A Parents Guide to Testing in Kentucky

In 2009, Kentucky legislators passed Senate Bill 1, which required many changes in the states pulic
education system! It included a call "or new, more rigorous academic standards and new state tests ased on
those standards! Senate Bill 1 also called "or a more alanced assessment and accountaility system "ocused
on student readiness "or li"e a"ter high school!
#wo years later, Kentucky ecame the "irst state in the nation to adopt the $ommon $ore State Standards in
%nglish&language arts and mathematics! #hese new standards, known as the Kentucky $ore 'cademic
Standards, are designed to e more rigorous and aligned with college coursework and the 21st(century skills
required in the workplace! #hey were "irst taught in the 2011(12 school year, with students set to e tested on
them at the end o" that school year!
#his rochure outlines Kentuckys state assessments, when they will take them, other tests your child may take
and how the results "or these tests will e used! )any o" these will "orm the asis "or the new *nridled
+earning, $ollege&$areer(-eadiness "or 'll accountaility system!
.ur goal is e/ery child pro"icient and prepared "or success, which means college&career(ready when they
graduate "rom high school! I hope you will take the time to re/iew the in"ormation here and 0oin us in helping
your child succeed and ecome college&career(ready!
#erry 1olliday, 2h!3!
Kentucky %ducation $ommissioner
Tests Your Child May Take
4.#%, 4ot all students take all tests!
TEST DESCRIPTI! DESIG!ATI!
Assessing Co"#rehension
and Co""unication in
English State$to$State
%ACCESS&
#his %nglish language
assessment "or %nglish
language learners is tied to
the states language
pro"iciency standards!
)andatory "or %nglish
language learners only and
"or "ederal #itle III purposes5
not part o" state accountaility
system
ACT $ollege entrance e6am gi/en
to all high school 0uniors5
su0ects tested are %nglish,
mathematics, reading and
science!
)andatory5 part o" state
accountaility system
$areer readiness indicator
ACT 'orkKeys #his 0o skills assessment
measures real(world skills in
'pplied )athematics,
-eading "or In"ormation and
+ocating In"ormation 7other
areas also a/ailale8!
.ptional5 not part o" state
accountaility system
TEST DESCRIPTI! DESIG!ATI!
K3% 'ugust 2012 1
Ad(anced Place"ent
E)a"s
#ests that can e taken upon
completion o" 'd/anced
2lacement 7'28 courses!
Students earning a score o"
three or ao/e may quali"y "or
college credit!
.ptional5 not part o" state
accountaility system
Ar"ed Ser(ices *ocational
A#titude +attery %AS*A+&
'S9'B is a multiple(choice
test used to determine
quali"ication "or enlistment in
the *nited States armed
"orces!
.ptional5 not part o" state
accountaility system
$areer readiness indicator
CMPASS #hese college placement
tests are used to e/aluate
incoming students in reading,
writing and math skills!
.ptional5 not part o" state
accountaility system
$areer readiness indicator
End$o,$Course E)a" #his state test is gi/en to test
student content knowledge at
the end o" courses in %nglish
II, 'lgera II, Biology and
*!S! 1istory! %nd(o"(course
results should count "or at
least 20 percent o" a students
"inal grade!
)andatory5 part o" state
accountaility system
E-P.RE %:2+.-% is a high school
readiness test "or ;th graders
that measures achie/ement in
%nglish, math, reading and
science!
)andatory5 part o" state
accountaility system
Kentucky Per,or"ance
Rating ,or Educational
Progress %K$PREP&
#ests are gi/en in grades <(;
to gauge pro"iciency in
reading, mathematics,
science, social studies and
writing! #he tests are a lend
o" norm(re"erenced and
criterion(re"erenced items and
consist o" multiple(choice
7mc8, e6tended(response 7er8
and short(answer 7sa8 items!
)andatory5 part o" state
accountaility system
Kentucky nline Testing
%KYTE&
#his is a =e(ased
placement e6am program that
uses standardi>ed tests to
measure preparedness "or
college(le/el learning!
.ptional5 not part o" state
accountaility system
$areer readiness indicator
K3% 'ugust 2012 2
TEST DESCRIPTI! DESIG!ATI!
