Public school students in Northern Kentucky and statewide take an annual state test before school ends in the summer. The test is given to students in grades three through eight and to high school students in grades 10 and 11 as one way — but not the only way – to measure how well students are learning.
District-level results on the tests, called the Kentucky Summative Assessments and alternate state summative assessments, factor into color-coded ratings doled out by the state every fall, along with data on graduation rates, school safety and other points. The best performance ratings are in blue (with a green rating second to best), and the worst is in red (with an orange rating second to worst). Yellow performance ratings fall in the middle.
Being in the red zone is not where districts want to be when it comes to school accountability and learning. But that’s where some NKY school districts find themselves when looking at state testing of high school students.
Covington and Newport independent school districts’ state assessments for the 2022-23 school year put their elementary and middle schools out of the red range (Covington was rated green for elementary and yellow for middle school; Newport was rated orange and yellow for elementary and orange for middle). When it came to high school, Covington and Newport fell into the red for reading and math assessment scores. Both districts also had red ratings for overall high school performance.
That could be discouraging for students and teachers. Then again, state assessments are not the only way to measure student learning. Districts and the state have other ideas about what student achievement looks like.
And it’s personal.
“Personalized learning” at the district and state level, according to state officials, has led to innovations like “portraits” or profiles of learning for student success. The Kentucky Department of Education Innovative Guide describes portraits as plans that “typically include at most six attributes that communities want to see learners achieve by the time they leave the K-12 system.” Portraits and other learning models are being used by districts — not by state mandate, but with state support – to reimagine assessment and accountability.
“These efforts empower local districts to create personalized, vibrant learning experiences, contributing to a shared vision of excellence in education across Kentucky for every learner,” Kentucky Department of Education communications director Jennifer Ginn told LINK nky.
Boone County Schools is among NKY school districts with a portrait. So are Covington and Newport independent school districts. And the state is in support.
“No single assessment should ever be the sole factor in making an educational decision,” the Kentucky Department of Education said in March. “Parents and students can anticipate assessments that match the requirements of a changing, dynamic world rather than relying on end-of-grade and end-of-course testing alone. New assessments should assess the skills that prepare students for the workplace and civic engagement.”
Covington Independent began focusing on its Portrait of a Graduate for its students in 2022 and 2023 when the district updated its strategic plan. Development of the district’s portrait was facilitated by Battelle for Kids, an Ohio company behind the portrait at work in Boone County Schools.
Covington’s strategic plan describes its portrait and overall plan “our North Star to focus on what our students need to be successful graduates of Covington Independent Public Schools.”
Alvin Garrison, the superintendent of Covington schools, said the district has already had some success defining “skills and attributes that students should possess in our Portrait of a Graduate” and creation of its strategic plan. Additionally, the district has a comprehensive improvement plan in place with set proficiency goals including having 100% of primary grade (K-2) students reading at or above grade level by 2028 and a goal to increase the percentage of math proficient or distinguished (state accountability measures) to 70% districtwide in four years.
“The district is poised for success if we keep focusing on what we are doing,” Garrison said. “I know we will be successful. I believe in the students and staff of Covington Independent Public Schools.”
At Newport, the district’s 2021-25 strategic plan lays out its Portrait of a Newport Graduate in detail. Columns of expectations (communication and collaboration, critical thinking, culturally competent citizens, college and career readiness) fill a page. Every goal is defined. Critical thinking and being adaptable is defined as being “curious,” “analytical,” “solution oriented,” a “problem solver.” College and career ready is defined as someone who is a “goal setter,” “lifelong learner,” “scholarly” and more.
“We leaned on the experience of our strategic action team to increase our definition of a successful Newport graduate,” district officials said. “Transitioning to the next stage in life requires the development of skills and traits that are the foundation of a positive member of the Newport community. We have selected critical categories of focus and attributes that will be a part of your student’s school experience.”
Academics are part of that experience. Current goals for teaching and student achievement in Newport’s strategic plan include every student performing at 75% or above proficiency in core subjects by 2025 “as evidenced on statewide assessments, summative unit assessment or other criterion-based assessments.’
Throwing its support behind portraits of learning and the personalized approach in the river cities is regional nonprofit EducateNKY. The organization is currently working for improved education and equity for students in the river cities by addressing five priority areas including “mastery learning” – or “ensuring all children have what they need to achieve subject mastery before advancing to more complex material,” according to EducateNKY.
Rote memorization won’t get the river cities there, EducateNKy officials explained to LINK nky. Learning, they said, has to be personal to “give all students the time, support and strategies they need to fully understand the same content.”
Cheye Calvo is EducateNKY’s newly named president and CEO, pending the retirement of Tim Hanner in July. Calvo told LINK nky there is potential for districts throughout the NKY region to work together to keep fewer students from falling through the cracks.
“There’s a lot of potential for (districts) to work together, align systems, to collaborate and really kind of grow the river cities as a learning community that cuts across geographic boundaries. And serve kids who may be moving within the school year and year to year, because there’s a good chance that one kid that is in a district this year may be in another district next year,” Calvo told LINK nky.
“The key thing to focus on is how do we make sure students have the opportunity and space and support to master key concepts before moving on to more advanced material,” he said.
Newport Independent Superintendent Tony Watts said opportunities for students and “increased resources for our dedicated staff” are important to his district’s success. Newport’s strategic plan (which includes the personalized learning portrait) “is just the beginning of our work,” he said.
“The tasks in front of us are achievable. We must remain confident and positive to cast a bright light for our students’ he said. “The future is going to be better if we live up to our expectations.”