KRS 158.6453 calls for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The current schedule calls for one or two content areas to be reviewed each year and every six years thereafter on a rotating basis.
Advisory Panels (APs)
Advisory panels for each content area will review the standards and assessments and make recommendations for changes to a Standards and Assessments Review Committee. APs will consist of at least six public school educators who teach the content standards being reviewed along with a representative from an institution of higher education in Kentucky for each grade band: elementary (K-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12).
Standards Review Committees (RCs)
The Standards and Assessments Review Committee for each content area will review findings, including public comments/feedback and make recommendations to revise or replace existing standards and review assessments to ensure alignment with the standards. A minimum of six public school educators, who teach in the academic content area being reviewed, at least one representative from higher education, as well as other community shareholders comprise each committee.
Standards and Assessments Process Review Committee (SAPRC)
The Standards and Assessments Process Review Committee (SAPRC) is made up of the Commissioner of Education, or his designee, as a non-voting member and nine voting representatives of public schools, including two parents of public school students, one language arts teacher, one math teacher, one science teacher, one social studies teacher, two principals, two superintendents, and one school board member, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The SAPRC will review the process to ensure shareholders had adequate opportunity for input. If the process is found sufficient, the recommendations (without amendment) go to the KBE for consideration. If the process is found deficient, the recommendations may be returned to the appropriate standards and assessments review committee for additional work.
Once the KBE approves the revised standards and they clear the traditional regulatory review process, which provides yet an additional opportunity for public input, they will be implemented in all Kentucky public schools no later than the second academic year following the process. Existing standards will stay in place until new standards are approved.