Comprehensive, Balanced System of Assessments
With the release of Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) data this week, now is a good time to remember that best practices for assessment encompass comprehensive, balanced systems of assessment that include both formative and summative assessments.
Formative assessment provides invaluable information to teachers as they assess student progress toward and ensure mastery of grade-level standards. A comprehensive, balanced system of assessments uses a full range of measurement approaches, provides evidence of student learning across all learning experiences, aligns to common learning expectations, uses assessment and the resulting evidence for the purposes for which they were intended, and creates conditions for effective assessment practices.
Resources for Teachers
To help educators learn more, four modules are available on the Balanced Assessment Professional Learning Modules webpage on KYstandards.org.
- Module 1: Comprehensive, Balanced Systems of Assessments
- Module 2: Understanding Formative Assessment
- Module 3: Clarifying and Sharing Learning Goals and Success Criteria
- Module 4: Eliciting Evidence of Student Learning
Resources for School Leaders
Additionally, three modules geared toward school leaders are available on the Leadership Trainings webpage on KYstandards.org. The modules provide support for leading a comprehensive balanced assessment system, including an Assessment Leadership Module Toolkit that will help leaders leverage tools for assessment leadership.
Resources for Families
“A Family’s Guide to Understanding Student Assessment” is available on the Standards Family Resources webpage on KYstandards.org to help families understand how assessment can support student learning. The guide includes information about formative, diagnostic, interim and summative assessment, and gives teachers and families common language to use when discussing student assessment. Now is a great time to share this resource with families!
Applications Due Nov. 8: FY24 Mathematics Achievement Fund Mini Grant
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Teaching and Learning issued a request for applications (RFA) for Kentucky public school districts to apply on behalf of individual schools for the FY24 Mathematics Achievement Fund (MAF) Mini Grant. The Kentucky School for Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf also are eligible to apply.
Schools that have been previously awarded the MAF Mini Grant may apply, but only to further implement the high-quality instructional resources (HQIR) identified in the previous award or to select an HQIR for a different tier of instruction.
As specified in KRS 158.844, the Mathematics Achievement Fund was created to provide developmentally appropriate diagnostic assessment and intervention services to students, primary through grade 12, to help them reach proficiency in mathematics. The grant provides funding for the purchase of materials needed for modification of instruction (tier one, tier two and/or tier three) in mathematics and pay for extended time or release time for teachers to engage in professional learning of the new mathematics materials purchased.
A district/school shall use the funding to purchase instructional materials for mathematics (including intervention programs and diagnostic assessments) that are high-quality instructional resources, which KDE defines as being:
- Aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards for Mathematics.
- Research-based and/or externally validated;
- Comprehensive, to include engaging texts (books, multimedia, etc.), tasks and assessments;
- Based on fostering vibrant student learning experiences
- Culturally relevant, free from bias; and
- Accessible for all students.
Important Reminders
- The application submission deadline is Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. ET. All applications must be sent to KDERFP@education.ky.gov.
- Please review the links within the RFA for further guidance when writing the submission. If you have any questions, please contact KDERFP@education.ky.gov.
- Please pay close attention to the blinding/redacted language within the RFA. Improperly blinded grants will be deemed non-responsive and not eligible for an award.
New Resources Added to KDE Dyslexia Toolkit Webpage
October was Dyslexia Awareness month. It is a good time to reflect on how best to support the literacy development of students with dyslexia or those with characteristics of dyslexia. Dyslexia affects at least 1 in 10 people; therefore, educators need to be prepared to offer additional support and appropriate interventions for students with dyslexia to be successful.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) promotes dyslexia awareness by offering parents and educators resources that will help them understand and address dyslexia. New resources from the National Center on Improving Literacy have been added to the Dyslexia Toolkit webpage. Explore the resources to learn more about what dyslexia is, how schools can screen students for dyslexia risk, using data to identify supports for students with dyslexia, what effective reading instruction looks like and how to intensify reading instruction for students with dyslexia.
Standards Newsletter Archive
Did you miss last week's Standards Newsletter? You can access all previous editions of the newsletter on the Standards Newsletter Archive webpage.
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