the program under s. 118.60, or governing body of the private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 may determine not to administer an examination under this section to a limited-English speaking pupil, as defined under s. 115.955 (7), may permit the pupil to be examined in his or her native language, or may modify the format and administration of an examination for such pupils.
3. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the school board shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1m) or s. 118.301 (3).
4. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1r) or s. 118.301 (3).
5. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 119.23 shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1s) (a) to (cm) or s. 118.301 (3).
6. Upon the request of a pupil's parent or guardian, the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s. 118.60 shall excuse the pupil from taking an examination administered under sub. (1t) (a) to (cm) or s. 118.301 (3).
(c) The results of examinations administered under this section or under 20 USC 6311 (b) (2) to pupils enrolled in public schools, including charter schools, may not be used as the sole reason to discharge, suspend, or formally discipline a teacher or as the sole reason for the nonrenewal of a teacher's contract.
(d) The results of examinations under this section may not be used in determining general or categorical aids to school districts.
(3) If a person submits to the state superintendent a written request for practice examinations or sample items related to examinations required to be administered under this section, the state superintendent shall make practice examinations or sample items related to examinations required to be administered under this section available to the person. This subsection does not apply while an examination is being developed or validated.
(4) The department shall study the utility of administering technology-based performance assessments to pupils.
(5) Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, the department shall ensure that benchmark assessments are administered to pupils annually under this section prior to the administration of summative assessments under this section.
(5m) When determining the percentage of pupils participating in the program under s. 119.23 who performed at designated proficiency levels on the examinations administered as required under sub. (1s) or s. 118.301 (3), the department shall consider only the pupils participating in the program under s. 119.23 to whom the examinations were administered at each grade level, and shall exclude from consideration those pupils participating in the program under s. 119.23 who were excused from taking the examinations under sub. (2) (b) 5.
(6) A school board and an operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) is not required to administer the 4th and 8th grade examinations adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1) or authorized under s. 118.301 (3) if the school board or the operator of the charter school administers its own 4th and 8th grade examinations, the school board or operator of the charter school submits the examination results to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Value-Added Research Center to conduct statistical correlations of those examinations with the examinations adopted or approved by the state superintendent under sub. (1), the University of Wisconsin-Madison Value-Added Research Center provides the statistical correlations to the state superintendent, and the federal department of education approves.
(7) If a school board enters into an agreement with a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state to establish a charter school, that school board shall administer the examinations under sub. (1m) or s. 118.301 (3) regardless of the location of the charter school.
History: 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 16, 367; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3971b to 3971yd, 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164, 237; 1999 a. 9, 19, 32, 185, 186; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 28, 60; 2011 a. 32, 105; 2013 a. 20, 237; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 36, 335.

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