District staff presented initial 2025 Kansas State assessment results and described changes to cut scores and how the district plans to use assessment tools to guide instruction. The board heard that Kansas recalibrated cut scores after a KSDE review found previous standards were misaligned with other indicators of student success.

Cheryl Lehi, interim assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, said KSDE concluded the previous cut scores “didn't reflect the actual student success” and that new cut scores produce a more accurate picture. Lehi summarized the new scale for ELA: a level 2 cut score at roughly 510, level 3 at roughly 540 and level 4 at roughly 609 on a scale with a maximum score of 700. She told the board the district is close to state averages on many grade-level measures.

Dr. Karjala (district assessment staff) described performance-level descriptors (PLDs) tied to standards and demonstrated how KITE mini tests and interim assessments can be used instructionally. He said mini tests are prebuilt items aligned to standards that teachers can assign through the KITE portal; results are available immediately and include item-level analysis that teachers and coaches can use for error analysis and reteaching.

Staff said the district will embed PLDs in curriculum guides, use data talks with principals and instructional coaches, and develop common interim assessments to monitor progress by grade and course. They noted KSDE will support creation of an Emporia interim assessment composed from mini-test items. Board members asked about middle-school math declines between fifth and sixth grade; staff said they are exploring potential causes including testing environment differences and instructional approaches such as differentiated instruction and leveling in middle school.

Staff repeatedly emphasized that the state assessment is one data point and that results should be triangulated with classroom performance, ACT scores and other indicators. They said work will continue through building-level data talks and a planned district dashboard of multiple success measures.