K-PREP high school math

We’ve been writing about the new Kentucky Performance Report for Educational Progress (K-PREP) test results and the Unbridled Learning school accountability scores. People are asking, “What do these new test scores show? Is the new program really more rigorous? Is it rigorous enough?

Let’s shift focus to high school performance.

K-PREP test data in math for our high schools does not come from state-developed tests. Instead, this comes from a new end-of-course exams developed by the ACT, Inc., called ACT Quality Core tests.

For K-PREP, the Quality Core test used is for the Algebra II course.

This graph shows how proficiency rates compare between the K-PREP Algebra II end-of-course exam and the results from the ACT college entrance testing for Kentucky’s 11th grade students in 2012 and the results from the previous math test in Kentucky, the CATS Kentucky Core Content Test, also given to 11th grade students.

First, note that, quite unlike earlier KCCT results we’ve discussed, there isn’t a particularly large a difference between the proficiency rates from the old KCCT high school math test and the percentage of students that meet or exceeded the ACT Benchmark Score set by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). That CPE Benchmark is set at the performance level where students don’t have to take a remedial math course upon entering the state’s public postsecondary education system.

Also, note that the new K-PREP results are essentially equivalent to that CPE ACT Benchmark performance.

So, for high school purposes, the ACT Quality Core test in Algebra II appears to be scored right on target to give a good indication that students are on track for college and careers. That’s not surprising, given the ACT, Inc.’s well known focus and expertise on what it takes to succeed in college.

It should be noted that the ACT Quality Core tests in math and language arts areas may or may not be specifically aligned to the new Common Core State Standards at this time. However, college and careers is also supposed to be the CCSS focus, so close alignment may actually already be present.

Data Sources:

CPE Benchmark Score Performance for Juniors in 2012

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.