Kentucky Teacher

Dear Teachers,

I am excited to share with you a webcast and materials, designed specifically for teachers, on the proposed new accountability system and the new academic standards. The webcast will assist you in understanding how the new accountability system will work and the activities that should occur relative to implementing the new standards. Read the full story

I recently sent a letter to Kentucky superintendents and board of education chairs asking them to pledge to increase the rates of college and career readiness in their high schools by 50 percent by 2015. This is critical to the success of our students, communities and the economy of the entire state.

Our legislative leaders are keenly aware of the need for progress in this area, as evidenced by the passage of Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) in 2009. SB 1 requires P-12 and postsecondary education leaders to produce a plan to reduce remediation of high school graduates entering college by 50 percent. Read the full story

The Kentucky Board of Education is interested in feedback on a world languages Program Review and encourages teachers, administrators and other education stakeholders to complete a survey by the Department of Education.  All Program Reviews, as intended by Senate Bill 1, look at instructional practices, aligned and enacted curriculum, student work samples, formative and summative assessments, and administrative support. Read the full story

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

The General Assembly’s 2009 Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) overhauled education in Kentucky, ending the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) and requiring the state Department of Education to establish new, clearer curriculum standards that are better aligned for college readiness and global competition, among other things.

However, even superintendents had trouble digesting all the changes – and they had more information than most people, according to Sandra Johnson, superintendent of the Hazard Independent school district.

So she was one of the first people to take advantage when Kentucky Educational Television (KET) released online training modules about SB 1 in August. She came away impressed. Read the full story

KET and the Kentucky Department of Education, through their joint e-Learning Kentucky grant, have 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 (SB 1) (KRS 158.6453 and others). Each module includes readings, videos and interactive exercises. Read the full story

Superintendent Sam Sanders receives the Dr. Johnnie Grissom Award (Strive for Achievement Through Instructional Equity) on behalf of the LaRue County school district from Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday during the Kentucky Board of Education meeting Dec. 8 in Frankfort. The Dr. Johnnie Grissom Award is presented annually to an individual or group with outstanding accomplishments to help all students achieve at high levels through instructional equity and to closing the achievement gap. Photo by Amy Wallot

Commissioner hopes to replace NCLB with career and college readiness-focused system

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

Kentucky’s new assessment and accountability system will drive schools and districts to improve to make sure students graduate college and career ready by validly measuring how students, schools and districts perform relative to their peers and reporting those results in specific and understandable ways.

Those are some of the goals and guiding principles of the new system, mandated by 2009’s Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), that members of the Kentucky Board of Education agreed on at their December meeting. Read the full story

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

The state’s proposed new accountability system would encompass more than how students perform on tests, according to a proposal presented to the Kentucky Board of Education.  The proposed model incorporates all aspects of school and district work and includes measures of principal and teacher effectiveness and school and district support. Read the full story

Art teacher George McKee helps then 4th-grade student Ashley Howell create an African mask at E.P. Ward Elementary School (Fleming County) May 28, 2010. E.P. Ward Elementary is one of 48 schools from 34 districts that piloted Program Reviews in writing, arts and humanities, and practical living/career studies this past spring. Photo by Amy Wallot

Terra Greer, principal at E.P. Ward Elementary School (Fleming County), learned something interesting while piloting Program Reviews, a new way for measuring how well Kentucky schools are teaching students writing and arts and humanities. She could not find evidence to demonstrate how well her school was providing students with opportunities in the arts and humanities.

“In light of the program review results, we will be making some slight changes to the writing program, but our arts and humanities program will be undergoing a whole new scope and sequence,” Greer said. Read the full story

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: Read the full story

A new school year is beginning for Kentucky teachers and students. Here at the Department of Education, we’ve kept busy watching a special legislative session to pass a new two-year budget, submitting the state’s application for Phase 2 of Race to the Top and preparing for this transitional year before changes are implemented as a result of 2009’s Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). There’s a lot going on, and I’d like to take this opportunity to give you the highlights of where we are and where we’re heading this coming school year. Read the full story