Question of the Week
Q: Is the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) seeking feedback on the current Kentucky Academic Standards for Science?
A: Yes, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking feedback on the current Kentucky Academic Standards for Science.
KRS 158.6453 calls for KDE to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning with 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.
Standards outline what students are expected to learn in each grade to successfully transition to the next level of learning. The curriculum or methods and resources used to teach the standards is a separate issue and decided at the local level.
To provide feedback on the science standards, please use this survey. Due to the amount of text within the survey, it is recommended that surveys be completed on a full-size computer or laptop screen. Participants are provided with the opportunity to give feedback on all standards or self-selected areas of interest. Feedback on the current science standards will be collected by The Region 5 Comprehensive Center through Feb. 22.
Questions on this process can be directed to standards@education.ky.gov
OAA/ACT Office Hours (REPEAT)
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) and ACT are partnering to offer DACs and testing staff open office hours. DACs, BACs, and TCs will be able to ask questions and receive assistance during this time. The dates, times, and links to the Teams meeting are below.
January Office Hours
February Office Hours
Please contact Shara Savage with any questions.
ACT Test Administration Q and A Session
ACT is hosting a test administration Q and A webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. ET. School Test Coordinators and Test Accommodations Coordinators are encouraged to attend. DACs are welcome to attend. If testing staff are unable to attend, the session will be recorded and posted to the ACT hosted state testing website. Registration links are embedded in the Schedule of Events and can be found below.
Feb. 3 Registration Link
ACT: TAA Late Considerations Window
The window for late considerations is Jan. 18 – March 5 for any newly enrolled student, or any student who has recently been diagnosed with a disability that requires accommodations and/or supports. Requests for accommodations or EL supports submitted after the published deadline are considered late requests. Missing the initial accommodations deadline for submitting a request is not a reason for late consideration.
Due to time constraints, requests submitted during the late consideration window may not have time for reconsideration prior to the test date. Make sure to include all required documentation, including a completed Late Consideration Form.
There are missteps to avoid with late considerations:
- First, be sure to include the form.
- Next, remember to save the form after completing it and before uploading it to the TAA system.
- Finally, make sure the student meets one of the criteria for a late consideration review.
For more information on this task, please visit the ACT Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) User Guide.
“WE ARE MENIFEE” where every student is ensured a transition on a pathway to a successful future in academia, military or career. Menifee County School District, located in Frenchburg, is a small system nestled in the hills of eastern Kentucky with Cave Run Lake to the east and the Red River Gorge to the south. The district is comprised of four schools. Botts Elementary is a K-5 facility with approximately 200 students and is located in Denniston. Menifee County Elementary is a K-8 facility with approximately 500 students, and Menifee County High is a 9-12 facility with approximately 315 students. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, the two elementary schools will officially be merged and will be relocated at a new campus called Menifee Central. Educational services are also provided through the Menifee County Academy to students ages 16 - 21 with the Frenchburg Job Corps, a federal vocational program for students from Kentucky as well as many other states, and Frenchburg Group Home, one of nine state-operated group homes in Kentucky.
During this unprecedented school year, the district has relied on already established systems in order to quickly adapt and meet the needs of students and the community during COVID-19 pandemic. The district relies on PDSA (Plan Do Study Act) processes to continuously work toward improving the quality of instruction students receive. Progress is monitored via 30/60/90- day plans and measured using multiple data points at both the school and district level to effectively and efficiently implement and monitor initiatives and changes to instruction that have taken place both before and during this pandemic.
The school district also implements Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) systematically at each school. PLC structures allow weekly opportunities for teachers to utilize the PDSA process focusing on individual student achievement with the state standards and implementing instructional changes based on student data. Fridays were established at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year as Non-Traditional Instructional (NTI) days for the district. This has provided teachers with protected time to collaborate in both grade level and content PLC teams, as well as provided opportunities for professional learning, focused on high-yield instructional strategies for remote learning and working with teachers to meet the social-emotional needs of students. A very intentional and aggressive plan for providing targeted supports has also helped the district meet the needs of students by providing additional supports to students during this time.
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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