Standard setting meeting scheduled for Sept. 13-14 for Kentucky’s accountability system

A group of education stakeholders and policymakers will gather in Frankfort on Sept. 13 and 14 to participate in a standard-setting process that will culminate in recommended cut scores that define performance expectations for each indicator and the overall school rating in Kentucky’s accountability system. The meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET at 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, in the State Board Room.

Using data from the 2021-2022 school year, Kentucky’s accountability system will provide an overall color-coded rating for each school, district and the state ranging from red (lowest) to blue (highest). The color-coded rating, along with other important education data, will be available on the Kentucky School Report Card.

As required by KRS 158.6455, the panel will recommend cut scores to Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass and the Local Superintendents Advisory Council for an overall rating that combines all indicators in Kentucky’s accountability system. The panel also will recommend cut scores for each indicator to allow reporting of school performance ranging from very low to very high (i.e., very low, low, medium, high, very high) on each indicator.

Indicators contributing to how a school is classified for the 2021-2022 school year include:

State Assessment Results for Reading and Mathematics: Based on student performance on tests in reading and mathematics;
State Assessment Results for Science, Social Studies and Writing: Based on student performance on tests in science, writing and social studies;
English Learner Progress: Based on English learners’ growth on an English proficiency exam;
Graduation Rate: High school only. The percentage of students who graduate within a specified period compared with the cohort of students who started high school the same year;
Postsecondary Readiness: High school only. Based on grade 12 graduates and nongraduates and those meeting either academic or career readiness as defined in Kentucky’s accountability system. This year’s data will include a college admissions exam (ACT), a college placement exam, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Advanced International, Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) approved dual credit, industry certifications, career and technical education end-of-program assessments and KDE/Labor Cabinet-approved apprenticeship; and
Quality of School Climate and Safety: Based on student surveys.

On Sept. 13-14, panelists will discuss performance level descriptions (PLDs) for each indicator individually and a school overall score that combines the indicators. Those PLDs will provide information about the expectations for each color-coded rating and each indicator to give educators, teachers, families and students more information about the meaning of each performance category. The PLDs are similar to student performance level descriptors of Novice, Apprentice, Proficient and Distinguished in the statewide student testing system.

The PLDs will be used to inform the decision of panelists during the standard setting. Panelists will use the PLDs along with school and indicator data to set the cut scores for color ratings from red to blue. Panelists will use actual school performance data to establish the recommended cut scores. However, no school names will be used and panelists will not be able to identify any schools.

Members of the committee bring a variety of educational experiences and expertise to the standard-setting process, including:

Steve Trimble, member, Kentucky Board of Education
Patrice McCrary, member, Kentucky Board of Education
Robbie Fletcher, superintendent, Lawrence County schools
Sheila Mitchell, superintendent, Anderson County schools
Travis Hamby, superintendent, Allen County schools
Alvin Garrison, superintendent, Covington Independent schools
Leonard Whalen, superintendent, Dawson Springs Independent schools
Dena Dossett, chief of accountability, research and systems improvement, Jefferson County schools
JanaBeth Francis, district assessment coordinator, Daviess County schools
Amanda Reed, district assessment coordinator, LaRue County schools
Brooke Stinson, district assessment coordinator, Fayette County schools
Artavia Acklin, principal, Shelby County schools
Christi Lefevers, principal, Corbin Independent schools
Kym Rice, principal, Jefferson County schools
Jerome Gels, principal, Ignite Academy
Alfonso De Torres Núñez, teacher, Jefferson County schools
Amy Leasgang, teacher, Bullitt County schools
Renita Wilburn, teacher, Fayette County schools
Lora Grant, teacher, Southern Kentucky Early College and Career Academy
Arnav Dharmagadda, student, Greenup County schools
Penny Christian, parent, Kentucky Parent Teacher Association
Kathy Smiley, president, Kentucky Parent Teacher Association
Eddie Campbell, president, Kentucky Education Association
Dionne Bates, implementation and improvement lead, Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative
Gretchen Wetzel, executive director, Western Kentucky Education Cooperative
Jim Flynn, executive director, Kentucky Association of School Superintendents
Kathy Fields, membership engagement specialist, Kentucky Association of School Administrators