!ational Assess"ent o,
Educational Progress
%!AEP&
4'%2 is gi/en periodically
using a sample o" schools
and students, so not all
students take 4'%2 tests!
4'%2 has two ma0or goals,
compare student
achie/ement in states and
track changes in achie/ement
o" ?th , ;th and 12th graders
o/er time in mathematics,
reading, writing and science!
4'%2 reports student
achie/ement y grade and
student group ut does not
does not pro/ide scores "or
indi/idual students or schools!
)andatory, i" selected5 not
part o" state accountaility
system
P.A! 2+'4 is a college(readiness
test "or 10th graders that
measures achie/ement in
%nglish, math, reading and
science!
)andatory5 part o" state
accountaility system
'hy gi(e state tests/
State tests, such as the K(2-%2 tests, are gi/en to measure how well students ha/e learned content ased on
academic standards! %:2+.-%, 2+'4 and '$# tests show whether students are on course to graduate
college(ready! -esults "rom these tests are used to determine where students may need help or accelerated
learning opportunities and are also are used "or school and district accountaility!
'hen are state tests gi(en/
2+'4 and %:2+.-% tests are gi/en in Septemer! #he '$# is administered to all 0uniors in )arch!
%nd(o"($ourse e6ams are gi/en when coursework is completed in the tested su0ects! K(2-%2 tests are
administered in the last 1? days o" the school year, which means they may e gi/en at di""erent times in
di""erent districts! .n(demand writing assessments are administered in the spring o" the year "or all grade
le/els!
'hen 0ill results 1e a(aila1le/
#est results will e a/ailale near the eginning o" the ne6t school year and reported to parents! 2arents will
recei/e an indi/idual report on the achie/ement o" their child compared to school, state and national results,
including in"ormation that identi"ies strengths and academic de"iciencies! Because the standards on which
some tests are ased are more rigorous than in the past 7to ensure students are competiti/e8, scores may
decline in the short term ut should show impro/ement as teachers and students ecome more com"ortale
with the standards!
K3% 'ugust 2012 <
Testing Ter"s
Criterion$Re,erenced Test 2 a test that determines how well a student has learned a particular
set o" knowledge and skills, or standards!
!or"$Re,erenced Test 2 a test that allows comparisons o" a students per"ormance to the
per"ormance o" other students!
n$De"and 'riting3 a test in which students are presented with a @promptA 7a question or
scenario8, then asked to write aout that!
In 0hat grades are state tests gi(en/
Grade 4rd 5t
h
6t
h
7th 8t
h
9th :th ;<t
h
;;th ;=th
K$PREP
Assess"e
nts
Reading - - - - - -
Mathe"atics - - - - - -
Science - -
Social
Studies
- -
'riting> ; = 4 = = =
End$o,$
Course
E)a"s
English II
Taken 0hen courses
are co"#leted?
Alge1ra II
+iology
@?S? Aistory
ACT
Ba"ily
E-P.RE -
P.A! -
ACT -
> ;? EditingCMechanics =? n$De"and 4? EditingCMechanics and n$De"and
Is there any testing 1e,ore 4rd grade/
Bes! %ach school that enrolls primary students 7those in grades kindergarten through <8 must use diagnostic
assessments that measure readiness in reading and mathematics! #he schools may use commercial products,
use district(de/eloped products and procedures or de/elop their own diagnostic procedures, ut they must e
de/elopmentally appropriate! #he results are used to in"orm teachers and parents&guardians o" each students
skill le/el!
'hat ha##ened to tests in arts and hu"anities and #ractical li(ingCcareer studies
and the 0riting #ort,olioC
Instead o" assessing student per"ormance as pre/iously done, schools conduct annual 2rogram -e/iews in
these areas! .ther 2rogram -e/iews will e added "or K(< programs and world languages! #hese re/iews,
which are done y school personnel, are designed to show whether schools are,
impro/ing the quality o, teaching and learning "or all students in all programs
ensuring all students ha/e equal access to the skills that will assist them in eing producti/e citi>ens
allowing students to demonstrate understanding eyond a paper(and(pencil test
ensuring a school(wide integration o" the program skills across all content areas
Are students tested on 0riting/
Bes, =riting is tested in grades D, E, ;, 10 and 11! =riting port"olios may e used as instructional tools, ut are
no longer mandated as part o" the accountaility system!
