What are Kansas State Assessments?
Each year, all Kansas public school students are required to take the Kansas State Assessments. These tests are administered the same across the state, so that students in each school and district are being measured against equal criteria. This enables the State of Kansas to evaluate how students across the state are meeting the state learning standards.
Students across Kansas - grades 3-8 and once in high school - are tested annually in the following subjects:
- Reading
- Math
- Alternating years of science, social studies and writing
Student performance is scored based on a proficiency scale that includes five categories:
- Exemplary
- Exceeds Standard
- Meets Standard
- Approaches Standard
- Academic Warning
Each proficiency level is based on a range of scores. The score range that defines each proficiency level vary by grade, subject and type of assessment. A student is considered proficient when his/her score falls into the range that classifies performance as "meets standards" or higher.
The results of these state assessments are used to determine whether a school/district has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), meaning that the school/district has improved student achievement targets as defined by the State of Kansas. This is required by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. In addition to the test scores, participation rate is part of the AYP equation for every school, as is attendance (elementary and middle schools) and graduation rate (high schools). The ultimate goal of NCLB is that every school and district have 100 percent of students meet proficiency targets at all grade levels, and in all subjects, by 2014.