Kentucky Commonwealth Accountability Testing System

The Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) is designed to improve teaching and student learning in Kentucky. CATS includes the Kentucky Core Content Test, a nationally norm-referenced test, the CTBS/5 Survey Edition, writing portfolios and prompts and the alternate portfolio for students with severe to profound disabilities.

Accountability System

Kentucky's accountability system is a high-stakes system with rewards and sanctions attached to results.  The over-riding goal of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) is for all schools in Kentucky to reach Proficiency as defined by the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE).  The accountability system provides the mechanism for measuring this goal and thus provides feedback to schools on how they are progressing toward the long-term goal set by KBE.  By regulation (703 KAR 5:020), Kentucky's accountability system focuses primarily on schools.  While the system does provide for school district accountability (703 KAR 5:130), reward money is not attached to district results.

The Long-Term Accountability model adopted by KBE is a growth model with schools serving as their own baseline.  All students and thus all schools are expected to demonstrate improvement within the system.  School improvement plans, such as a school's consolidated plan, are influenced by the results of the accountability system.  Visits to high performing schools (i.e., schools demonstrating substantial gains) generally confirm the seriousness with which these schools approach accountability data and their creativity in using the data to adjust instructional programs.

Schools achieving rewards status in CATS receive money from the state to be used for school purposes.  For the accountability cycle ending in 2002, over 20 million dollars was distributed to schools achieving rewards status.  Schools falling short of their goal at the end of a particular cycle, by regulation (703 KAR 5:120), receive a Scholastic Audit, receive the assistance of a Highly Skilled Educator, and are eligible to receive state funds to be targeted toward improvement.  The Scholastic Audits performed by state, regional and local district personnel are thorough and provide audited schools with information on over 80 indicators related to school success.  While Kentucky's accountability system is based upon measuring continued improvement toward a long-term goal, and thus has built in monitoring to ensure real and enduring improvement, the Scholastic Audits contribute to this monitoring by focusing on those schools that need assistance the most.

Advisory Groups

House Bill 53, passed into law by the 1998 General Assembly, requires that the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) include multiple measures that are sound, fair and feasible. This effort includes four advisory groups charged with helping the   Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) build a better assessment and accountability system.  The groups are comprised of educators and citizens, legislators, testing and measurement experts and legislative staff.