Image courtesy KSDE

The Kansas State Board of Education has approved the first major change in a decade to the state’s assessment scale, aiming to better prepare students for college and address concerns about falling behind. The board voted 7-3 Tuesday to adopt the new scale starting in the 2025-2026 school year, expanding the scoring range, shortening tests, and adjusting performance levels.

The updated scale will run from 400 to 700 across all grades and subjects, replacing the previous 220-380 system. Performance levels will shift from “limited,” “basic,” “effective,” and “excellent” to “limited,” “basic,” “proficient,” and “advanced.” State officials say the changes align expectations without lowering rigor, using a nationally recognized process developed with educator input.

The plan also includes accelerating students into advanced classes earlier, increasing participation in extracurricular activities, and focusing instruction on higher-level standards. Board leaders cited studies showing students involved in at least two activities are more likely to succeed, and pointed to examples where advancing students in math did not raise failure rates.