Wisconsin: A Parent’s Guide to Standards and Assessment (continued)

•  You have the right to review the tests taken by your child after testing is completed.

All school districts have copies of test booklets. Contact your school principal to review the tests.

• If your child scores in a lower proficiency level, even in grade 4, you should be concerned.

A low proficiency score in grade 4 is an early warning that your child may need help developing the knowledge and skills required for that grade. Talk to your child’s teacher to learn what skills and knowledge need additional work. Ask the teacher for learning ideas you can do at home or for strategies to improve study skills.

• You can be a real force in motivating your school to help all students learn more and test better.

Review your child’s proficiency scores, but also compare how well the students in your child’s school did on the state tests to other schools of its size and demographic makeup. View the School Proficiency Summary on the DPI website (http://www2.dpi.state.wi.us/wsas/default.asp) or ask your school principal or district administrator for a copy. Work with your school’s parent group or your school principal to hold a forum for parents to learn more about your school curriculum and state testing. Invite parents to express their ideas about skills they want their child to possess and to talk about how families might partner with the school to increase learning.

•  You can be an advocate for your child and your school.

Get involved in school improvement and policy making. Attend school board meetings. Volunteer to serve on task forces, committees, and in your child’s classroom. Encourage other parents to get involved, too. Your presence will help the school be more responsive to families’ natural desires to help their children learn.

• You can help your child test better and learn confidently.

Don’t wait for your child’s first set of test scores to take positive action. Set aside a few minutes each night to review homework with your child. If your child is having trouble understanding a concept or completing homework, talk to your child’s teachers about learning strategies you can use both in class and at home. Check out the U.S. Department of Education website at http://ed.gov for lots of learning resources and ideas for parents. Always feel free to talk to your child’s teachers about other learning strategies you can use at home. For more information about academic standards, tests and examinations, open enrollment, familycommunity partnerships with schools, and many other topics, call the Department of Public Instruction toll-free at 1-800-441-4563. Or, to view your school’s test results, visit the WINSS website at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/sig/index.html. Click on “Data Analysis.”

A Note from the State Superintendent

Dear Parents,

The long-term goal of the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) is for all students to show they have mastered the skills and knowledge in the subject areas tested. Since parents will always be their children’s most important teachers, it’s a good idea to learn more about Wisconsin’s testing system, so you can help your children get the most from their education. Please talk with teachers about your child’s progress in school. Teachers need to hear from you to help them do their jobs better. Special thanks to my Parent Leadership Corps for their advice on this document.

Elizabeth Burmaster
State Superintendent