Kentucky
April 30, 2015
KY: State Clarifies Testing Plan This Spring, Uses for Data
March 25, 2021
Kentucky officials have clarified guidance for schools and districts on the state’s plan for administering spring assessments this year and using the results to inform instruction, guide supports, and depict pandemic learning loss. Education Commissioner Jason Glass, discussing Kentucky’s assessment plan in light of updated...
Kentucky Thinktank Blasts State Education Department’s Release of Poor Quality School Spending Data
November 16, 2020
In a new report, the Bluegrass Institute harshly criticizes the quality of school spending data recently released by Kentucky education officials as a 2018-19 requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The report states that Kentucky’s data is too general to be useful, as the...
Kentucky DOE Releases Limited School Report Cards
October 14, 2020
The Kentucky Department of Education released their latest state school report cards recently, though noting that due to the cancellation of spring assessments amid Covid-19 school closures, this year’s report cards feature little of the accountability and performance data typically required. State officials noted that...
Following Per-Pupil Expenditure Data in Kentucky
July 13, 2020
This piece from the Bluegrass Institute takes a look at recently added per-pupil expenditure data on Kentucky’s school report cards. According to the analysis, there are errors within the data that lead to an inaccurate picture of how much each school is actually spending on...
State Lawmakers Push for Changes to Kentucky’s School Rating System
April 16, 2020
Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill last week that would change the state’s brand-new accountability rating system. “If signed by the governor, the measure would scrap the state’s 1-year-old 5-star rating system, and replace it with a color-coded speedometer.” A spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Education noted...
Legislation to Alter Kentucky’s School Accountability System Advances Out of Committee
February 27, 2020
State lawmakers in Kentucky advanced a bill that “would alter Kentucky’s school accountability system” out of the Senate Education Committee. The legislation would “gauge student achievement on annual K-PREP results, called ‘status,’ and improvement over time, called ‘change.’” The amended version of the bill gives...
Kentucky’s New Accountability System Launches
September 23, 2019
Kentucky’s latest assessment scores are scheduled to be released today, and for “the first time, the state’s public schools will be rated with one to five stars, with five being the highest performing.” Schools “that would have received four or five stars for their performances...
Kentucky Law Puts Federal Funding at Risk
September 17, 2019
“Kentucky education officials had to scramble after learning a new state law ran afoul of federal education law, putting funding in jeopardy,” writes Olivia Krauth for the Louisville Courier Journal. “During the legislative session this year, state lawmakers passed a bill changing how schools are identified...
New Kentucky Accountability System
September 13, 2019
Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. provides an update on his state’s new 5-star accountability system, which is set to roll out later this month or early next and offer parents new and more transparent ways to understand the performance of their children’s schools....
Kentucky Prepares to Roll Out Star Rating System
September 6, 2019
This fall, the Kentucky Department of Education will roll out its ESSA-based school rating system, reports Liz Schlemmer for WKY NPR. “Kentucky is designing its star system right now,” and the Kentucky Department of Education “has brought together a committee of superintendents and principals and...
Kentucky Looking to Change Accountability System Again?
May 30, 2019
According to Olivia Krauth at Insider Louisville, Kentucky’s school accountability system will soon change due to passage or recent legislation. “The state changed how it identifies schools for additional support last year in compliance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act,” and then “rolled out...
Kentucky Legislators Wrangle Over Identifying Schools for State Support
February 14, 2019
Kevin Wheatley reports for WDRB that a bill that would “change how Kentucky schools are identified for additional state support based on student performance” under ESSA “may be revised based on concerns raised” by Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis. “Instead of comparing test scores of student...
Kentucky Launches Online School Report Card
January 19, 2019
According to the Owensboro Times, the Kentucky Department of Education has unveiled the state’s School Report Card, an online platform that “includes data metrics and visualizations to highlight key information about schools and districts.” ESSA requires that, each state create an “online school report card...
KY Rolling Out New Accountability Measures
September 8, 2018
Interim Kentucky Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis writes in the Courier Journal about the state’s new ESSA-based accountability plan, and what it means for students, schools, and districts. “Any new accountability system or any new measure of school performance highlights new areas for growth, and...
Kentucky keeps on truckin’ on its ESSA plan
March 12, 2018
“Kentucky’s academic standards will undergo a second series of revisions and schools will begin receiving new report cards that should provide more clarity on grades under” its ESSA plan, writes Jessica R. Towhey. Kentucky officials are still waiting for final approval from the U.S. Department of Education,...
State Receives Federal Feedback on ESSA Plan
December 21, 2017
The U.S. Department of Education provided feedback to state education officials “based on its initial review of the plan submitted in September.” Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt stated in response that, overall, he is “pleased with where we are in the process and the feedback...
