Monday, September 22, 2008

Assessment and Accountability Task Force Wants to Hear from You

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The members of the Task Force on Assessment and Accountability have issued a call for input from teachers, administrators, parents, businesspeople, elected officials, education advocacy groups and others who are interested in the state’s public school testing and accountability system.

The task force is focusing on a number of areas, including:

  • on-demand writing/writing portfolios
  • arts & humanities and practical living/vocational studies
  • minor changes to the assessment system, including national comparisons, alternate assessments and the Kentucky Core Content Tests
  • formative/diagnostic assessments
  • assessments of student learning
  • standards (narrowing of curriculum)
  • longitudinal testing models
  • individual student focus
  • college readiness
  • analysis of Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) technical
    programs
  • balance of student/school accountability
  • timeliness of results
  • end-of-course exams

Written comments on those areas (or others) are requested. Those may be sent to Lisa Gross, director of the Division of Communications, 6th Floor, 500 Mero St., Frankfort KY 40601; e-mail lisa.gross@education.ky.gov; fax (502) 564-3049.

The task force is charged with reviewing the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) and providing a blueprint for the system’s progress in the future to ensure that the system meets the best interests of public school students. Members of the group include policymakers and experts in the field.

Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud asked statewide organizations, partner groups and leaders of the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives to name members to the task force. The group will analyze individual components of CATS and determine the effectiveness of those in meeting the needs of students.


SOURCE: KDE press release

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