Kansas: What Every Parent Should Know About Kansas Academic Standards & Assessment

Standards & Assessments

The Kansas Academic Standards give school districts a framework to design their curriculum, instruction, testing and teacher development. Academic standards spell out what students should know and be able to do at various stages in their schooling.

The Kansas State Assessment is what Kansas uses to determine whether or not a student meets standards in specific areas such as reading, writing, math, science, and history/government. An assessment is just another name for a test.

You can find more information about Kansas assessments at:

http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=420

The State Board of Education developed a booklet to help parents understand what is expected of their children and how they can help them.

http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1641

It could be useful to know the school’s policies and practices on giving standardized tests and the use of test scores. Ask your child’s teacher or guidance counselor about the kinds of tests your child will take during the year — and the schedule for testing.

One other thing: some schools give their students practice in taking tests. This helps to make sure that they are familiar with directions and test format. Find out whether your child’s school gives “test taking practice” on a regular basis or will provide such practice if your child needs it.

Homework Help

•  Set aside a regular time and location for study
•  Break information into chunks
•  Provide a quiet, well-lit place to study
•  Allow time for some after school fun
•  Show interest and practice with your child
•  Praise a job well done

• observing students in the classroom;
• evaluating their day-to-day classwork;
• grading their homework assignments;
• meeting their parents; and
• keeping close track of how students change and grow throughout the year.

How to Avoid Test Anxiety

• space studying over days or weeks. Avoid
• cramming the night before. Cramming
• increases anxiety which interferes with clear
• thinking.
• get a good night’s sleep. Rest, exercise, and eating well are as important to test-taking as they are to other school work.
• read the directions carefully when a teacher
• hands out the test. If your child doesn’t
• understand the question, he or she should
• ask the teacher to explain.
•  look quickly at the entire examination to see
• what types of questions are included.
• give their best guess instead of leaving questions unanswered on the state assessments.