Attendees collaborate during a group activity at the Kentucky Leadership Development Program listening session in Lexington, KY on Sept. 15, 2026. Photo by Myles Young, Kentucky Department of Education, Sept. 15, 2026
(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) hosted a series of regional listening sessions this month, gathering input from principals, superintendents and educational partners across the Commonwealth as the department develops the Kentucky Leadership Development Program, a new statewide initiative established in response to Senate Bill 4 (2026).
The sessions – held in Bowling Green on Sept. 14, in Lexington on Sept. 15 and in Hazard on Sept. 16 – were hosted by KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support.
Senate Bill (SB) 4 directs KDE to establish a statewide principal leadership development practicum. The department has grounded that work in the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, a national framework that defines effective school leadership.
The legislation identifies seven mandated topics that the program must address:
- Personnel evaluation and feedback;
- School-based decision making and councils;
- Implementing instructional leadership;
- High-quality instructional materials and curriculum alignment;
- Assessment and accountability;
- Multi-Tiered Systems of Support;
- Services for exceptional children and youth; and
- School safety.
KDE is designing the Kentucky Leadership Development Program so that each of these seven areas is addressed through three connected domains of leadership development: the knowledge required to understand the research and systems behind the work, the skills required to apply that knowledge and lead effectively, and the core values that shape how a principal leads with integrity and empathy. This structure is intended to translate the statutory requirements of SB 4 into a program that meaningfully strengthens principal leadership across the Commonwealth and was central to the input KDE sought during the listening sessions.
The purpose of the listening sessions was to gather direct, practical input from those who understand principal leadership firsthand, ensuring that the Kentucky Leadership Development Program reflects the realities of the role rather than being developed without the input of the leaders it is meant to serve.
Participants identified and prioritized key topics within each domain; the knowledge, skills and core values needed for principals, and collaborated on important next steps as this program moves from development to implementation.
Additional information about the Kentucky Leadership Development Program is available by emailing Nick Pannell.
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