Registration is Now Open for the Educators Rising Kentucky State Conference

• Date: March 3, 2022
• Location: Bellarmine University, 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville
• Time: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

Registration is now open. Each student be must registered individually and may compete in a maximum of two events. Also, each school is allowed a maximum of two competitors per event – or one team of 2-4 competitors – per event. Guidelines and rubrics for 2022 competitions can be found in the members section under student resources-National Competitions (pdkintl.org)

For the first time, the Kentucky General Assembly has included additional funding for Advanced Placement (AP) Exams for all public school students for the 2021-22 school year. Kentucky also will continue to provide full AP Exam coverage for low-income public school students and for AP computer science exams.

During the recent 2021 General Assembly Special Session, Senate Bill 1 was enacted to address various public school operations that have been impacted by the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic. In Section 4 of SB 1, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) was directed to develop a COVID-19 “Test to Stay” model plan that may be implemented by school districts – in whole or in part – to minimize the impact of quarantining non-symptomatic students, allowing them to stay in the classroom.

The Kentucky Branch of the English-Speaking Union (ESU) is inviting schools across the state to compete in 2022 Shakespeare Competition on Feb. 20 at the Commonwealth Theatre Center in Louisville.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – As the Kentucky General Assembly's special session rolls on in Frankfort, the Senate Standing Committee on Education voted to amend Senate Bill (SB) 1, removing a section encouraging districts to develop vaccination incentive plans.

The original bill encouraged districts to create incentive plans for staff and student vaccinations. It also would have forbidden “intimidation tactics or negative incentives.”

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has released a new guidance document, Guidance for Offering a Hybrid Performance-Based Schedule, to support districts in implementing a hybrid schedule for grades 5-12 by utilizing their board’s policy on performance-based courses. Districts may use a hybrid schedule at the request of students and families as an additional COVID-19 mitigation strategy to assist with social distancing.

The Kentucky Department of Education has updated their guidance on SBDM elections and now allows parent groups and teachers to hold elections online electronically, in person, or a combination of both. Electronic elections were an option during the first COVID peak, but with this new KDE guidance, the option of electronic elections is available all the time.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) released new guidance on July 28 for schools on recommended masking guidelines ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – High school and college students from across Kentucky who are looking to pursue careers in education participated in the 2021 Educators Rising National Conference, which was held virtually June 24-27.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Eighteen Kentucky public high school students have been named to the 2021-2022 Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) announced on May 28.

KDE kicks off summer learning initiative to promote literacy and mathematics

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education has launched its Summer Boost: Reading and Mathematics Program, along with a series of Summer Support webpages, in partnership with The Children’s Reading Foundation, Scholastic and the Summer Food Service Program. 

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking input from a diverse group of stakeholders as it develops plans for the use of its portion of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds.

During a “normal” year, students eat together, play games together, laugh together, cry together, and grow together. But this year, the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant students have fewer opportunities to interact meaningfully and authentically with each other—often having their togetherness reduced to a Zoom room.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council received assessment and accountability updates from department leadership during a March 16 virtual meeting.

Schools provide many services that aid children’s development, well-being, and academic success. Key providers include mental health agencies, social workers, school counselors, and nurses, as well as school officials and other employees. Yet quite possibly the most important component of these services—often overlooked—is the parent.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Public school students in grades 10-12 are invited to apply for 14 vacant positions on the 2021-2022 Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council, a group that provides input to the Kentucky commissioner of education.