Data-Wise · Data-Wise · May 13, 2026 · Mar 5, 2026 · Mar 5, 2026 · May 13, 2026
diff --git a/.STATUS b/.STATUS
@@ -1,14 +1,50 @@
 status: Active
 progress: 100
-next: Start v2.18.0 planning — post-release maintenance or next feature
-target: v2.17.0 — Canvas Enhancements & Bug Fixes (released)
-milestone: v2.17.0 released 2026-03-04 | 33 commands | 3,340 tests
-last_session: 2026-03-04 - v2.17.0 release (Session 88)
-complexity: Low
+next: Create release PR (dev → main) for v2.18.0
+target: v2.18.0 — Rich Exam LaTeX Format (merged to dev, ready for release)
+milestone: v2.18.0 merged to dev 2026-05-12 | 33 commands | 3,400 tests
+last_session: 2026-05-12 - PR #103 review + 6 fixes + merge to dev (Session 90)
+complexity: Medium
 risk_level: Low
-dependencies: Claude API, js-yaml, ajv, ajv-keywords, ajv-formats, Quarto, flow-cli, R/Rscript (runtime), examark (Canvas QTI)
+dependencies: Claude API, js-yaml, ajv, ajv-keywords, ajv-formats, Quarto, flow-cli, R/Rscript (runtime), examark (Canvas QTI), jstat (F-distribution)
 worktree: none
 
+# Session 90 Summary (2026-05-12)
+
+**Branch:** dev (PR #103 merged at 686bc93) | **Tests:** 3,400 (3,263 Jest + 137 node:test), 143 suites
+
+**Completed (PR #103 code review + fixes + merge):**
+- Code review of PR #103 (rich exam LaTeX, +2322/-44, 5 milestones) — identified 6 issues
+- Fix 1: Replaced stateful /g-regex .test() with startsWith() in interaction-aware-pass.js
+- Fix 2: Added input validation to bracket-table-generator.js (throws on invalid df pairs)
+- Fix 3: Extended interaction-aware reframe to include question.rubric (essay/short-answer)
+- Fix 4: YAML title escaping via JSON.stringify() instead of shallow quote-only replace
+- Fix 5: Added PromptLoader.checkMinScholarVersion() with correct min-version semantics;
+  bridge now uses it instead of checkVersion() (which has prompt_version semantics).
+  Fixes pre-existing stat-545-prompt-discovery integration test failure.
+- Fix 6: REFCARD ASCII version v2.16.0 → v2.18.0; mkdocs.yml counts refreshed to 3,400/143
+- Added 11 new tests (6 checkMinScholarVersion + 2 rubric/YAML + 1 bracket validation + 2 misc)
+- All 3,400 tests pass (3,263 Jest + 137 node:test, 8 skipped, 0 failures)
+- Squash-merged to dev (commit 686bc93); remote branch deletion required manual cleanup
+
+# Session 89 Summary (2026-05-12)
+
+**Branch:** feature/exam-rich-latex | **Tests:** 3,360 (3,223 Jest + 137 node:test), 141 suites
+
+**Completed (v2.18.0 Wave 5 — pre-PR release prep):**
+- Bumped version 2.17.0 → 2.18.0 in package.json + .claude-plugin/plugin.json
+- Updated mkdocs.yml extra.scholar block (version, prev_version, release_date 2026-05-12, test_count 3,360, jest_count 3,223, suite_count 141)
+- Ran version-sync.js: 16 changes / 6 skips / 0 errors across docs and SCHOLAR_VERSION constant
+- CHANGELOG.md: added [2.18.0] — 2026-05-12 section + link reference at bottom
+- Created docs/WHATS-NEW-v2.18.0.md
+- Added v2.18.0 entry to mkdocs.yml Release Notes nav
+- Final test sweep confirmed counts (1 pre-existing unrelated failure in stat-545-prompt-discovery)
+
+**v2.18.0 highlights (Waves 1-4, already committed):**
+- New `--format exam-rich-latex` for /teaching:exam (LaTeX exam class, evidence-based policy)
+- F-critical bracket table (jstat), s-value calibration table, interaction-aware language pass
+- New exam template options: policy, aids_level, textbook_citation_prefix, interaction_aware_language
+
 # Session 87 Summary (2026-03-04)
 
