An Incomplete and Very Unofficial Guide to

Some of Kentucky's Education Terms and Abbreviations

Compiled by Linda Sheffield

• Academic Expectations - Formerly called (among other things) Valued Outcomes and Learner Outcomes. These were developed from the six areas of the Kentucky Learning Goals. These outline what should know and are expected to do and are the basis of the Core Content for Assessment.
• CATS - Commonwealth Accountability Testing System - This system replaced KIRIS and includes (among other things) KCCT, CTBS/5(TerraNova), attendance, retention, and drop-out rate.
• CTBS/5 - Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills(part of TerraNova developed by CTB McGraw-Hill). This part of CATS is given to students in grades 3, 6, and 9 and gives parents and teachers national percentiles for students in reading and mathematics.
• Core Content for Assessment - These outline the topics that will be assessed on the KCCT in grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
• ESS - Extended School Services. Schools must provide extended school services (ESS), including extended days, extended weeks, or extended years for students who need additional time for instruction to meet Kentucky's learning goals.
• Experienced Teacher Standards - Standards established by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) as the foundation for the knowledge base for experienced teachers. Teachers must show mastery of these through a professional portfolio.
• Implementation Manual - The Implementation Manual for the Program of Studies provides both general information on implementing educational programs and specific suggestions on how to design courses using the content from the Program of Studies for Kentucky Schools Primary - 12.
• Kentucky Learning Goals - These include six areas of expectations for all students and led to the development of the Academic Expectations.
• KCCT - The Kentucky Core Content Test. This replaced KIRIS and is the part of the CATS that assesses the Kentucky Core Content for Assessment. This includes multiple choice and open response questions.
• KERA - The Kentucky Education Reform Act. This was legislation passed in 1989 that formed the basis for all subsequent reforms in areas such as non-graded primary classes, ESS, assessment, and curriculum reform.
• KIRIS - Kentucky Instructional Results Information System. The first assessment system under KERA. This has been replaced by CATS.
• New Teacher Standards - Standards established by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) as the foundation for the knowledge base for new teachers. New teachers must show mastery of these through a professional portfolio.
• SBDM - School-based Decision Making. This outlines the school-based councils' responsibilities in determining school curriculum, policies, etc.
• Transformations - Subtitled, Kentucky's Curriculum Framework, this document consists of two volumes.The two volumes offer further explanation of the academic expectations, suggestions on teaching strategies and activities, and multiple resources to assist with the development of curriculum and instructional units.
• Program of Studies - This outlines by grade level the curricular expectations in each subject area. Primary (kindergarten through grade three) expectations are given in six levels. This document outlines the minimum content required for all students before graduating from Kentucky high schools in the Class of 2002. This document specifies only the content for the fifteen required credits for high school graduation and primary, intermediate, and middle level programs leading to these requirements. It explains what is to be taught by reference into regulation, and therefore, it is required to be used by Kentucky educators.