Dear Teachers,
Last November, I wrote that we would soon be entering a new CATS contract (effective in the fall of 2006) and that we would be using this opportunity to enhance the system by addressing your issues and concerns.
I said we would be seeking your input for the Kentucky Board of Education, so they will have the benefit of your expertise in making decisions as we move forward.
We began with your ideas about the writing portfolio, and I was gratified that almost 9,000 of you responded to our on-line feedback sheet. This input helped the board at its meeting this month, as it agreed to approve recommendations for the state's writing assessment.
Now we need your input on efforts to clarify the content standards in Kentucky's Core Content for Assessment. Teams of teachers across the state have been working for several months on this with Kentucky Department of Education staff. The goal is to ensure that the essential knowledge and skills to be assessed at the state level for all students is clear and apparent, both to our educators and to those who will be developing the Kentucky Core Content Tests.
At this time the proposed Core Content for Assessment for all grade levels, and for all content areas except writing, is posted for your review and comment. (Writing will be posted at a later date).
The data from this survey will be collected and tabulated on Feb. 21.
Won't you please take some time to let us know your thoughts?
Here is a link to the feedback questionnaire.
Thanks very much for your help!
Gene Wilhoit,
Commissioner
Kentucky Department of Education