BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has announced plans to revise its Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) framework following an independent analysis highlighting potential biases in the current assessment, particularly against bilingual or multilingual students. This move underscores MSDE’s commitment to ensuring an equitable start for all students in the state’s education system.
The KRA, a tool used to measure incoming kindergarteners’ readiness across several domains, including language and literacy, mathematics, social foundations, and physical well-being, has been scrutinized for potentially disadvantaging students based on racial, cultural, or linguistic backgrounds. The assessment, traditionally administered in the initial months of the school year, plays a crucial role in shaping early educational interventions and support.
Dr. Carey Wright, the Interim State Superintendent of Schools, emphasized the importance of an unbiased assessment mechanism. “Having an unbiased KRA assessment is a significant measure,” Wright stated, aligning the initiative with both the MSDE strategic plan and Governor Wes Moore’s educational objectives. “MSDE is committed to implementing a KRA assessment without biases as soon as possible.”
The call for a revised kindergarten assessment stems from Maryland law, which mandates a school readiness evaluation devoid of racial and cultural bias. In response, MSDE engaged WestEd and the Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education to conduct an in-depth analysis of the KRA’s 2022 administration. The findings, presented to the Accountability and Implementation Board, revealed that some aspects of the KRA exhibited implicit biases, necessitating a thorough review and adjustment.
The comprehensive report examined the performance of Maryland’s kindergarten students across various demographics, including gender, race/ethnicity, English language proficiency, socioeconomic status, and special education needs. It concluded that to fulfill the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirements—a legislative framework aiming to transform the state’s educational landscape—the KRA must undergo significant revisions to eliminate any racial, cultural, or linguistic biases.
In light of these findings, MSDE is exploring all viable options to promptly adopt a more inclusive kindergarten readiness assessment. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, receive a fair and equal opportunity to succeed from the outset of their educational journey.
The results of the forthcoming KRA, administered in the fall of 2023, are eagerly anticipated, with a scheduled release date on the Maryland Report Card website by Wednesday, March 6. This next step is critical in Maryland’s ongoing efforts to foster an education system that is not only high-performing but also equitable and inclusive, setting a precedent for how educational assessments can and should evolve to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
