The results of the 2011 Kentucky Facilities Inventory and Classification System (KFICS) project are now available on the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) website.

The reports show the list of schools with Kentucky School Scores and the individual School Reports with details of the assessment, such as general school information, deficiencies identified, educational suitability and technology readiness criteria evaluated.

As mandated by 2010’s Senate Bill 132, this project assessed the physical condition, educational suitability and technology readiness of the schools relative to Kentucky’s regulations and standards.

KDE contracted with an independent, third-party vendor to perform on-site evaluations of approximately one-third of the school buildings. Parsons Commercial Technology Group, along with its partner, MGT of America, visited 477 school buildings across the state that house 485 instructional programs. These schools were identified based on their previous designation as Category 3 or Category 4 buildings as of September 2010.

In all, the reports estimate $3.7 billion in upgrades and improvements are needed for the schools that were assessed. That figure rises to $7.4 billion if the schools were replaced through new construction.

The Kentucky School Score is a weighted score that combines the physical condition (75 percent), educational suitability (20 percent) and technology readiness (5 percent) scores. The dollar values identified in the reports are high-level budget estimates based on national averages. Detailed estimates would be needed prior to any specific construction projects.

The intent of this work is to provide the General Assembly with data that can be used to inform school building funding decisions. Districts and schools also can use the findings to improve deficient areas identified in the individual School Reports.