Kansas State Assessments of students in public schools will wrap up by the end of the month, Great Bend USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp said.

Great Bend assessments started back on March 21.

The pandemic had a negative effect on last year’s test scores, Popp said, looking at earlier data. “COVID really did a number on us as far as assessments go,” he said. “We were in a good trajectory – not where we wanted to be but we were in a good trajectory and COVID really had a negative impact on state assessment scores. We are still learning how great that impact continues to be.”

Great Bend will respond with a second month of summer school this year, offering classes in June and July. Popp said the educators hope having more opportunities for continued learning will help counteract learning loss from  the pandemic, especially at the younger grades.

During state assessments, the schools are monitored to make sure teachers follow the appropriate testing practices outlined in the Kansas Assessment Level.

“We didn’t do any monitoring last year because of COVID,” Popp  said. “This year, they’re asking us to monitor our own buildings.” Popp said he has completed monitoring at each of the buildings and he found no problems. He checked to make sure test items were kept secure and that students were provided the proper the time, setting and environment that is supposed to be in place for state testing.

With the online Parents Portal to the district website, parents will be able to see all of their students’ current and past state assessments and interim assessment scores, Popp said. “It is generated by the state and very easy to access. Information on how to access that will be coming out in May.”

As for the pandemic, USD 428 continues to see only a few new cases of COVID-19 each week. On Monday, the district started the week with one active case, at Riley Elementary School.