Assessments are an important tool to help teachers, parents and students gauge a student’s progress. However, it is important to remember assessments are just one of several measures to be considered.
The Kansas State Board of Education’s vision for education — Kansas leads the world in the success of each student — reduces what many have considered an overemphasis on state assessments and increases focus on the needs of the whole child. Other areas that are important are kindergarten readiness; Individual Plans of Study focused on career interest; high school graduation rates; social-emotional growth; and postsecondary completion.
Assessments will still serve a role in helping to determine a student’s academic readiness, but the Kansas State Department of Education is minimizing the test footprint on the state. Assessment scores should help schools, families and students guide decisions on academic instruction. The goals of each student — from a 5-year-old starting kindergarten to a high school senior focusing on the future — remain the focus of the State Board.
Kansas has amazing students, teachers and parents, and we at KSDE applaud your efforts to help prepare our state’s students for future success.