Oconomowoc, WI –September 13, 2019. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) exams which show parents, teachers, districts and school boards how well students are prepared to be college and career ready. More than 2,900 Oconomowoc Area School District students took the exams accounted for in this annual statewide assessment and include:
Wisconsin Forward Exam
As an online assessment, the Forward Exam incorporates innovative and better ways for students to demonstrate what they know and can do.
- Grades 3-8; measures performance in ELA (English, Reading, and Writing) and mathematics
- Grades 4 and 8; measures performance in science
- Grades 4, 8, and 10; measures performance in social studies
ACT
By offering the ACT statewide, all grade 11 students, regardless of family circumstances, can participate in a college readiness assessment. Before the ACT was a required statewide assessment, only about 72% of WI graduates took the ACT. Improving access to post-secondary readiness options is one way to close our achievement gap and address equity issues in Wisconsin.
- Grade 11; measures performance ELA, mathematics, and science
- Same college admissions exam taken by students nationwide
ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire™ Early High School scores are reported on a 3-digit scale. These scores predict future ACT scores.
- Grades 9 and 10; measures performance in ELA, mathematics, and science
- Predictive of ACT performance
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
Wisconsin's alternate assessment is taken by the 1% of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. DLM is an online assessment administered individually to students.
- Grades 3-11; alternate assessment in ELA, mathematics, science, and social studies for students with severe cognitive disabilities
OASD Director of Research, Evaluation and Accountability Derick Kiger shared, "The OASD school board approved a new strategic plan this summer with a primary goal for all schools to significantly exceed expectations on the WI school report card by 2024. This aggressive target requires heightened performance on the annual state accountability tests including the Forward Exam, ACT Aspire, and ACT." Kiger went on to say, "The plan also calls for performance comparisons against peer school districts to help gauge progress. Quarterly accountability reports to the school board are scheduled for 2019-20."
The following table illustrates how OASD students performed compared to peer districts. The two most important takeaways from the Spring 2019 assessment data include:
- OASD scored above statewide averages across all tests and content areas in 2018-19
- OASD compared most favorably to peer districts on the high school ACT Aspire at grades 9 and 10
Statewide school and district results can be found on the Wisconsin DPI's data portal, called WISEdash. Click on the Academic Performance tab on http://wisedash.dip.wi.gov.
For more information on the OASD 2019-2024 Strategic Plan and Key Performance Objectives, please visit www.oasd.org/StrategicPlan.
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