Standards Newsletter, Oct. 28, 2020

‘Performance Assessments in Social Studies’ Module Now Available

In this module, explore strategies to build performance assessments aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Social Studies and support for educators in creating opportunities for students to demonstrate what they are learning.

The goals of the "Performance Assessments in Social Studies" module are for districts and schools to: 

• Learn about different types of assessments in social studies;
• Learn how to use standards to build assessments to identify if students are reaching the standards;
• Identify strategies to build performance assessments in social studies;
• Build an understanding of the inquiry practices in the KAS for Social Studies;
• Build an understanding of the qualities of high-quality rubrics in social studies; and
• Plan how to review and revise assessments using student work.

The module consists of five sections designed to be administered in professional learning community sessions and is available on the KYStandards Social Studies Professional Learning Modules webpage.

Veterans Day is Nov. 11

Per KRS 158.075, all schools shall observe Veterans Day. This law states: "On Veterans Day, or one (1) of the five (5) school days preceding Veterans Day, one (1) class or instructional period shall be devoted to the observance of Veterans Day."

To develop a Veterans Day program, Kentucky public schools are encouraged to seek advice from the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs and veterans' service organizations, including, but not limited to, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For more information, visit the Veterans Day Programs resource.

It is important to note that any program designed to observe Veterans Day must adhere to the Healthy at School guidelines. For more information, visit the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) COVID-19 Reopening Resources webpage.

World Language Standards Revision Update

KRS 158.6453 calls for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. The schedule calls for one or two content areas to be reviewed each year and every six years after that on a rotating basis. 

Beginning in August 2019, the KDE sought feedback on the Kentucky Academic Standards for World Language Proficiency. An advisory panel and review committee were selected based on their expertise in the area of world language, as well as being practicing teachers in the field of world languages. Statewide representation also was considered.

After the first public comment period, the advisory panel and review committee convened over January-June 2020 to respond to feedback and complete a draft of the new world language standards. The second public comment period began Aug. 14 and concluded Sept. 16.

Moving forward, the proposed Kentucky Academic Standards for World Language are scheduled for a first reading at the Kentucky Board of Education's (KBE) December meeting. The internal KBE approval process likely will continue until June 2021, and then the standards begin the regulatory process. Standards implementation should be slated for the fall of 2022-2023.

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Teaching and Learning PL Series: Eliciting Evidence of Learning

The Kentucky Department of Education will be releasing a professional learning experience each month to support educators with eliciting evidence for learning, whether in a face-to-face or remote learning environment.

Each professional learning experience will be accompanied by an informational video and made available on the Balanced Assessment Professional Learning Modules webpage by the date listed.

The Teaching and Learning PL Series: Eliciting Evidence of Learning schedule is available for download.

Sept. 16: "Comprehensive, Balanced System of Assessment" 

Learn about the components of a comprehensive, balanced assessment system and how different assessments can work together to support student learning. The module will take a closer look at the types and purposes of different assessments, appropriate uses of assessment data and build an understanding of the assessment cycle. 

Oct. 14: "Understanding Formative Assessment" 

Build a common understanding of formative assessment practice. The module will define formative assessment and take a closer look at the assessment cycle in the formative assessment process. In addition, the module will focus on taking a closer look at developing student ownership through building a culture of formative assessment practices in the classroom.

Nov. 18: "Clarifying and Sharing Learning Goals and Success Criteria" 

Learn how the standards and associated learning expectations inform high-quality assessment. The module will focus on how to elicit meaningful evidence of student learning through clarification of learning progressions, learning goals and success criteria.  

Dec. 9: "Eliciting Evidence of Learning" 

In the first section of this module, participants will learn about designing and eliciting evidence of student learning aligned to the standards. The module will take a closer look at strategies for eliciting evidence aligned to the depth of the standard and criteria for high-quality classroom assessments.  

In the second section, participants will learn about valid assessment practices. The module also will consider how to ensure assessment practices are culturally relevant and free from unintended barriers.

CONTACT

standards@education.ky.gov