You are here

Parental Choice Program Assessment Requirements

Overview

Decorative Image

For the 2024-25 school year, Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) and Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) Schools will be required to administer to MPCP, RPCP, and WPCP pupils the following assessments:

  • Wisconsin Forward Exam for English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments for grades 3‑8. Learn more about the Wisconsin Forward Exam.
  • Wisconsin Forward Exam for Science for grades 4 and 8.
  • Wisconsin Forward Exam for Social Studies for grades 4, 8 and 10.
  • PreACT Secure™ for 9th and 10th grade. Learn more about PreACT Secure.
  • The ACT® With Writing for 11th grade. Learn more about The ACT.

Administration Dates and Timeline

All required assessments for Choice students will be administered in the spring of the school year. Assessment calendars can be found at:

Costs of the assessments

The Department of Public Instruction is committed to paying for the vendor costs of the assessments for students who are part of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. Schools which elect to administer any of the assessments to their non-Choice student population will be responsible for the vendor costs of the assessments.

Each individual school is responsible for the cost of administering the assessments. This includes proctor costs and administrative overhead that accompanies preparing for the assessments. Schools that elect to have their non-Choice students test will be able to purchase the test materials on a per student basis.

Schools with Less than Twenty Choice Students

The assessment requirement is waived for all MPCP students if the school has fewer than 20 MPCP students in grades 3 to 12. The assessment requirement is waived for all WPCP/RPCP students if the school has fewer than 20 WPCP/RPCP students in grades 3 to 12.

Excusal from Testing

It is expected that all students will complete the assessments during the testing date or window. However, there may be situations where parents or guardians desire to excuse their child from testing. If a parent or guardian elects to excuse their child from testing, the school is required to maintain written documentation of the parent’s request and to honor that request by not requiring the student to complete the assessment. School personnel do not have the authority to excuse students from testing without parental approval.

It should be noted that school level reports will indicate the total number of students, the number of students that have completed testing and the number of students that have not been tested. By reporting participation in this manner, an accurate picture of school performance will be generated.

Civics Assessment Requirement for High School Graduation

Beginning with the 2016-17 school year, Wis. Stats. 118.33(1m) states that Choice schools may not grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless the pupil takes a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the pupil correctly answers at least 65 of those questions.

Additional requirements of this legislation include:

  • Students with an IEP as defined under Wis. Stats. 115.787 must complete the exam to receive a diploma, but are not required to meet the benchmark of 65 correct answers.
  • A limited-English proficient pupil, as defined in Wis. Stats. 115.955 (7), is allowed to take the civics test in the pupil's language of choice.
  • Students are also allowed to re-take the exam until they pass.
This assessment falls under the jurisdiction of districts, charter operators, and choice schools and is not administered by DPI. As such, districts and schools will be responsible for the format and date of the exam.
 

Department Contact Information

Any questions regarding the administration of the assessments in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program or the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program schools should be addressed to:

Duane Dorn
Office of Educational Accountability
WI Department of Public Instruction
(608) 267-1069