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Kansas explores innovative assessment pilot under federal flexibility
Kansas lawmakers heard testimony this week on a potential new direction for student assessment, one designed to better connect testing with classroom instruction while still meeting state and federal accountability requirements.
Dr. Zach Conrad of Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and Dr. Jonathan Templin of Innovative Assessment Solutions presented a model built around shorter, standards aligned benchmark assessments administered throughout the school year.
Their pitch was simple: Instead of relying primarily on a single end-of-year exam, the approach aims to provide faster, more actionable feedback for educators while still producing reliable signals about student performance for accountability purposes.
The discussion comes as the Kansas State Department of Education prepares to apply for approval under the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA), a federal provision in the Every Student Succeeds Act that allows states to pilot alternative assessment models while maintaining accountability requirements. KSDE intends to submit its application by March 17, and if approved, the pilot could run for up to five years.
What the proposed model aims to do
Rather than relying primarily on a single end-of-year state test, the system would use quarterly benchmark assessments aligned to Kansas standards and local instructional pacing.
Key elements of the proposal include:
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Shorter assessments that are administered multiple times during the year to monitor student learning progress.
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Rapid turnaround of results, potentially within days rather than months.
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Reporting at the level of specific academic standards, allowing teachers to identify learning gaps and adjust instruction more quickly.
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Statistical linking to state assessments, allowing benchmark results to reliably predict performance on statewide tests.
Dr. Conrad noted that versions of this system are already being used in districts such as Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and Olathe Public Schools, where educators are working to align interim assessments more closely with instructional materials and classroom pacing.
The goal is to provide teachers with assessment results quickly enough to inform instruction during the school year rather than after it ends.
Dr. Templin presented early data suggesting the model can produce results that closely align with Kansas assessment outcomes. By connecting district benchmark assessments with statewide measures, the system aims to provide a more continuous picture of student progress while still supporting the state’s accountability framework.
Why this matters
Kansas is one of several states exploring how assessment systems can provide more useful information for instruction without abandoning statewide accountability. Through the IADA authority, states can pilot assessment systems that distribute testing across the school year rather than concentrating it in a single testing window.
If Kansas’ application is approved, the pilot would allow the state to evaluate whether a more instructionally aligned assessment model can both support classroom decision-making and meet federal accountability requirements.
Kansas Senate advances bell-to-bell cell phone ban for schools
On Thursday, the Kansas Senate approved legislation requiring public schools and certain accredited private schools to adopt bell-to-bell restrictions on student cell phone use during the school day.
The Senate approved the bill 32–4 and now returns to the House for consideration of the Senate’s changes.
As amended in the Senate, the proposal would require schools to prohibit students from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices from the start of the school day until dismissal, including during lunch, recess, and passing periods. Devices would need to be turned off and securely locked or stored in a location inaccessible to students.
During the Senate Education Committee’s work on the proposal, lawmakers adopted several amendments that reshaped the bill before advancing it.
One amendment clarified what schools would be subject to the policy. The amendment defined “accredited” schools for the purposes of the legislation as nonpublic schools accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education. Schools that hold dual accreditation, such as those accredited by KSDE and another regional or national accrediting body, would still be subject to the policy.
A second amendment addressed several operational details raised during earlier hearings. Namely, it shifted the prohibition from “instructional time” to the broader “school day,” added language clarifying that exceptions for students with individualized education programs must be a last resort, and included provisions governing how schools and employees communicate with students online.
Following adoption of the amendments, the committee voted to remove the contents of House Bill 2299 and insert the revised language of the cell phone proposal, effectively converting the legislation into a Senate substitute for the House bill.
The bill now returns to the Kansas House of Representatives, which passed similar legislation in mid-February. With Governor Laura Kelly and legislative leadership in both chambers publicly supportive, the proposal appears well positioned for final passage.
If enacted, Kansas would join 35 states and D.C. that have adopted policies restricting student cell phone use during the school day.
Priority bill update
We’ve also updated our Kansas priority bill tracker with the latest committee action and floor movement on key education legislation.
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