Name The New Test

UPDATED:

OK, boys and girls, it's time to put on your thinking caps.

We had...

KEST: Kentucky Education...something or other. I forgot.

(Ahh. I just remembered: Kentucky Essential Skills Test)

KIRIS: Kentucky Instructional Results Information System

CATS: Commonwealth Accountability Testing System

NCLB - No Child Left Behind (federal)

Avoiding KEST, KIRIS and CATS, tell us your best ideas for the new test.

Surely it won't remain the Senate Bill 1 Test.

~

I hear that KDE staff are beginning to play the same game. They've been known to check in here now and again. Perhaps some will share their thoughts here.

To stimulate thinking, here's non-exclusive list of words Lisa Gross came up with to get the wheels turning:

21st century; Ability; Accomplish; Accomplishment; Accountability; Achievement; Achieving; All; Assessment; Attain; Attainment; Capacity; Child; Children; Classify; Classification; Commonwealth; Core; Data; Determine; Determining; Direct; Directing; Drive; Driving; Each; Effective; Evaluate; Evaluating; Every; Future; Gain; Gaining; Gauge; Guide; Guiding; Inform; Information; Instruct; Instruction; Kentucky; Learn; Learner; Learning; Master; Mastering; Mastery; Measure; Measurement; Measuring; Move; Moving; Next-Generation; Perform; Performance; Prepare; Preparation; Process; Proficient; Proficiency; Rate; Rating; Reach; Reaching; Ready; Record; Report; Reporting; Results; Skill; Skills; Standard; State; Strategy; Strength; Strengthen; Student; Subject; Succeed; Success; System; Teacher; Test; Validate; Validating; Validation; Value.

Add to that: Longitudinal; Progress...

Name it, but make it snappier than Longitudinal Measures Approximating Student Attainment of Kentucky Core Academic Standards

School News from around Kentucky

• Only 37 percent of Kentucky schools are on track to reach academic proficiency by 2014.
• Covington updates state board on progress after council removal.
• Report has good news for Frankfort and Franklin County schools.
• General's Academy helps Mount Washington middle kids think and study.
• Widespread tutoring in Oldham after dropping the D grade.
• Is the Laurel Board OK with asphalt plant between two elementary schools?
• Nickle helps build Owen County middle school without tax hike.
• Local donations secured for new press box...now they just need a superintendent.
• Scott County band plays Carnegie Hall.
• Athletic territorities for private schools discussed.
• "unjustifiable conduct" claimed in suit over Henderson County players death.
• Acreage donated for Kenton County school.
• Campbell County high school evacuated after electrical sparks from kiln.

Whew....We passed !!!

It seems the folks at the U S Chamber of Commerce think that good schools are good business - and serious business. Their 84-page assessment titled “Leaders and Laggards” provides a business perspective on the effectiveness of state education systems and assigns letter grades to each state based on indicators related to student achievement, teacher quality, and school management.

But Kentucky only scores a D for academic achievement. Considering factors like state effort, a D may be better than Kentucky has a right to expect. A “return on investment” grade rates states on student performance per dollars spent, controlled for poverty. There, Kentucky scores a B.

Other Kentucky scores:

• Acdemic achievement of low income students = C
• Truth in Advertising about student proficiency = C
• Rigor of standards = C
• Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness = D
• 21st century Teaching Force = C
• Flexibility in Management and Policy = B
• Data Quality = B

See the complete article and report at Education Week.