KET, in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education, has launched Transforming Education in Kentucky: A free, media rich introduction to Senate Bill 1. Seven informational interactive modules are designed for educators, students and parents who want to understand the educational effects of 2009’s Senate Bill 1 (KRS 158.6453). Each module includes readings, videos and interactive exercises. The modules are:

Module 1: Kentucky’s Next Education Reform: Overview

Learn more about Senate Bill 1 and how it compares to Kentucky’s current system. State and national education leaders reflect on why education reform is needed to ensure high school graduates are college- and career-ready.

Module 2: Revised State Content Standards

Discover why content standards are important and the advantages to having common core standards across multiple states. The module also looks at the process under way in Kentucky to implement the Common Core State Standards and to develop new standards for the entire curriculum.

Module 3: Great Teachers and Great Leaders

Explore the characteristics of great teachers and leaders and gain some insight into the new teacher and principal evaluation system that is part of Senate Bill 1.

Module 4: Assessment Literacy

Learn about some of the essential components of a balanced assessment program, including assessments both for learning (formative) and of learning (summative) to accurately measure student achievement.

Module 5: Balanced Assessment and Accountability System

Find out about the components of Kentucky’s new balanced assessment system and the characteristics upon which accountability systems are being developed.

Module 6: Turning Around Struggling Schools

Examine the qualities of high-performing schools and new efforts in Kentucky to turn around consistently low-performing schools.

Module 7: College and Career Readiness

Take a look at the ties – strengthened by Senate Bill 1 – between P-12 core content standards and college and career requirements. You’ll learn more about what it means to be college- and career-ready and the strategies that will prepare Kentucky school children for success in life.

The series is approved for professional development and EILA credit. Educators will need to check with their districts to see if the district will approve the modules for credit.

To view the modules, teachers should visit www.teachersdomain.org. Click on “State and Local Collections” then ”Transforming Education in Kentucky.”