Our 3rd through 6th Grade students are not the only students that will take part in the Next Generation of Assessments this school year. Our Kindergarten students are near completion of the inaugural Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).
Prior to the start of the 2014 school year, The Ohio Department of Education mandated that all Kindergarten students complete the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Literacy (KRA-L). This assessment was given in Worthington and in many districts as part of the Kindergarten screening process that took place prior to the start of the school year. The assessment took approximately 15 minutes per student to administer and assessed students on early literacy skills. The assessment was given one on one to students by teachers. In addition, since the implementation of Ohio’s 3rd Grade Guarantee, the assessment results from the KRA-L were permitted to be used to identify students who were “On Track” or “Not on Track” with their literacy skills. The data from the assessment gave teachers baseline information about each student’s present learning levels. This information was useful in order to prepare for the school year.
This year, the KRA assessment is near completion at Wilson Hill. Unlike the KRA-L assessment given in previous years, the KRA was not allowed to be given until the start of the school year. In addition, the KRA was only permitted to be given by certified staff who were trained to administer the KRA. Unlike the KRA-L administration that took approximately 15 minutes, the KRA has taken approximately one hour to administer to each Kindergarten student. Just like the KRA-L, the KRA was administered to each individual student by the teacher. Both the KRA-L and KRA have no implications on a child’s report card or promotion to the 1st Grade. Both Assessments are permitted to be used as the 3rd Grade Guarantee assessment tool if administered prior to September 30th. At Wilson Hill, all Kindergarten students KRA Literacy portions were completed by this time. Unlike the KRA-L, in the future the KRA is said to be completed by students using a technology device.
The KRA has taken longer to administer to each student due to it’s numerous parts, which include: Social Foundations, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language and Literacy, Physical Well-Being and Motor Development. Within these parts are three types of assessment questions. The first type of assessment question is a selected response. Students must choose the best answer to a question given three choices. The second type of assessment question is a performance task. Students must complete an activity given the prompt and in some cases use the necessary manipulative. The student may receive full credit, partial credit or no credit based on their performance as it relates to the performance rubric . The last type of assessment is observation. The teacher must use a rubric to assess students on a specific skill. In the future it is stated by the Ohio Department of Education that students will be able to complete a portion of the KRA on a technology device.
Having been an Elementary Principal for the last 10 years I value the information both the KRA-L and KRA assessment give about students, especially since our Kindergarten students are new to school. This information allows to us at Wilson Hill to better prepare for teaching and learning opportunities for all our students.
Despite the one hour of assessment we have spent with each child (that’s a minimum of 20 hours per classroom) our Kindergarten teachers have somehow managed to teach our Kindergarten students! I am amazed at the growth each Kindergarten student has already made in our 1st nine weeks of school. This is a credit to our wonderful Kindergarten teaching team: Ms. Saba, Mrs. Kosanovich and Mrs. Malley. Our Kindergarten students have worked incredibly hard to complete this assessment. Within the 1st nine weeks of school it has been encouraging to see our supportive families work with each child to help them grow. With conferences taking place soon, our Kindergarten teachers plan to share the KRA data on each student with each family.
If you would like additional information regarding the KRA please click on the link to watch a short video Ohio's Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Additional information on the KRA can be found at The Ohio Department of Education Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
Matt Keller-Principal, Wilson Hill Elementary School
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