Go to Wisconsin 's report card. The state set the bar for the first time in mathematics, reading and writing, science, history, and geography. Students who do not receive a rating of basic or better starting in the 2002-03 school year will not be promoted. Wisconsin expands school choice and tinkers with its assessment program. Critics contend that the new standards are inconsistent and that the assessments, which predate the standards and have been used since 1993, don't test the material students are now required to know.
Some standards are extremely rigorous, and others are very easy.
For our 50-state testing survey, Wisconsin officials told Education Week that it considers the current tests to be substantially aligned to the state's standards. Educators say they will continue to tinker with the testing program to bring it fully in line with the standards. In addition to standards for the core academic subjects, the state planned to set achievement guidelines for foreign-language courses, the arts, physical education, family and consumer education, environmental education, computer literacy, international relations, and business classes by the beginning of this year. Districts can devise their own packages, thanks to a provision in the legislation allowing some students and districts to opt out of the state tests. Wisconsin has also expanded school choice.