Kentucky is introducing a new accountability system for public school students.
Under the plan, schools would no longer receive a numerical rating, but would instead be given an overall rating of “Outstanding”, “Excellent”, “Good”, “Fair”, and either “Concern” or “Intervention” for low-performing schools.
State Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt says student and school performance can’t be measured by numbers alone.
“For a long time now, really since No Child Left Behind started, we’ve been very dependent just on the tests - what a proficiency rating is, and so forth," Pruitt said. "What this does is that it actually will be able to give a more accurate view across the board of what’s going on in our schools.”
Schools will be judged on five indicators, including proficiency, growth, achievement gap closure, transition readiness, and opportunity and access.
Education leaders are vetting the new accountability system in town hall meetings around the state. One takes place Tuesday evening in Elizabethtown at John Hardin High School. Another will be held Thursday at Glasgow High School.
