Kansas State Board approves updated assessment cut scores to align with student achievement

The Kansas State Board of Education has approved new cut scores for state assessments, aiming to better align test results with actual student performance. The decision follows the introduction of a new assessment in 2025 and responds to findings that previous cut scores did not accurately represent student readiness.

An in-depth study compared state assessment results with other indicators such as ACT scores, AP coursework, dual credit participation, graduation rates, and postsecondary outcomes. Educators found that prior performance levels often underestimated students' preparedness for college or careers. While only about one in four Kansas high school students scored at Level 3 or 4 on state assessments, more than half succeeded in postsecondary pathways. This discrepancy meant many students were labeled as not “proficient” despite performing well after graduation.

National comparisons showed that Kansas required students to score in the top 25% nationally to be considered “proficient,” creating inconsistencies between state assessments and other standardized measures like the ACT.

“This process is about accuracy, fairness and alignment, not lowering expectations,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson. “Kansas educators led this process, using their professional expertise and data to set cut scores that reflect what our students truly know and can do.”

Cut scores are points on a test’s scale used to separate different performance categories: Limited, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The newly approved standards aim to provide a more transparent and evidence-based measure of achievement for Kansas students.