Seniors Take Portion of Kansas Assessments

Lilly Myers went into her second hour on Friday April 6 expecting a normal class period, but then an interruption came. Myers was called into the office to take the second part of the Kansas state social studies assessment.

Over the past few weeks seniors have gone with their English classes or were pulled out of other classes to take the second part of the Kansas state assessment for social studies – a required test from the state department of education. Students took part of the test last year and, contrary to some student rumor, they were not retaking the test, but rather just completing it before they graduate.

Since taking the tests, rumors have been surfacing from students and teachers that the school lost the students scores, causing the students to have to retake them. Myers has heard rumors through students that the school lost the scores and was surprised by the abrupt nature of the test.

“I thought I remembered taking it last year and then I heard that the school lost all of our scores so that’s why we had to take it again,” Myers said. “Maybe that’s the cause but maybe they lost them for some reason out of their control and it wasn’t their fault.”

Although the school did not lose the students scores, seniors should have finished the assessments last year, but didn’t. According to assistant principal Jeremy Higgins, the changes that took place in assessment policy last year are to blame.

“The students simply had to finish the test,” Higgins said. “Last year as juniors they should have taken both parts of the assessment.”

The social studies assessment consists of two parts, world history and US history. A certain number of students are required to take both parts of the assessment before they graduate as part of the No Child Left Behind act. The tests are also geared to make sure the school is teaching students what they need to learn and making adequate yearly progress (AYP). Every two years the socials studies assessment scores will be examined by the state for AYP.

“This year’s seniors’ scores will count and this year’s sophomores scores will count when they are seniors,” Higgins explained. “This year’s freshmen and juniors will never have to take the social studies test.”

Since sophomores will have to take the assessments, the administration is planning in advance that the students will not have to take the assessment their senior year.

“This year sophomores will be taking the world history part of the test because many of them are in world history right now,” Higgins said. “Then next year when they are juniors, they’ll take the US history part of the test. Then when they are seniors they’ll be all done and won’t have to take anything.”                                                               

Since taking the assessment, some seniors, including Myers, have expressed frustration over taking these assessments. Although Myers was frustrated she believes it is nothing to be upset about.                                         

“It was a little annoying at first but I didn’t really think it was a big deal,” Myers said. “The test took 15 minutes or less. You just go in and you take it and it’s really nothing to worry about. I don’t think people should be making a big deal about it.”