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.
Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council started discussing a proposed project on postsecondary readiness and the role of the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) during their meeting on Dec. 9.
The Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) proudly joins the nation in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – a landmark law that transformed public education for students with disabilities.
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.
As a former teacher, I believe there is no higher calling within a profession than to be a teacher. One of the joys I have each year as commissioner of education is to celebrate our best during the Kentucky Teacher of the Year ceremony.
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff presented data on the 2025 Kentucky Educator Shortage Survey to school superintendents during the Superintendents Webcast on Oct. 14.
Kentucky students in the class of 2025 performed among the top of states testing 100% of their students on the ACT college admissions exam, according to data released by ACT on Oct. 15. Kentucky students in the graduating class of 2025 earned an average composite score of 18.4 on the ACT. The most recent set of test information is used for students testing more than once. A total of 77 students earned a perfect score of 36.
One of the premier events KDE hosts each year to further this effort is the Continuous Improvement Summit each September.