The U.S. Department of Education (USED) requires states to administer statewide assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. Instead of canceling the test, USED advised states to pursue other assessment flexibilities, including administering a shortened version of the statewide assessment, which the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has prepared for in anticipation of the USED decision.
On Feb. 15, KDE released two COVID-19 guidance documents to assist districts in preparing to administer spring testing.
The "COVID-19 Participation in Spring 2021 Kentucky State Testing" guidance document describes federal and state expectations, the rationale for testing and the tentative 2020-2021 testing plan.
The department's spring 2021 testing plan currently includes flexible test windows, a reduction in the time for assessment administration, where possible, and an option to bring in small groups of full-time virtual students for an in-person assessment. All in-person test administrations should follow the "KDE COVID-19 Guidance" and the most current health guidance at the time of testing.
KDE also released "Kentucky Summative Assessment Administration Guidance 2020-2021 School Year," which provides specific guidelines for test administration, test accommodations, safety expectations and staff training for state test administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP) is the annual summative assessment given in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 to Kentucky public school students. K-PREP provides content area assessments, such as reading, mathematics, science, social studies and writing, at all grade levels or grade bands.
K-PREP is a criterion-referenced test developed specifically to measure the Kentucky Academic Standards. Student performance levels (novice, apprentice, proficient and distinguished) are used to describe how well students perform to Kentucky-specific standards.
Important Resources for Spring 2020-2021 Testing
2020-2021 Kentucky Academic Standards
Please visit KYstandards.org to find the adopted Kentucky Academic Standards for reading, mathematics, science, social studies, editing and mechanics, and writing.
KAS 2018-2019 Standards
Social Studies
Item Review Resources
(Pearson)
- Reading Item Review
- Mathematics Item Review
Performance Level Descriptors
K-PREP Math Reference Sheets
Scoring Guides
Short Answer Response Space
Extended Response Answer Space
On-Demand Writing (ODW) Rubrics and Writer's Reference Sheets
Note: While the online practice tests represent items that correspond to the new KAS for Reading and Writing, the 2021 on-demand writing assessment will more closely correspond to previous on-demand writing assessments. To support the previous format, on-demand writing resources from previous assessments, including rubrics, will be utilized on the 2020-2021 spring assessment.
KAS Writer's Reference Sheets
KAS Rubrics
KDE DAC Information
Office of Assessment and Accountability
300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4394