'hat kind o, res#onses 0ill students 1e asked to #ro(ide/
It depends on the test! )ultiple(choice questions ha/e one or more introductory sentences "ollowed y a list o"
response options! Students are asked to select the correct answer among se/eral alternati/es! $onstructed(
K3% 'ugust 2012 ?
response descries any type o" item where students must de/elop or uild a response to a question or prompt
and include short answer and e6tended response types!
'ill "y s#ecial needs child 1e tested/
Bes! Students identi"ied with educational disailities are assessed! Some students with disailities will take the
assessment without accommodations, some with accommodations and some through an 'lternate
'ssessment process!

K3% 'ugust 2012 D
'hat is the Alternate K$PREP/
#he 'lternate K(2-%2 ser/es 1F o" students with the most signi"icant cogniti/e disailities! #hese disailities
may require an alternate means o" participation in Kentuckys statewide assessment to demonstrate
achie/ement! #he 'lternate 'ssessment is designed to address the needs o" the students y allowing greater
depth o" adaptations, modi"ications and alternati/e modes o" participation!
Can acco""odations 1e used/
Gor students with disailities, most accommodations included on a students current I%2, D0? 2lan or 2rogram
Ser/ices 2lan are permissile! 1owe/er, these accommodations must ha/e een used regularly in instruction
and assessment during the school year! $heck the K3% wesite, www!education!ky!go/, "or more speci"ic
in"ormation regarding accommodations!
Kentucky promotes a alanced system that uses /arious types o" assessments,
Bor"ati(e assess"ent is a process o" collecting lots o" data 7oser/ations, qui>>es,
homework, tests8 aout a student to help students with learning! #he goal is to gain an
understanding o" what students know 7and donHt know8 in order to make changes in teaching
and pro/ide students with meaning"ul, speci"ic "eedack they need to impro/e the quality o"
their learning!
Su""ati(e tests 7K(2-%2, end(o"(course e6ams and '2 e6ams8 are assessments of
learning gi/en at the end o" instruction to determine what was learned! #hese assessments
are used to e/aluate students per"ormance against content standards!
Interi" or 1ench"ark tests 72'S, )'2, +earning $hecks and I-'3%8 are aimed at
collecting in"ormation "or the classroom, school or district and are gi/en at set inter/als! #hey
are o"ten used to predict success on summati/e tests, "ind gaps in students learning or
e/aluate a program!
Ti#s ,or Test Success
Know when tests are scheduled and keep up with results!
3ont schedule appointments, trips or other interruptions during testing!
%ncourage your child to re/iew e"orehand and do his&her est on testing day!
-emind your child o" the importance o" reading directions care"ully and not rushing through a test!
-e/iew results with your child! 2raise success and talk aout what can e done "or areas in need o"
impro/ement
-emind your child aout the importance o" test scores now and the impact they can ha/e on his or her
"uture!
Gor more in"ormation on standards, assessments or accountaility check out the K3% wesite,
www!education!ky!go/ and click on the *nridled +earning logo on the le"t side o" the page!
+ook "or A Parents Guide to Accountability "or an e6planation o" *nridled +earning and how
we hold schools and districts accountale "or educating Kentuckys children!
K3% 'ugust 2012 E
Ti#s ,or Student Success in School
+et your child know you think education is important!
)ake sure you child gets a good nights rest and eats a good reak"ast!
Set a daily study time!
3iscuss homework with your child! Stress responsiility "or doing the work and check to see that
assignments are competed!
Keep track o" your childs progress throughout the year! 2raise success! #alk with your childs teacher aout
any areas o" concern!
%ncourage your child to ask questions at home or in class!
-ead to your child!
%ncourage your child to read and write independently!
+ook "or ways to make learning part o" e/eryday acti/ities!
Suscrie to the Kentucky 3epartment o" %ducations7K3%s8 Parent Info e(newsletter!
Its deli/ered to your ino6 twice a month and is "illed with Kentucky education news, in"ormation
and strategies parents need to know! Sign up on the 2arents and Gamilies page on the K3%
wesite, www!education!ky!go/!
K3% 'ugust 2012 J