Tag: Commissioner’s Comments

We have reached the point in Kentucky’s history when change to our minimum standards for high school graduation is necessary to ensure that our children are well-prepared for postsecondary education and the workforce.

The Every Student Succeeds Act – the federal law that governs K-12 public education – the phrase “parent and family engagement” is used in lieu of “parental involvement.” While that seems like a minor change, I think it is a big shift in how we think about the relationship between families and our schools.

Starting this month, you’ll begin hearing much more about our new school accountability system and what it means for each district, school and student.

Does handing a diploma to a high school graduate mean that he or she is ready to succeed in the next phase of life? Under Kentucky’s current graduation requirements, the answer is no, which is why I believe now is the time for us to make significant revisions to our requirements.

Following my recommendation to place Jefferson County Public Schools in state management, some school leaders, teachers and parents outside Louisville have asked “will our district be next?” The simple answer is “no,”

Traditional public schools have been and will continue to be the primary vehicle for delivering instruction to our students, but public charter schools may provide a much-needed opportunity for a high-quality education for some of our Commonwealth's most at-risk children.