What's Happening in Kentucky Schools

KBE approves changes to alternative education program monitoring, corporal punishment during special meeting

(FRANKFORT, KY) – As part of the regulatory review process for two regulations approved during its December meeting, the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) held a special meeting on March 15 to review two statements of consideration and proposed amendments based on submitted public comments.

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Two Kentucky elementary schools named 2021 National ESEA Distinguished Schools

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) has named two Kentucky schools as National ESEA Distinguished Schools during its national conference on Feb. 16-19. The two are among 49 schools nationwide to receive the honor.

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Remote Work (and School) Will Continue Growing

Education is all about preparing our students for the world. Not surprisingly, remote work (and school) will continue growing.

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Kentucky celebrates 85 new National Board Certified Teachers

FRANKFORT, KY) – Kentucky recognized 85 teachers newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) during a Feb. 10 virtual ceremony.

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Results of 2022 Impact Kentucky survey show COVID’s impact on the state’s educators

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) on Feb. 10 released results from the 2022 Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey, which asks all certified school staff about their working conditions and helps improve the environment for educators across the Commonwealth.

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Kentucky Board of Education discusses state’s path to Profile of a Graduate

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) is taking steps to create a statewide Profile of a Graduate, which is a vision statement describing what a learner should know and be able to do before they graduate high school.

The board heard an update on building this statewide profile from David Cook, director of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Division of Innovation, during its Feb. 9 meeting at the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB).

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Applications open for Kentucky Board of Education nonvoting student and teacher members for 2022-2023

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Applications are now being accepted for the ex-officio nonvoting student and teacher members of the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). The selected student and teacher members will serve a one-year term from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

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KDE releases guidance on COVID-19 remote learning flexibilities, Senate Bill 25

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has released a new guidance document, "Guidance for COVID-19 Remote Learning Flexibilities," to support districts as they navigate the extended flexibility of temporary remote learning.

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Kentucky students chosen for 2022 U.S. Senate Youth Program

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Arnav Dharmagadda, a junior at Russell High School (Greenup County) and Lauren Wood, a junior at duPont Manual High School (Jefferson County), were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the national 104-student delegation of the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), who also will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

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Senate Bill 1 is the Enemy of Collaboration in Principal Selection

One common thread emerged from all the speakers who testified both for and against SB1—the importance of collaboration. A superintendent who testified in support of Senate Bill 1 said it well when she talked about the commonalities between the effective districts and councils. She explained that the one thing they had in common was that there was “collaboration among all of those groups.”  She said that even if Senate Bill 1 passes and the superintendents were given the power to select the principal, she wouldn’t change anything about the current process. 

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Nominations open for 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Kentucky Teacher Awards, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline Inc.

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JASON E. GLASS | Now is the time for Kentuckians to work together to create a new future in education

It’s been a little over a year now since I joined the Kentucky Department of Education as its commissioner. During that time, my focus has been on listening to the people of my home state telling us what is working in education in the Commonwealth and where we need to improve.

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2021 Kentucky Teacher of Year Donnie Piercey presents Year in Review to KBE


(FRANKFORT, KY) – As his year as 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year (KTOY) comes to a close, Donnie Piercey had the opportunity to reflect on his past year before passing the torch to the 2022 KTOY winner Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.

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New SBDM Regulation Allows Additional Voting Members

On November 30, 2021, regulation 701 KAR 5:100 took effect which provides new guidelines for school-based decision making alternative models.  The changes were unanimously approved by the Kentucky Board of Education in April. School councils may add additional voting members, such as students, additional parents, classified staff, and community members to their council’s membership through an Alternative SBDM Application process.

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Gov. Beshear signs proclamation declaring Family Engagement in Education Week in Kentucky

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Gov. Andy Beshear kicked off Family Engagement in Education Week at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort on Nov. 15 by signing a proclamation designating it as a statewide celebration of families and schools.

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Registration is Now Open for the Educators Rising Kentucky State Conference

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)

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Kentucky State Funding is Available for All Public School Students’ 2022 AP Exams

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.

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expands to help more young children in Kentucky develop a love of reading

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE) Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) has announced the statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book gifting program to Kentucky.

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Kentucky Department of Public Health Releases SB 1 Guidance on Test to Stay

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.

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KDE develops guidance to accelerate student learning

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is continuing to work with school boards and districts to help them address the diverse accelerated learning needs of students due to interrupted learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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