Perhaps the most joyful part of the role of education commissioner is the ability to show thanks to so many people who are involved in educating and supporting our children across the Commonwealth.
Kentucky superintendents heard the latest on efforts to combat chronic absenteeism with the You Belong! - Attendance Matters campaign during the Superintendents Webcast on Dec. 11.
Students from across Kentucky are getting the chance to make videos and posters showing what makes their school special in a new contest to combat chronic absenteeism.
Each year, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) releases assessment and accountability results for students, schools and districts across the Commonwealth. They serve as a reminder of where we are with our collective efforts to improve the education Kentucky’s children receive in the classroom.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) publicly released assessment and accountability data for the 2024-2025 school year on Nov. 19, as required by state statute and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, showing students performed better in 2025 than they have in recent years across several grade levels and subjects.
Members of the Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council met for the first time of the 2025-2026 school year on Oct. 30, discussing objectives for the council, strategies to address chronic absenteeism and suicide prevention.
The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time, and I wish nothing but the best for our students and our educators as the year progresses. This has always been my favorite time of the year, welcoming students, educators and staff back into the buildings, filled with joy and the passion to learn.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has launched a new statewide campaign – You Belong! Attendance Matters – to raise awareness about the importance of regular school attendance.
In Kentucky, chronic absenteeism is a significant barrier to academic success, especially for students in rural areas and those facing economic hardships.
Leaders with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) informed superintendents about a new professional learning hub for Kentucky educators during the Superintendents Webcast meeting on Aug. 12.