Kentucky's public school students are learning at higher levels than ever before. We know, because we have an accurate way to measure results. Kentucky's system of testing and accountability for public school improvement is comprehensive, fair and effective.
- The system is comprehensive, because it measures the work of all schools and all students in all academic content areas.
- It's fair, because the Kentucky Board of Education developed this system with input from thousands of Kentucky educators, parents, business leaders and taxpayers -- with legislative guidance and with the help of a panel of the nation's top testing experts who make sure the system stays valid and reliable.
- And it's effective, because it accurately measures school quality and school improvement, gives teachers the information they need to improve instruction and, most importantly, has resulted in higher achievement by Kentucky students at every grade level and in every subject over the past six years.
These positive trend lines on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) accurately reflect what is happening in Kentucky classrooms. Independent experts continually monitor the test to make sure it's accurate. And national tests bear out these trends.
Our state has invested wisely in its system of public education for more than a decade and that investment is paying off. But we still have a long way to go. We need to keep investing wisely to reach our goal of proficiency or beyond by 2014.
This site documents the continuous improvement we are making in our schools, thanks to the hard work of our educators and the system we have in place.
Please explore the links below to learn more about Kentucky's progress in education.