This paper provides information on testing programs for elementary and secondary school students that are administered or coordinated by the Office of Educational Accountability within the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction. The first section provides background and definitions of assessment alternatives, including various types of performance based assessments. The second section describes past assessment programs, and following sections outline current assessment programs in Wisconsin, previous and current assessment initiatives and federal requirements. The final section discusses funding for assessment initiatives. (Contains three tables.) (SLD)