Kansas Lowers Education Standards?!?

Kinda . . .

But they're offering a bright side . . . Here's a quote and great reporting from our think tank friends:  

The Kansas State Board of Education voted 7-3 recently to accept new proficiency standards for the new assessment test. Education officials say they didn’t want to reduce rigor, while also saying they thought more students should have been considered proficient on the previous assessment. That sounds like KSDE thought the previous standard was too rigorous and the new one is less rigorous, but State Board Chair Cathy Hopkins tells KSNT-TV News disagrees:

“No one wants to lower expectations, standards, rigor in any way. Our belief is that this will be a clearer picture of actually what kids are learning and able to show that they’re learning.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Seven members of Kansas Board of Education vote to reduce proficiency standards - The Sentinel

KSDE insists that unbelievable state assessment gains are not the result of lower proficiency standards.