Question of the Week
Q: What is the current status of the assessment blueprints for the new reading and writing, mathematics, and social studies content assessments?
A: On Aug. 6, the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved the revision process that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) implemented and the blueprints that were recommended from the work of the Advisory Panels and Review Committees. KDE is releasing the final blueprints: Reading and Writing, Mathematics and Social Studies, as a resource for curricular and instructional decisions for schools.
Senate Bill 1 (2017) calls for KDE to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments with one or two content areas to be reviewed each year, and every six years after that on a rotating basis. To review KDE’s process of the alignment of standards and assessments in reading and writing, mathematics, and social studies that began in July 2019, please review the Assessment Alignment and Review Process in more detail. This is the same process that was used when standards were reviewed and developed beginning in 2017 for the same content areas.
KBE Approves Waiver of K Screen Timeframe
At its Aug. 6 meeting, the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved a waiver of the Kindergarten Screen administration and reporting windows as set forth in 704 KAR 5:070.
The waiver removes the restricted screening window of 15 days prior to the first day of school through the 30th instructional day after. Schools may begin screening students at any time and will have more days than customary to screen students.
The KBE also granted authority to the commissioner for exempting schools from screening students who do not attend school in-person. The expanded timeframe will likely allow for most students to be screened, but should schools not return to school in-person for an extended period, there could be an exemption granted.
Screening Scenarios
Students return to school in-person: Screen the students following safety expectations provided in the COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools document.
Students return to school virtually: There is no virtual administration option for the kindergarten screener.
Until the pandemic unfolds, the K Screen administration is available to in-person administration. Depending on the pandemic situation, the K Screen may be open into 2021. If some or all students return to in-person instruction or other meetings prior to the close of the K Screen, they should be screened. If some students do not return in-person prior to the close of K Screen, they will not have the opportunity to be screened.
Later in the school year, an exemption process for individual students and waiver process for entire schools will be developed closer to when the K Screen closes. An exemption process will be developed for individual students to be waived from taking the K Screen through SDRR. For districts that do not return to in-person sessions, a different process will be developed for the superintendent to request from the commissioner a waiver of the K Screen for entire schools within the district. Until then if possible, students should be screened.
Currently across the state, many students have been taking the K Screen. The decision to bring students into the building for administration of the K Screen should be made in conjunction with the elementary school administration, central office staff, and local health department. These decisions should be made in accordance with local health department and state government guidelines at the time of testing. Safety expectations provided in the document, COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools should be followed during administration.
Verify ACT Student Enrollment
The window to complete the verification of student enrollment is Aug. 10-21. KDE has provided a Student Data Upload (SDU) file to ACT, and ACT has loaded the file into PearsonAccessnext (PAN). The student records have been created in PAN. Test Coordinators must verify student counts and make any updates. If needing to add students who missed their opportunity to test in the spring, please email Shara Savage. Adding students in PAN is not an option for the fall administration. Directions for verifying enrollment counts begin on page 11 of The PAN User Guide. The students loaded in PAN are used to generate initial testing counts for standard test material orders. Schools receive pre-ID labels in your initial shipment for those students who are enrolled prior to the verify deadline. If a student is unenrolled in PAN, please keep a record. Once SDRR opens, the DAC will need to request a non-participation.
ACT TAA Deadline
The Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system remains open through Aug.14 to submit request of ACT-authorized accommodations. If you need assistance or have additional questions, please contact ACT by phone: (800) 553-6244, ext. 1788 or email: ACT State Accommodations.
Alternate K-PREP Information
There have been several items linked to the Alternate K-PREP release leading up to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. This information will be beneficial to teachers and administrators as the new school year kicks off.
Kentucky Academic Standards-Alternate Assessment Targets (Reading and Mathematics): Released May 15
Kentucky Academic Standards-Alternate Assessment Targets (Social Studies and Writing): Released June 18
Alternate K-PREP Calendar
Alternate K-PREP Changes/Updates 2020-2021
Alternate K-PREP Test Requirements
Alternate K-PREP Teachers Resources PPT
Alternate K-PREP Resources: Direct link to everything posted above.
Kentucky Academic Standards-Alternate K-PREP: Alternate Assessment Targets for selected Kentucky Academic Standards
Assessment Scores in Infinite Campus (IC)
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) strives to publish student data results in IC as they become available. In this spirit, Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge Advanced International (CAI) and KYOTE tests from the 2019 – 2020 school year have been imported into IC. KDE will publish these scores to all districts beginning on Aug. 11.
The ACT scores are expected next month and will be published as soon as they are imported.
Please email Raymond Carter with any questions on this matter.
Perry County is in the heart of eastern Kentucky. The school district has eight schools: one K-12 school, one high school and six pre-K-8 elementary schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 4,000 students. The Perry County school district has faced many challenges in recent years. Historically, Perry County has been driven economically by the coal mining industry, which has seen a significant decline of late. The school district has seen a decline in student enrollment, loss of local tax revenue, and the increasing difficulty of finding teachers to fill needed positions throughout the entire district. Even with trying times, Perry County Schools established and maintains the motto #WEEXPECTSUCCESS. That hashtag embodies the goal of setting high expectations for the school system regardless of the many challenges faced.
Perry County Schools are focused on improving student achievement in all areas. The school district relies on Teacher Leaders to be the catalyst for such improvement through district-wide PLCs. Grade level teachers come together to discuss curriculum maps, pacing guides and common assessments. All of these are living documents in this process and can be revised at any time dependent upon the needs of the data. In addition, grade level exit criteria for K-8 has also been established through this process. This is the district’s system of promotion or retention. Goals are explicit for each grade. This collaboration allows the K-8 schools to send a more prepared student to the high schools. At the high school level, the district is promoting dual credit and a PLTW Biomedical pathway. At some of the elementary schools, STEM is also implemented as a course for students.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions presented in the article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
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