This booklet presents Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards in the area of English language arts at grades 4, 8, and 12. The content and performance standards represent the best thinking of language educators and interested members of the public. They were drawn from two years of work in Wisconsin's standards development projects, from the Modern Red Schoolhouse standards, from the standards of other states, from the work of the New Standards project, and from the national "Standards for the English Language Arts." After a letter from the Lieutenant Governor and the State Superintendent, a list of acknowledgments, and an introduction, the booklet presents the standards for reading/literature, writing, oral language, language, media and technology, and research and inquiry. The booklet then presents a writing task and samples of advanced, proficient, basic, and minimal samples of students' writing. Appendixes present a summary of the English language arts standards, and a list of the individuals and members of groups who contributed to the development of the standards. (RS)