 **Commits:** 6 on feature/canvas-enhancements | **PRs:** none yet | **Worktree:** created + ORCHESTRATE committed
@@ -286,6 +322,7 @@ worktree: none
 
 | Version | Date | Highlights |
 |---------|------|-----------|
+| v2.18.0 | 2026-05-12 | Rich exam LaTeX format: --format exam-rich-latex, F-critical bracket table (jstat), s-value calibration, interaction-aware language, 3,400 tests |
 | v2.17.0 | 2026-03-04 | Canvas enhancements: pre-flight validation, shared canvas-preflight.js helper, exam --format canvas, SCHOLAR_VERSION fix, 3,340 tests |
 | v2.16.0 | 2026-02-27 | Canvas QTI pipeline: /teaching:canvas, QMD parser, 10 question types, image bundling, examark integration, 3,302 tests |
 | v2.15.0 | 2026-02-23 | Insights-driven enhancements: /teaching:preflight, validate-pipeline, send-output, CI merge-conflict guard, 3,092 tests |

diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "scholar",
-  "version": "2.17.0",
+  "version": "2.18.0",
   "description": "Academic workflows for research and teaching - literature management, manuscript writing, simulation design, and course material generation",
   "author": {
     "name": "Data-Wise"

diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
@@ -42,3 +42,6 @@ src/discovery/cache.json
 .claude/
 test-output-lecture-e2e/
 site/
+
+# M4 rich-LaTeX validation artifacts (generated, do not commit)
+out/m4-validation/
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,22 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [2.18.0] — 2026-05-12
+
+### Added
+
+- **Rich exam LaTeX format** — new `--format exam-rich-latex` for `/teaching:exam`. Emits a Quarto `.qmd` using the LaTeX `exam` document class with evidence-based reporting policy ($s$-values, compatibility intervals, no significance language), F-critical bracket table, $s$-value calibration table, Dean (2017) citation pattern, and interaction-aware language (reframes "main effects" to "marginal mean differences" in factorial designs containing interaction terms).
+- `policy`, `aids_level`, `textbook_citation_prefix`, and `interaction_aware_language` options on the exam template (`src/teaching/templates/exam.json`) plus matching `teach-config.yml` `scholar.teaching_style.exam` override block.
+- `jstat` runtime dependency (`^1.9.6`) for F-distribution critical-value computation in the bracket-table generator.
+- New formatter helpers — `formatters/helpers/bracket-table-generator.js` (jstat-backed F* values, 2-decimal precision), `formatters/helpers/s-calibration-table.js` (static Greenland/Rafi $s$-value calibration), `formatters/helpers/interaction-aware-pass.js` (regex + AI-stub interaction-aware reframer).
+- Validation harness — `tests/teaching/formatters/fixtures/stat-545-final-spring-2026.fixture.json` + `scripts/m4-validate-rich-format.js` for structural integrity and PDF compilation checks.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- `exam-rich-latex` formatter now correctly places LaTeX preamble in Quarto's `format.pdf.include-in-header.text:` YAML field rather than the document body, so `lualatex` compilation succeeds end-to-end.
+
+---
+
 ## [2.17.0] — 2026-03-04
 
 ### Fixed
@@ -1349,6 +1365,7 @@ text.replace(/\$([^$]+)\$/g, (match, content) => {
 
 ---
 
+[2.18.0]: https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/compare/v2.17.0...v2.18.0
 [2.17.0]: https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/compare/v2.16.0...v2.17.0
 [2.16.0]: https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/compare/v2.15.0...v2.16.0
 [2.15.0]: https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/compare/v2.14.0...v2.15.0

diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ This file contains project-specific instructions for Claude Code when working on
 ### Overview
 Scholar is a Claude Code plugin for academic workflows with research + teaching capabilities.
 
-### Current State (v2.17.0 released; v2.17.0 in progress on feature/canvas-enhancements)
+### Current State (v2.18.0 released; v2.17.0 in progress on feature/canvas-enhancements)
 - **Research:** 14 commands, 17 skills
 - **Teaching:** 18 commands (`/teaching:exam`, `/teaching:quiz`, `/teaching:slides`, `/teaching:assignment`, `/teaching:solution`, `/teaching:syllabus`, `/teaching:rubric`, `/teaching:feedback`, `/teaching:demo`, `/teaching:lecture`, `/teaching:validate`, `/teaching:validate-r`, `/teaching:diff`, `/teaching:sync`, `/teaching:migrate`, `/teaching:config`, `/teaching:preflight`, `/teaching:canvas`)
 - **Hub:** 1 command (`/scholar:hub` — command discovery and navigation, with flag discovery)
 - **Tests:** ~3,302 tests
 - **Docs:** MkDocs site on GitHub Pages
 - **Integration:** Works with flow-cli for workflow automation
-- **Release:** https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/releases/tag/v2.17.0
+- **Release:** https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/releases/tag/v2.18.0
 
 ### Key Directories
 

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 A comprehensive Claude Code plugin for academic workflows combining research and teaching. Features unified Plugin + MCP architecture with 33 slash commands and research skills.
 
