McPHERSON, Kan. — Some people have been wondering when information on this year’s state assessments will be coming out for Kansas schools. That’s a question school officials have also been wondering, and for which McPherson USD 418 Superintendent Shiloh Vincent provided some answers at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
The assessments are given to students in grades 3-8 and to 10th graders, and have been since 2015. This year’s results have been delayed due to a change made at the state level related to “cut scores” or the break points between the four levels of proficiency in the results.
The Kansas State Board of Education this week is reviewing recommendations on cut scores developed over the summer to address a number of issues with the current cut points. One example cited is that there have been cases where students have received very high scores on the ACT test while only testing at a level 2.. level one is the highest level… on the assessments.
Normally the USD 418 Board of Education would review assessment data during their June meeting. Vincent told the board if KSBE approves the changes this week, he would expect to see results available to districts “quickly.”
The Board set hearings on the 2025-26 budget and exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate for Sept. 15, 2025 at 5:45 p.m., with the RNR hearing to be held first followed by the budget hearing.
For USD 418, their proposed levy would exceed RNR by a little over a tenth of a mill for the three funds – capital outlay, bond and interest and supplemental general or local option – that are subject to RNR. The general fund does not factor into the RNR calculation, as by state law that is set at 20 mills regardless of what valuations do.
During the meeting the Board approved acceptance of two grants that funded attendance of two Eisenhower Elementary School teachers at last month’s Norene Ketcherside Art Symposium in McPherson, and were informed they can expect to receive the 2024-25 audit report at either their September or October board meeting.
