Kentucky, the first state to develop comprehensive state standards and assessments in 1990, is again leading the country, this time with the “next generation” of accountability reforms. 

 
The state’s legislature recently approved a series of tests aligned to new standards that are to be internationally benchmarked and designed to ensure students are prepared to enter the workforce or go to college.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has already singled out college-work ready standards and assessments that enable international comparisons of student performance as the type of reforms he intends to fund through the $5 billion “Race to the Top” fund created by the federal stimulus package.

Looks like Kentucky will be well-positioned to compete for Duncan’s discretionary dollars.  We hope Superintendent Randy Dorn’s proposed changes to the Washington assessment system will also improve our state’s chances of winning the Race to the Top by showing our state’s commitment to developing a world-class education system.

Read more about Kentucky’s new state tests here.  Read more about Superintendent Dorn’s proposed changes to the WASL here.