Standards Newsletter - November 16, 2022

The Questioning module can be found on KDE's Evidence-Based Instructional Practices webpage, along with a General Introduction document. It is intended to be facilitated by a school leader in professional learning communities, but teachers also will benefit from reviewing the resources on their own.  

Questioning Professional Learning Module 

Resources in the Questioning module address:   

• How research supports the need for questioning;  

• The importance of Intentional Planning; 
• Questioning for surface, deep and transfer learning;  
• Engaging all students in deeper thinking through questioning; and 
• Questioning strategies to support formative assessment. 

Specific suggestions for applying these concepts in reading and writing, mathematics, social studies and science are provided.  

The module includes:  

• An overview video;  
• A narrative introduction that synthesizes current research;  

• Facilitation considerations for structuring professional learning; and  
• Content-specific resources to support implementation.  

List of Approved Universal Screeners and Diagnostic Assessments – Updated Dyslexia Screening Information  

To support the selection of valid and reliable universal screeners and diagnostics, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has compiled a list of approved universal screeners and diagnostics for district review. Additional dyslexia screener information has been provided in the recommendation list of universal screeners to aid districts in their decision-making process. 

KDE recommends beginning with the “at-a-glance” comparison chart, which provides high-level details about each approved assessment. One-pagers providing further information about each assessment and the selection criteria used to select assessments also are available. All materials can be found on the Early Literacy Screening Assessments webpage. 

Per Senate Bill 9, the Read to Succeed Act, by Jan. 1, 2023: 

• Each superintendent shall select: 
  • At least one reliable and valid universal screener for reading administered to all students in grades K-3; and 
  • At least one reliable and valid reading diagnostic assessment administered as part of a multi-tiered system of supports for students in grades K-3. 

• All teachers of students in K-3 shall be trained on any reading diagnostic assessment and universal screener selected by the superintendent prior to administration of the assessment in the 2023-2024 school year.  

The Senate Bill 9 Implementation Timeline document provides further guidance about what needs to be implemented and when.