The Kentucky Board of Education approved new/updated education standards for computer science, reading and writing, health, math and physical education yesterday. Now, the regulations that formalize that approval go into a 30-day public comment period, and it’s your turn to comment.

Still think the math, reading and writing standards look too much like Common Core State Standards? Write about it, or hold your peace.

Like something else? Let them know, because others might have a different view.

Personally, I see a fundamental issue with all of the standards, and it relates to flaws common in all of them. Very simply, the standards don’t tell us much, if anything, about the performances expected.

Unanswered are key questions such as “How good is good enough?” and “How will we measure proficiency?”

Without answers to those “How” questions, curriculum writers and teachers are left in the dark about very important information that impacts instruction.

Even worse, testing groups are left to themselves to determine what proficiency actually looks like. Since the tests are generally kept secret, that keeps the answers to my “How” questions hidden from teachers, parents and the public, too.

Allowing testing groups to set Kentucky’s performance standards in secret is no way to run an education system.

There are more flaws. The law doesn’t require another revision to these standards for another six years. That’s not right either. There should be a continuous feedback and improvement system so that if a specific standard needs changing, that happens now, not after as many as six classes of students suffer under the wrong stuff.

If you want a nice, five-minute overview of how high-quality education standards work, just check out this video.

Then, sharpen your pencil/fire up your keyboard/activate your touch screen/or do whatever you do to communicate and let the Kentucky Department of Education hear what you are thinking.

Because, it’s your turn.

You can access the various academic standards through the Kentucky Board of Education’s meeting announcement for October 2,2018. You will find the material listed as agenda items XVII.A.3 to XVII.A.7.

And, here is where to send your comments:

Deanna Durrett, General Counsel

300 Sower Blvd, 5th Floor

Frankfort, KY 40601

Deanna.Durrett@education.ky.gov or regcomments@education.ky.gov