Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination

{{Short description|Phased out proficiency examination introduced during Bush presidency}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination, usually referred to as the WKCE's, was a proficiency examination designed to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.{{cite journal| last1 = Zellmer| first1 = Michael B.| last2 = Frontier| first2 = Anthony| last3 = Pheifer| first3 = Denise| title = What Are NCLB's Instructional Costs?| journal = Educational Leadership| volume = 64| issue = 3| pages = 43–46| publisher = Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development| date = November 2006| url = http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/SED610/NCLB/NCLB%20Instructional%20costs.pdf| access-date = 20 July 2013| archive-date = 18 January 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120118124023/http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/SED610/NCLB/NCLB%20Instructional%20costs.pdf| url-status = live}} It was administered in grades 3-8 and 10 in the subjects of reading, mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. Beginning in the 2002-2003 school year, test scores helped determine whether students could advance from 4th to 5th grade and from 8th to 9th grade.{{Cite web|url=http://dpi.wi.gov/oea/wkce.html|title=Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination (WKCE)|access-date=2009-04-27|author=Public Instruction, Wisconsin Department of|archive-date=2009-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429220545/http://dpi.wi.gov/oea/wkce.html|url-status=live}} In 2013, Wisconsin raised the scores needed to be assessed "proficient" or "advanced". This change was made to make the test consistent with standards set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and as a condition for Wisconsin to receive a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act.{{cite web| last = Flores| first = Terry| title = State institutes more rigorous testing standards| publisher = Kenosha News| date = 20 January 2013| url = http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/state_institutes_more_rigorous_testing_standards_469707160.html| access-date = 20 July 2013| archive-date = 4 August 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130804070943/http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/state_institutes_more_rigorous_testing_standards_469707160.html| url-status = live}}

In 2014–2015, the final year in which the test was employed, testing was limited to science and social studies.{{cite web | title = About the Data - WKCE and WAA-SwD | accessdate = January 18, 2021 | url = https://dpi.wi.gov/wisedash/about-data-wkce-and-waa-swd | archive-date = May 17, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240517113602/https://dpi.wi.gov/wisedash/about-data-wkce-and-waa-swd | url-status = live }}