State Assessment Results Show 10-year Growth Trend (KS)

October 13, 2010

Results from the 2010 Kansas Statewide Assessments show a 10-year growth trend in reading and mathematics statewide. Students performing in the top three performance levels on the reading assessment increased to 86.3 percent in 2010, up from 85.7 percent in 2009. On the mathematics assessment, students in the top three performance levels totaled 83.1 percent in 2010, up from 82.8 percent in 2009. Participation rates topped 99 percent in each subject area.

The assessment results were presented today during the State Board of Education meeting in Topeka.

“It is extremely gratifying to see this continuous improvement trend among our Kansas students,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker. “It truly is a testament to the dedication and hard work not only of our students but of our educators on every level.”

Reading and math assessments are given each year to every grade three through eight and once in high school. Performance levels by grade showed small dips in the early grades in reading, with percentages at the top three performance levels going up in the fifth grade and beyond. A very slight dip in performance was seen in third grade math, as well as in the fifth grade and eighth grade. All other grades improved or remained constant in mathematics (see graphs below).

“One of the things we noticed was that the percentage of students receiving free and reduced price lunches increased significantly from 2009 to 2010 – from 42.6 percent to 45.7 percent,” said Dr. Tom Foster, director of Career, Standards and Assessments for the Kansas State Department of Education. “We know that poverty has its greatest impact in the lower grades, and that may be contributing to some of the small declines we saw in the early grades in 2010.”

Results of the 2010 science assessments also showed improvement. Science is tested each year, but only in grades four, seven and once in high school. The percentage of students in the top three performance levels remained constant in the fourth grade at 91.7 percent. Seventh-grade students in the top three performance lev els increased from 83.0 percent in 2009 to 83.3 percent in 2001. A similar increase was seen among high school students, where the percentage performing in the top three performance levels increased from 83.4 percent in 2009 to 83.6 percent in 2010.

More information regarding the 2010 Kansas Report Card is available on the KSDE website at http://online.ksde.org/rcard/. State, district and individual school information is available.

Also released today was the list of Kansas schools achieving the State Standard of Excellence at grade levels and building wide. There were 3,007 Standard of Excellence awards presented in reading and 2,532 awards presented in math. In science, 430 Standard of Excellence awards were achieved.

To receive a Standard of Excellence in reading for grades 3-6, at least 25 percent of students must be in the Exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5 percent of students in Academic Warning. For grades 7-8, 20 percent of students must score in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in Academic Warning. For high schools, at least 15 percent of students must be in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in Academic Warning.

To receive a Standard of Excellence at the grade or building level in reading, the building must make AYP in the “All Students” group. Additionally, the following are expected percentage values for a school of excellence in reading.
 
* Grades 3-6, 60 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard or above; 80 percent as Meets Standard and above; and 95 percent as Approaches Standard and above.
   
* Grades 7-8, 55 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard and abov e; 75 percent as Meets Standard and above; and 90 percent classified as Approaches Standard and above.
   
* High school, 50 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard and above; 70 percent as Meets Standard and above; and 90 percent classified as Approaches Standard and above.

To receive a Standard of Excellence in mathematics for grades 3-6, at least 25 percent of students must be in the Exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5 percent of students in Academic Warning. For grades 7-8, 25 percent of students must score in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10 percent of students in Academic Warning. For high schools, at least 15 percent of students must be in the Exemplary category, with not more than 15 percent of students in Academic Warning.

To receive a Standard of Excellence at the grade or building level in mathematics, the building must make AYP in the “All Students” group. Additionally, the following are expected percentage values for a school of excellence in mathematics.
 
* Grades 3-6, 60 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard or above; 80 percent  as Meets Standard and above; and 95 percent as Approaches Standard and above.
   
* Grades 7-8, 60 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard and above; 80 percent as Meets Standard and above; and 90 percent classified as Approaches Standard and above.
   
* High school, 40 percent of students classified as Exceeds Standard and above; 70 percent as Meets Standard and above; and 85% classified as Approaches Standard and above.

Similar formulas are used to calculate t he Standard of Excellence for science.

A link to the list of grades/schools receiving a Standard of Excellence can be found on the  Kansas State Department of Education’s website at http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2379.