By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-973167.mp3
Frankfort, Ky. – New statewide, end-of-course assessment exams begin this coming school year for Kentucky high school students. Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh was present for a legislative update on the program.
End-of-course assessments were authorized in education reforms approved by Kentucky lawmakers in 2009. The statewide tests measure student achievement in graduation-required courses of English, Algebra, Biology and U.S. History. Rhonda Sims of the Education Department says districts are also being encouraged to base up to 20 percent of a student's final course grade on assessment test results.
"It does allow the course work and the assessment to blend together, so the students have some ownership into this."
The tests include both multiple choice and written response questions, and students should know the results within ten days. Sims says the tests align well with college readiness criteria and student performance can be compared to similar test results in other states.