State Plan Submissions and Drafts
October 17, 2017
Approved State Plans Alabama: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Alaska: Final Plan Approved (5/16/18) Arizona: Final Plan Approved (9/6/17) Arkansas: Final Plan Approved (1/16/18) Colorado: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Connecticut: Final Plan Approved (8/15/17) Delaware: Final Plan Approved (8/2/17) District of Columbia: Final Plan Approved (8/28/17) Georgia:...
KY Board of Ed Approves State’s ESSA Plan
August 24, 2017
After “more than a year of town halls and meetings,” the Kentucky Board of Education has approved the state’s ESSA plan, which will now will be submitted to Gov. Matt Bevin and the U.S. Department of Education for review.
KY Seeks Public Comment on State’s ESSA Plan
August 17, 2017
The Kentucky Department of Education is seeking feedback on its plan for public education in the state. Kentucky’s plan is scheduled to be submitted Sept. 18.
KY Education Leaders Share Opinions on State’s Draft ESSA Plan
July 22, 2017
Local education leaders are having “mixed reactions” to the state’s draft ESSA plan. Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton said he’s satisfied with the currently proposed changes, but “you have to come to an agreement about what is a reasonable approach.” Brigitte Blom Ramsey, executive...
KY Dept. of Ed Releases Draft ESSA Plan
June 8, 2017
Kentucky Dept. of Education released another draft of the state’s ESSA plan. The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence raised concerns including that “more work is needed to achieve KDE’s aspiration of promoting a strong educational experience for all Kentucky students.” Prichard Committee Executive Director Brigitte...
Kentucky Chamber Foundation Releases Accountability and School Performance Guide
May 25, 2017
The Kentucky Chamber Foundation released a guide to accountability and school performance in education under ESSA. The report highlights the state requirements for accountability and “points out that students have made strong gains in Kentucky over the past several years.” The report also found that...
KY Education Stakeholders Comment on SB1
May 13, 2017
In the Bowling Green Daily News, education stakeholders commented that SB1 is a “first step toward better education.” According to leaders, the bill “implements the federal Every Student Succeeds Act in our state, and in so doing returns local decision-making authority to our state and...
KY Ed Commissioner Hosts Stakeholders to Discuss ESSA
April 21, 2017
Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt hosted stakeholders to discuss the state’s proposed accountability system under ESSA. A new dashboard system would measure “school’s outcomes based on proficiency, achievement gap closure, student growth, transition readiness and opportunity and access.” According to Pruitt, “the tone has actually...
Kentucky Announces New Round of Public Forums
March 13, 2017
Kentucky State Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt announced a series of forums for the public to comment on the state’s accountability system under ESSA. According to Pruitt, the comments gained at the meetings “ensure opportunity and access to a quality education for all.”
KY Community Members and Organizations Discuss Closing the Achievement Gap
November 22, 2016
The Louisville Urban League, Louisville and Kentucky chapters of the NAACP, and the Prichard Committee facilitated a discussion with community members and Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt on ESSA. Topics included closing the achievement gap, the state’s new accountability system, and underprivileged students.
KY Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt Comments on ESSA
September 4, 2016
Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt commented on ESSA in an interview, specifically noting his comments to Congress during a hearing this summer. “I couldn’t sit idly by and be quiet about something that I think was going against what the intent of [ESSA] was… I...
KY Dept. of Ed Focuses on Implementing ESSA with New Accountability System
July 25, 2016
The second meeting of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Accountability Steering Committee focused on how to implement ESSA with a new Kentucky accountability system last week. Participants agreed that Kentucky needs to get an accountability system right while trying to navigate both state and federal...
July 15, 2016
Kentucky Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions last week. He commended the passing of the new law, saying this is both a “civil rights law and an education law.” Like other panelists, he expressed...
Kentuckians Define School Success Under ESSA
June 7, 2016
State Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt will host a virtual town hall meeting to gather feedback from Kentuckians on how they define school success in light of the state’s transition under ESSA. Commissioner Pruitt held 11 previous in-person town hall meetings on this matter in March...
Dept. of Ed Release List of Upcoming Education Town Hall Meetings
June 2, 2016
The Dept. of Education has released their list of education town hall meetings on ESSA. The next meeting is May 29th. Read more here.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Releases State ESSA Primers
May 16, 2016
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s primers include individual state by state accountability system fact sheets, which detail each state’s current accountability system, what could change under ESSA, and what to be asking state leaders. See details about your state here.
KY Commissioner of Education to Soon Name Steering Committee Focused on ESSA
April 17, 2016
Kentucky Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt told the media that a revised accountability system under ESSA would be “fair, reliable, easier to understand and more meaningful for kids.” He also announced he soon would name a steering committee, which represents all groups of stakeholders, including...