Board approves revised state assessment scale and cut scores; concordance to be provided in October

The Kansas State Board of Education on Aug. 12 approved revised scale scores and cut points for the state’s updated assessments in English language arts, mathematics and science following a standard‑setting process this summer.

The board voted 7–3 to adopt a 400–700 reporting scale with fixed cut scores at 510 (basic/proficient boundary) and 540 (proficient/advanced boundary) on the state scale, after a multi‑day standard setting that included roughly 150 educators, a technical advisory committee and KSDE staff. The board also required a concordance table to be developed and presented no later than the October board meeting to help compare prior years’ results with the new scale.

Why it matters: The vote establishes how student performance will be reported on the redesigned Kansas assessment program, and it affects how districts and families interpret results when the 2025 assessments are released. The board and department said the changes aim to better align reporting to the state standards and to provide clearer definitions of what “proficient” means.

Background and process Kansas general counsel Scott Gordon reviewed the statutory background for curriculum standards and assessment, noting a 2019 competitive process that selected the University of Kansas to develop the new Kansas Assessment Program (CAP). Beth Fultz, KSDE’s director of career, standards and assessment services, summarized the summer standard‑setting process and the technical reviews designed to ensure the process followed nationally recognized protocols.

Fultz said the new reporting scale (400–700) was chosen to avoid confusion with the old scale and to provide a consistent scale across grades and subjects. She told the board that each summative test is roughly 40 items and that the narrower item set affects how cut points map to proficiency bands.

Standard‑setting panel and recommendations Fultz said nearly 150 educators participated in the June standard‑setting activities. The technical advisory committee and an outside psychometrician reviewed the work and recommended the cut scores the educators endorsed. KSDE staff noted that the grade‑11 science test will require additional work: its performance characteristics did not provide a reliable spread for the panel to set appropriate cut points, so grade‑11 science will be revisited.

Board questions and debate Board members asked how the new scale compares to the prior tests and what the immediate effects might be on reported proficiency rates. Several members voiced concern that changing assessments can interrupt trend comparisons. KSDE said it will prepare a concordance table to enable trend comparisons between the legacy assessments and the new assessments once the board sets cut scores — the concordance was added to the motion and committed to be available by October.

The board’s vote and implementation Board member Betty moved to approve the scale and cut scores with the concordance requirement; the motion was seconded by Jim (last name not specified in transcript). The roll call resulted in seven votes in favor and three opposed; the motion passed.

KSDE’s next steps include publishing the new scale in department materials, producing the requested concordance table, and continuing work on any assessments (such as grade‑11 science) that require additional validation. KSDE staff said district leaders will receive guidance and materials — including practice and interim items — to help interpret and communicate results to families and educators.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from statements recorded during the board meeting.