The city-wide standardized testing program of Madison Public Schools was reviewed by a committee of a cross-section of school system educators as part of a total effort to design a testing program more sensitive to the needs of the system. As a result, standardized testing was reduced to reading (grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8) and mathematics (grade 5). Levels of administration were determined by the importance of measuring reading progress in elementary grades and the value of achievement level indicators in transition between elementary, middle and high school. Under this plan, standardized tests are intended to provide normative data to compare the school system with others, to evaluate educational programs within the system, and to give an indication of student achievement ranking. (Author/DB)