Wisconsin's High School
Graduation Test

Quick Facts

Legislation passed in 1997 requires every public high school student to pass a high school graduation test in order to receive a diploma.

  • First testing in 2000-2001, first required for the graduation class of 2002-2003
  • Does not apply to home-schooled, private school students, or Milwaukee “choice” students. Does not apply to charter schools, although this is likely to change.
  • Parents can have their children “opt out” of the HSGT (and all other state tests). Districts have to develop alternative criteria for these students.
  • Districts can not "opt out" of administering a graduation test. However, they can use their own tests.
  • If districts adopt the state’s Model Academic Standards, they can use the state’s high school graduation test. If not, they must develop their own test(s).
  • Students still have to meet other district requirements for graduation
  • Test is to be based on the state’s Model Academic Standards (adopted by executive order by the Governor in 1998). (Note: these were not developed as testing standards).
  • Testing will be in four subject areas: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
  • Each test will be approximately three hours in length. Most likely, students will take only one test per day, meaning that testing will take place over four days.
  • Two test administrations per year; at least four chances to pass. All tests must be aligned with the standards and linked to each other (similar format, content, difficulty level, and equivalent passing standard.)
  • Existing testing (WSAS Knowledge & Concepts Tests) in 10th grade ends with the first administration of the high school graduation test
  • Test will consist of two kinds of items: fixed-response and constructed-response (latter will be limited in number and length)
  • There are several legal questions associated with a HSGT
    - Students must have sufficient notice (3-4 yrs)
    - Students must be given an opportunity to learn (e.g., test content must be taught)
    - Tests must be bias free (to the extent possible)

    Miscellaneous: calculators will be allowed on the mathematics test; only English versions of the tests will be developed.
Posted December 9, 1998

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