Proficiency Descriptors and Scale Scores for Reading

These performance level descriptions are intended to help parents, educators, and others understand what children who score at a given performance level on the WKCE are expected to know and be able to do at the time of testing. This information may be useful as one component of program planning and evaluation, but should be interpreted cautiously and in the context of other available information when applied to individual students.

Since 1997-98, Wisconsin has been using four proficiency categories: advanced, proficient, basic, and minimal performance. Proficiency score standards associate each of four scale score ranges with a specific proficiency category. Cut-scores divide scale scores into the four categories. The advanced and proficient levels are the long term educational goals for all students. Statewide standardized test scores are reported by proficiency category.

General Descriptions of the Proficiency Categories

• Advanced: Demonstrates in-depth understanding of academic knowledge and skills tested on WKCE at that grade level.
• Proficient: Demonstrates competency in the academic knowledge and skills tested on WKCE at that grade level.
• Basic: Demonstrates some academic knowledge and skills tested on WKCE at that grade level.
• Minimal Performance: Demonstrates very limited academic knowledge and skills tested on WKCE at that grade level.

READING	Minimal Performance	Basic	Proficient	Advanced
Third Grade	270-393	394-429	430-465	466-640
Fourth Grade	280-395	396-439	440-488	489-650
Fifth Grade	290-400	401-443	444-496	497-690
Sixth Grade	300-417	418-456	457-513	514-730
Seventh Grade	310-433	434-466	467-522	523-780
Eighth Grade	330-444	445-479	480-538	539-790
Tenth Grade	350-455	456-502	503-554	555-820

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More in-depth performance level descriptions are presented in three formats:

Click on a link below to view the indicated descriptors.

Reading
Grade	Brief Narrative Descriptions: These one-paragraph descriptions of each performance level may be most useful for those who simply want an overview of the knowledge and skills students typically demonstrate at each level	Detailed Narrative Descriptions: These descriptions contain more detail but are still structured in a way that makes the information easy to grasp	Elements of Performance Levels: The elements are descriptions of discrete knowledge and skills students typically demonstrate at each performance level. They complement the narratives by enumerating specific examples of knowledge and skills described in the narratives
3	Brief	Detailed	Elements
4	Brief	Detailed	Elements
5	Brief	Detailed	Elements
6	Brief	Detailed	Elements
7	Brief	Detailed	Elements
8	Brief	Detailed	Elements
10	Brief	Detailed	Elements
All	Reading Descriptors

For questions about this information, contact oeamail@dpi.wi.gov

Last updated on 6/27/2008 6:54:13 AM