Education officials say new math and English testing that will be recommended next month to the Kansas State Board of Education will be aligned with new curriculum standards and give more flexibility to student testing.
The changes were outlined during a meeting Wednesday in Topeka. Education commissioner Diane DeBacker will recommend that the board approve using the Smarter Balance tests in grades three through eight. She says high schools will have flexibility in what type of assessment they use.
Schools are required to test students each year on core education skills. The new tests will be aligned to the Common Core standards the state adopted in 2010 and will also include more writing requirements for students.
The tests will be given starting in 2015.