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
-[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-2.17.0-blue.svg)](https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/releases/tag/v2.17.0)
-[![Tests](https://img.shields.io/badge/tests-3340%20passing-brightgreen.svg)](https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar)
+[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-2.18.0-blue.svg)](https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar/releases/tag/v2.18.0)
+[![Tests](https://img.shields.io/badge/tests-3400%20passing-brightgreen.svg)](https://github.com/Data-Wise/scholar)
 
 ---
 
 ## Features
 
-### 📚 31 Slash Commands
+### 📚 33 Slash Commands
 
 **Literature Management (4 commands)**
 - `/arxiv <query>` - Search arXiv for papers (top-level command)
@@ -36,22 +36,25 @@ A comprehensive Claude Code plugin for academic workflows combining research and
 - `/scholar:analysis-plan` - Create statistical analysis plans
 - `/scholar:method-scout <problem>` - Scout statistical methods for research problems
 
-**Teaching (15 commands)**
+**Teaching (18 commands)**
 - `/teaching:quiz <topic>` - Generate quiz questions with answer keys ✅
-- `/teaching:exam <type>` - Create comprehensive exams with rubrics ✅
+- `/teaching:exam <type>` - Create comprehensive exams with rubrics. NEW in v2.18.0: `--format exam-rich-latex` for evidence-based statistics exams ✅
 - `/teaching:assignment <topic>` - Create homework assignments with solutions ✅
-- `/teaching:solution <file>` - Generate standalone solution keys from assignment files ✅ NEW
+- `/teaching:solution <file>` - Generate standalone solution keys from assignment files ✅
 - `/teaching:syllabus <course>` - Generate comprehensive course syllabus ✅
 - `/teaching:slides <topic>` - Create lecture slides with examples ✅
 - `/teaching:rubric <type>` - Generate detailed grading rubrics ✅
 - `/teaching:feedback <assignment>` - Generate constructive student feedback ✅
 - `/teaching:demo [path]` - Create demo course environment with sample materials ✅
 - `/teaching:lecture <topic>` - Generate comprehensive lecture notes ✅
 - `/teaching:validate <file>` - Validate YAML configuration files (multi-level) ✅
+- `/teaching:validate-r <file>` - Validate R code chunks in `.qmd` files ✅
 - `/teaching:diff <file>` - Compare YAML and JSON sync status ✅
 - `/teaching:sync [options]` - Synchronize YAML to JSON ✅
 - `/teaching:migrate` - Batch migrate YAML configs from v1 to v2 schema ✅
-- `/teaching:config <subcommand>` - Manage prompts, config, and provenance ✅ NEW
+- `/teaching:config <subcommand>` - Manage prompts, config, and provenance ✅
+- `/teaching:preflight` - Pre-release health checks for Scholar projects ✅
+- `/teaching:canvas <file>` - Convert exam files to Canvas QTI format ✅
 
 **Command Discovery (1 command)**
 - `/scholar:hub [argument]` - Browse all commands, drill into categories, get usage details ✅ NEW
@@ -108,7 +111,7 @@ This architecture eliminates IPC overhead by sharing core logic directly between
 - `src/teaching/config/` - Configuration management
 - `src/teaching/validators/` - Multi-layer validation (Schema + LaTeX + Completeness)
 - `src/teaching/ai/` - AI content generation with retry logic
-- `tests/teaching/` - 3,340 unit tests (100% passing)
+- `tests/teaching/` - 3,400 unit tests (100% passing)
 
 See [Phase 0 Architecture](docs/architecture/PHASE-0-FOUNDATION.md) for detailed documentation.
 
@@ -137,9 +140,9 @@ The Homebrew formula automatically:
 - Makes it available in Claude Code CLI and Claude Desktop
 - No additional configuration needed
 
-**Latest version:** v2.17.0 (released 2026-02-09)
+**Latest version:** v2.18.0 (released 2026-02-09)
 - 33 commands (18 teaching + 14 research + 1 hub)
-- 3,340 tests with 100% pass rate
+- 3,400 tests with 100% pass rate
 - Comprehensive documentation (95% coverage)
 
 ### Option 2: Manual Installation (Local Development)
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ cd ~/projects/dev-tools/scholar
 - 33 commands present (18 teaching + 14 research + 1 hub)
 - 17 skills present
 - No hardcoded paths
-- v2.17.0 verified
+- v2.18.0 verified
 ```
 
 ### Using in Claude Code CLI
@@ -506,15 +509,17 @@ Create comprehensive exams with rubrics.
 ```bash
 /teaching:exam midterm --questions 20 --duration 90
 /teaching:exam final --topics "regression,ANOVA,hypothesis testing"
+/teaching:exam stat-545-final --format exam-rich-latex --topics "two-way ANOVA"
 ```
 
 **Options:**
 - `--type TYPE` - midterm, final, practice, comprehensive
 - `--questions N` - Number of questions
 - `--duration N` - Duration in minutes
 - `--topics "t1,t2"` - Specific topics to cover
+- `--format FORMAT` - md (default), tex, qmd, canvas, json, exam-rich-latex *(v2.18.0)*
 
-**Output:** JSON with questions, answer key, grading rubric
+**Output:** JSON with questions, answer key, grading rubric. `exam-rich-latex` emits a Quarto `.qmd` using the LaTeX `exam` class with an evidence-based reporting policy, F-critical bracket table, and $s$-value calibration — see the [Rich Exam LaTeX tutorial](docs/tutorials/teaching/rich-exam-format.md).
 
 ---