Science test scores for Kentucky students raise alarms. ‘Clearly flawed,’ ‘concerning.’

After Thursday’s release of 2024 data in Kentucky’s K-12 accountability system, the Commissioner of Education and a district superintendent are raising concerns about students’ science test scores.

“The science results statewide, particularly at the high school level, are both alarming and, more importantly, concerning,” Franklin County Superintendent Mark Kopp told the Herald-Leader on Thursday.

“According to the data released by the Kentucky Department of Education, only 6% of students across the state scored proficient, and 0% scored distinguished. That means that 94% of students statewide scored either apprentice or novice,” said Kopp.

Students receive scores of novice (the lowest), apprentice, proficient and distinguished (the highest) for several subjects based on spring test results.

Kopp said many students in his district performed exceptionally well on the science portion of the ACT, a national assessment often used for college admission, but that knowledge of subject matter for students in his district — and for high-performing students statewide — was not reflected in state test score results.

“When the data from the state is as low as it is statewide, it is very clear that there is an issue with the validity and reliability of the KSA state science assessment,” Kopp said. “I have spoken with numerous superintendents who are very concerned about this issue. I am hopeful that KDE will examine this testing data for errors and/or dismiss it from the accountability model, as it is very clearly flawed in some way.”

In a news release Wednesday, Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said a key area of concern was science assessment data.

The rate of students testing at a proficient or distinguished level in science was lower across all grade levels than any other content area, continuing a multi-year trend, he said.

“Science performance is concerning. We need to analyze science assessment, instruction and student performance with the goal of developing actionable steps to improve science education and performance for Kentucky’s students,” Fletcher said.

“We need to see improvement in our science scores across all grade levels,” Fletcher said at a Wednesday news conference.