Kentucky Teacher

There’s no question that 2010 was a busy, fruitful year. When I tally up the events and accomplishments related to P-12 education, I see many positive events.

Common Core State Standards adoption – In March, the Kentucky Board of Education, Council on Postsecondary Education and the Education Professional Standards Board jointly adopted the Common Core State Standards for English/language arts and mathematics. In doing so, Kentucky became the first state in the nation to adopt those standards.

This was a bold step toward improving education outcomes for Kentucky’s students. The work began in 2009, when Gov. Steve Beshear signed the agreement that states develop common academic standards. Kentucky joined 50 states and territories, the National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, Achieve, ACT, ETS and others in a major effort to place America back in the front of educational attainment in the world. Read the full story

Justice Daniel Venters swears in new and reappointed members of the Kentucky Board of Education on Aug. 4, 2010. Pictured left to right are Roger Marcum, William Twyman, Martha Jones, Jonathan “Jay” Parrent, Judith Gibbons and Mary Gwen Wheeler. Photo by Amy Wallot

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

The newly revamped Kentucky Board of Education fleshed out the state’s assistance program for persistently low-performing schools during its meeting in August.

Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 176 (KRS 160.346), which gives persistently low-performing schools four improvement-model options. One option is turning over the day-to-day operations of the school to an Educational Management Organization (EMO). Read the full story