ESEA State Assessment Peer Review

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) shall conduct peer reviews of state assessment systems to assist states in meeting statutory and regularity requirements for implementing valid and reliable assessment systems. Under section 1111(e) of ESEA and 34 C.F.R. 200.2(b)(5), USED has an obligation to conduct peer reviews of state assessment systems implemented under section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA. Be mindful, USED conducts other peer reviews. The peer reviews are for the Kentucky state assessment system.

​Standards and Assessment Peer Review

USED began the current review process with the release of the following documents:

•  State English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment Peer Review Webinar. (January 2019)

• Webinar PPT Slide-Jan. 2019
  
• Webinar Q and A Summary-Jan. 2019
  

•  State Academic Assessment Peer Review Webinar (October 2019).

• Webinar PPT Slide-Oct. 2019
  

• State Assessment Peer review, including the peer review of English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments Seminar held in Washington, DC. (August 2018) [Recording no longer available]
  
• Letter to the U.S. Department of Education's Assessment Peer Review Process (September 24, 2018)

• Academic Assessment Peer Review Cover Sheet and Index Submission Template (October 3, 2018)
  
• ELP Assessment Peer Review Cover Sheet and Index Submission Template (October 3, 2018)
  

• Memo to States Regarding an Update on the Assessment Peer Review Process for 2018-2019 (October 9, 2018)
• Letter to State Assessment Directors Regarding Assessment Peer Review Information (January 6, 2017)
• Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Assessment Peer Review Outcomes (October 6, 2016)
• Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Assessing Speaking and Listening (March 2, 2016)

• Template for State Request for Speaking and Listening Waiver (March 2, 2016)
  

• Call for Experts to Serve as Peer Reviewers

• Peer submission checklist and conflict of interest form
  

• Decision Letters (NCLB) on State Final Assessment Systems Under Title I of ESEA as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act
• Decision Letters (IASA) on State Final Assessment Systems Under Title I of ESEA as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994
  

Kentucky Peer Review Submission, Findings and Kentucky Response

Kentucky peer review submission

• Kentucky Assessment Science Peer Review Submission (June 2019)
• Kentucky Assessment Science Peer Review Submission Cover Letter (June 2019)
• Kentucky Assessment ELP Peer Review Submission (March 2019)
• Kentucky Assessment General Peer Review Submission (June 1, 2016) 

USED decision letter findings shared with the Kentucky Department of Education

• USED Decision Letter General and Science Peer Review (April 2020)
• USED Decision Letter ELP Peer Review (September 2019)
• USED Decision Letter General Peer Review (January 2017) 

Kentucky Response to the USED Decision Letter

• Kentucky Response ELP Peer Review Critical Element Response (November 2019)
• Kentucky Response ELP Peer Review Critical Element Response Cover Letter (November 2019)
• Peer Review Response and USED General Peer Review letter (February 2017)
• Kentucky Academic Standards Development Process (February 2017)
• Kentucky Draft SCS1 to SB1 (February 2017) 

Other Resources

USED Standards, Assessments and Accountability overview

U.S. Department of Education Standards, Assessments and Accountability

Decision Letters for other states and Kentucky

Decision Letters