District proposes using first three school days for KEEP kindergarten assessment; board asked to approve flexible scheduling

District staff proposed at the March 6 meeting that the board authorize up to five school days to administer the KEEP kindergarten assessment to help determine kindergarten placements and balance class sizes.

A presenter identified as Brittney told the board that the district expects most schools would need three assessment days and that, for those schools, kindergartners would start school the Monday following other students so teachers could complete assessments. She said some half‑day kindergarten programs might require a fourth day and that schools could arrange to assess earlier in August if needed. "We are proposing that instead of our kindergartners starting school on the first day of school with all the students, we would ask that we have them start on Monday, the following Monday, and we take those first 3 days of school to use as assessment days," the presenter said.

When asked whether every school could assess at different times, Brittney said yes, but that assessment timing should be worked out with each school’s administrator. She also reminded the board that the KEEP assessment was developed by the state and mandated in the past; "they backed off of it" last year, she said, but the district chose to continue using the tool because staff find it helpful.

Staff requested board approval for the flexible assessment schedule; no formal vote was recorded during the meeting. The item was described as a procedural request to allow schools to schedule assessment days that best meet local teacher and student needs.