The U.S. Department of Education has asked Westat to conduct national focus groups to inform the planning of two national meetings on College and Career Ready Standards and Educator Evaluation Systems that will be held in March 2012.

Three states — Florida, Idaho and Kentucky — have been selected to conduct the focus groups. The findings from the qualitative data collected from the focus groups will be used to better inform the planning of the national meetings in March.

Westat will conduct interviews with three panel groups representing district administration, school-building administrators and teachers from the Bullitt, Jessamine and Magoffin County school districts. Group discussions with Westat have been scheduled for Friday, February 17 at KDE. Representatives from the Division of Next-Generation Professionals and Division of Program Standards will represent Kentucky at the national panel discussion in Washington, D.C.