Child and Adult Care Food Program eligibility guidelines revised
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set the income eligibility guidelines for students and adults to participate in free, reduced-price meal programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for 2026-2027. The CACFP is federally funded through the USDA and is administered by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Division of School and Community Nutrition.
KDE presents OSEEL GUIDES workshop series to support new leaders in early learning and special education
Designed specifically for administrators in their first or second year, OSEEL GUIDES provides support as participants navigate the responsibilities and opportunities of educational leadership.
Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council starting project to encourage more student involvement in local school boards
Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council voted to start a new year-long project to explore ways to make student representation more meaningful, especially where school and district decisions are being made, during their meeting on Aug. 25. The council’s year-long project to develop recommendations will be presented to Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher by next spring.
KDE Research Blog on Chronic Absenteeism: Reading Between the Lines – From Surface Level Data to Deep Insights
By examining health-related challenges, social barriers, and household logistics — from mental health and housing instability to transportation gaps — this post highlights how districts can use student well-being data and class-level attendance patterns to address root causes, remove systemic hurdles, and better support families.
KDE Research Blog on Chronic Absenteeism: Expanding State-Level Support: Attendance Recovery in Kentucky
The second post explores how the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is moving beyond traditional data tracking and punitive measures toward proactive, community-centered solutions.
Shining a spotlight on some of the best educators in Kentucky
With the 2027 Kentucky Teacher of the Year ceremony on Sept. 9, now is a perfect time to highlight just how special the educators in Kentucky are to the communities they call home.
Free professional learning resource available to help with OpenSciEd
Starting Strong is a self-guided professional learning experience designed especially for teachers who are beginning OpenSciEd without having had an opportunity to participate in professional learning beforehand.
Franklin County High School cooks up win in School Garden Challenge
Franklin County High School cooked up a winner at the Kentucky State Fair. Its squash soup, made with ingredients grown largely in the school garden, earned the top spot among eight teams in the second annual School Garden Challenge.