The Derby Kansas School Board meeting on September 8, 2025, spotlighted significant changes to the state assessment program, with officials emphasizing the need for alignment between performance descriptors and actual student capabilities. Dr. Putnam Jackson presented updates from the Kansas State Board of Education, revealing that new cut scores have been approved to ensure that assessments accurately reflect student performance.

The adjustments to performance level descriptors aim to clarify what it means for students to be considered proficient. For instance, the descriptor for a score of 4 has shifted from "excellent" to "advanced stability," while the previous emphasis on post-secondary success has been removed from the definitions. This change is intended to address misalignments that previously led to confusion about what constitutes proficiency in Kansas compared to national standards.

Dr. Jackson explained that the state conducted an in-depth study involving educators to reassess what proficiency should look like at various grade levels. The findings indicated that to be deemed proficient in Kansas, students needed to be in the top 25% nationally, a standard that previously was not reflected in the state assessments. This misalignment had eroded trust in the assessment system, prompting the need for a realignment of cut scores.

Board members expressed concerns about the implications of these changes, particularly regarding the inability to compare scores from previous years due to the new assessment tool. Dr. Jackson confirmed that comparisons would be inappropriate, as the new cut scores and assessment structure differ significantly from past evaluations. The board plans to use this year’s results as a baseline for future improvement measures.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the reduction in the number of questions on the assessments, a response to feedback about lengthy testing periods. The board is optimistic that these changes will lead to a fairer and more accurate measure of student achievement, ultimately benefiting students as they prepare for post-secondary education and careers.