Dear Educators -

How do you thank all educators in the state of Kansas who have put students first and have produced—for the last nine years—more and more students who have met or exceeded high challenging standards in both reading and math?  Mere words do not seem sufficient, yet they can be so powerful. 

 Thank you, Kansas educators,
you are the best!

Results released in October from the 2008 Kansas Statewide Assessments show continued strong performance results in reading, mathematics, science and history/government for all students. With over 99 percent participation by all students in each of these content areas,   student performance is continuing an upward trend.

Across all of Kansas, the percent of students reading at the proficient level or above has risen from 59% in 2000 to 84% in 2008.  This is a 25% gain.  Math has risen from 50% to 81%, a 31% gain.  The gains have been just as strong in history/government and science.  Additionally, the achievement gaps among various groups of Kansas students in reading, mathematics, history/ government and science are closing. Participation rates on all assessments in Kansas are above ninety-nine percent for all students.  This indicates that you take the assessments seriously, you make sure that all students are counted, and you have been working tirelessly to ensure that all children achieve to high levels.

The following charts and subsequent statistics highlight the incredible gains you and your students have achieved.

 

Congratulations on a job well done!  The future of the world is in your classroom, a future with the potential to improve tomorrow.  What a responsibility you fulfill each and every day and how well you do it! 

 There has never been a more important time to focus 
on the students of tomorrow, than today.

Dr. Alexa Posny
Kansas Commissioner of Education