Benchmark assessments
The WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is specific in its requirements about the content of both general education and professional education. DPI requires teacher education candidates to complete a variety of benchmark assessments (tests) detailed below. Teacher candidates must have evidence of completion of all benchmark assessments except for the edTPA in order to be approved for student teaching.
The WI State Superintendent of Public Instruction determines passing scores. Therefore, prospective teacher education candidates should work closely with an advisor from the outset of their studies at the university. Completion of DPI requirements for licensure may take longer than four academic years.
Benchmark Requirement Due Dates:
- Student Teaching Fall 2023 Benchmarks - due date February 17, 2023
- Spring 2024 - due date the Monday of the 3rd week of the term (9/25/23)
- Fall 2024 - due date the Monday of the 3rd week of the term (2/5/24)
- Spring 2025 - due date the Monday of the 3rd week of the term (9/16/24)
- Fall 2025 - due date the Monday of the 3rd week of the term (2/10/25)
*Submission of requirements due by 4:00pm CST on the due date.
Passing test scores, from the testing agency, must be on file in the School of Education Teacher Certification Officer’s office by the dates listed above.
Required Testing by Program |
||||
ECE |
X |
X |
||
EC-MC |
X |
X |
||
EME |
X |
X |
||
MC-EA |
X |
X |
||
EME/SPECIAL ED |
|
X |
X |
|
EME/SPANISH |
* |
X |
X |
|
EME/FRENCH |
* |
X |
X |
|
EME/TSL |
* |
X |
*Fort exemption is contingent on applying for both licenses.
Required Testing by Program |
|||
BFSS no concentration |
X |
||
BFSS (HIS, POL, SOC) |
X |
||
English Ed |
X |
||
Math Ed |
X |
||
Science Ed (BIO, CHE, PHY) |
X |
||
Art Ed |
X |
||
Music Ed |
X |
||
PASHE |
X |
||
PETE |
X |
||
French Ed |
X |
||
French Ed/TSL |
X(for TSL) |
X |
|
Spanish Ed |
X |
||
Spanish Ed/TSL |
X(for TSL) |
X |
Who should I contact about advising and certification?
Assessment expanding boxes
Candidates pursuing any of the following WI teaching licenses must take and pass the Foundations of Reading Test in order to complete their program and be endorsed for the appropriate educator license:
- Early Childhood-Middle Childhood (EC-MC, birth-grade 5)
- Early Childhood Education (ECE, birth-grade 3)
- Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence (MC-EA, grades 1-8)
- Elementary/Middle Education (EME, grades K-9)
- Elementary/Middle Education and Special Education (EME, Dual)
- Special education teacher candidates may complete an alternate assessment of reading competency to meet (Wis. Admin. Code § PI 34.021(1)(f)(2)).
- Reading Teacher (some exceptions apply)
- Reading Specialist (some exceptions apply)
Below are options for passing the FoRT:
FoRT Version: |
Test Availability: |
Passing Score |
Old version (FoRT 090) |
Through Dec. 31, 2022 |
240 |
New version (FoRT 190) |
Beginning September 1, 2022 |
233 |
American Council Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
- An official ACTFL score report demonstrating oral and written proficiency with a rating of "Intermediate High" in French, German, and/or Spanish (required only for French education, German education or Spanish education candidates)
- ACTFL Registration Instructions
edTPA is an teacher candidate assessment method used to determine if a new teacher is "ready for the job." It is a process completed during pre-service experience by the teacher candidate with the guidance of their university supervisor. A review of the teacher candidates' authentic teaching material is done at the completion of the teaching and learning process. This edTPA assessment documents and demonstrates each candidate's ability to effectively teach his/her subject matter to all students.
To schedule a date and time to take any of these testing requirements please visit: https://www.uwlax.edu/counseling-testing/testing/uwl-testing-center/