Conservative candidates for school board seats across Kansas have repeatedly asserted that scores on the state standardized test show schools are failing. They say the scores are proof that teachers are spending too much time on social-emotional learning and interpersonal skills — and not enough time on reading, writing and math.

KCUR’s Madeline Fox sat down with education reporters Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service and Jodi Fortino of KCUR to talk about whether scores really are falling and what the exams can — and can’t — tell us.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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