(FRANKFORT, KY) – Members of the Superintendents Advisory Council (SAC) discussed Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) science results as related to the accountability system during the council’s meeting on Nov. 12.
Associate Commissioner Rhonda Sims and Division Director Jennifer Stafford of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Assessment and Accountability gave an update on the current KSA for science, along with the challenges from the 2024 results.
“I think the biggest issue was the level of proficient and distinguished performance,” Sims said.
The current KSA science assessment was put in place in 2019. Throughout the years, Sims said there have been some changes to the percentage of students with proficient and distinguished test scores.
In 2019, 32% of elementary students, 26% of middle school students and 30% of high school students were proficient or distinguished in the science assessment.
In 2024, that number increased only at the elementary level with 34% of students scoring proficient and distinguished. Middle school science results dropped to 22% and, Sims said, the most concerning result was at the high school level, where 6% of students scored proficient or distinguished.
“There are things that we can look at within the assessment, but we also have to look at what is happening structurally in high school as it relates to the state assessments,” Sims said. “I think there is a need to take a look at the triangulation between the assessment, content standards and how we offer instruction in science.”
Stafford outlined how science content and performance standards are developed, including bringing together science teachers from across the state to give input as they review the standards and student performance levels.
“All of our standards go through a process where Kentucky teachers are included,” Stafford said. “There are advisory panels, a standards review committee, and a standards and assessment process review committee to develop those standards, so there is an extensive process.”
Stafford said new assessment items have been developed to align with updated Kentucky Academic Standards for Science that were adopted in 2022. These items will be included in the 2025 assessment.
Stafford, acknowledging that the science assessment is required by both state and federal law, said there is a need to meet these requirements while considering potential changes at the federal level that could impact state accountability systems.
Sims and Stafford said they hope to have the new science assessment in place for testing in the spring of 2025.
Utilizing the Superintendents Advisory Council as a research group to study facility funding
Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher proposed utilizing the council as a research group to explore pathways to modernize the funding of district facilities.
Fletcher outlined the recommendations from a School Funding Task Force in 2021, which included 18 superintendents who suggested exploring pathways to modernize district facility funding.
“We would like to sit down and talk to you all about what do we need to change; what does that look like and how do we implement those recommendations,” he said.
Fletcher said members of the council have a great opportunity to be leaders in this discussion and create recommendations for facility funding moving forward.
The council approved a motion for this proposal and will learn additional information in the next Superintendents Advisory Council meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2025.
|
