Kansas sees overall improvement in state English language arts and math assessments
TOPEKA — Kansas students showed improvement on the 2026 state English language arts and math assessments, with fewer students performing at the lowest level and more students scoring at proficient and advanced levels compared to 2025.
“These results are encouraging, particularly the reduction in the number of students performing at the lowest level in both reading and math,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Jake Steel. “While we have much more work to do, this is a positive step. Our focus remains on ensuring every Kansas student receives high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day, and that schools have the support they need to help students succeed.”
Performance Levels 1- 4 explained
Kansas introduced a new assessment in the spring of 2025 and as is standard practice, new cut scores were developed. The following performance levels, however, did not change: (Decreases in Levels 1-2 and increases in Levels 3-4 indicate positive direction.)
Level 1: A student at Level 1 shows a limited ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) grade (ELA, math, science) standards.
Level 2: A student at Level 2 shows a basic ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) grade (ELA, math, science) standards.
Level 3: A student at Level 3 shows a proficient ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) grade (ELA, math, science) standards.
Level 4: A student at Level 4 shows an advanced ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) grade (ELA, math, science) standards.
Progress in the “All Students, All Grades” categories for ELA and math
From 2025 to 2026, all Kansas students in grades 3-8 and 10th grade taking the ELA assessment had a 1.0 percentage point decrease in Level 1, the level showing a limited ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of grade-level content standards. There was a 1.46 percentage point increase in the number of all Kansas students scoring at proficient and advanced Levels 3 and 4 on the ELA state assessment from 2025 to 2026.
Math scores from 2025 to 2026 showed all Kansas students in grades 3-8 and 10th grade taking the state math assessment had a 1.8 percentage point decrease in Level 1 while students scoring at proficient and advanced Levels 3 and 4 had a 2.27 percentage point increase in their math scores.