K-PREP and Unbridled Learning school testing and evaluation are here, but what does this mean? # 10

K-PREP science at all school levels

As we discussed in an earlier blog about the new Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP) tests in social studies, we also find disturbing evidence that the new K-PREP science assessments for elementary and middle schools are nothing more than warmed over CATS Kentucky Core Content Tests (KCCT).

This graph makes that clear.

10 P Rates in Science, All School Levels

This is particularly disturbing because Senate Bill 1 from the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, which led to the creation of K-PREP, stipulates on Page 4 that academic content standards would be revised by now in all key academic subjects, science definitely included. The revised standards would, “Focus on critical knowledge, skills, and capacities needed for success in the global economy.” The law continues by saying the responsible agencies are to “Ensure that the standards are aligned from elementary to high school to postsecondary education so that students can be successful at each education level.”

On Page 6, the law requires all changes to be promulgated by January 15, 2011.On Page 7, the law says, “Using the revised academic standards developed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the board shall revise the annual statewide assessment program for implementation in the 2011-2012 academic year.”

Well, it does not look to me like that happened in K-PREP science, and possibly not in social studies, either.

Because the standards for science and social studies seem to be unchanged from CATS, that makes the new K-PREP scores in those areas no more trustworthy than those old CATS scores were. Parents and students need to be aware of this and should be cautious about relying on K-PREP scores as accurate indications of academic preparation in those subject areas.

Data Sources:

K-PREP Proficiency Rates – 2011-2012 Achievement State Grade report received by e-mail from KDE. Should be available on line soon.

CATS KCCT Scores – “2010-2011 Interim Performance Report, State,” Kentucky Department of Education, Frankfort, KY. May no longer be on line.