Superintendents received an update on the third administration of the Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey during the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Superintendents Webcast on Jan. 16.
The biennial survey – which was administered from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 – offers every certified educator in Kentucky the opportunity to provide input on conditions that can be used to inform school, district and state improvements.
Byron Darnall, associate commissioner in the KDE Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, explained that responders to the survey appeared more positive about several topics included in the survey, including:
- Emotional well-being and belonging: 7% improvement;
- Education for all students: 3% improvement;
- School leadership: 3% improvement;
- School climate: 3% improvement;
- Professional learning: 3% improvement; and
- Staff-leadership relationships: 2% improvement.
Darnall said participation in the survey has also gone up compared to the last round:
- 2021-2022: 75.9% response rate
- 2023-2024: 77.5% response rate
“We’re pleased to see that participation is on the rise,” said Darnall.
Participation went up in three of the four grade-spans: pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade, 4th grade through 5th grade and 9th grade through 12th grade.
Superintendents will receive access to results from Panorama with the ability to download into a PDF and share with administrators on Jan. 30. The public link will be open on Feb. 6.
Darnall also provided an update on the Kentucky Educational Careers Attrition Survey, created by House Bill 319 (2023). Superintendents received a link in July to share with any employee who voluntarily left a position. The survey is designed to gather data from educators on why they’re leaving their current position or the teaching profession.
Darnall said KDE has not received enough responses to provide a statewide analysis. Districts with more than 10 responses may fill out a request form and receive their responses.
Legislative Update
The Kentucky General Assembly began the 2024 regular legislative session on Jan. 2. Brian Perry, KDE director of government relations, provided an update on the current legislative calendar, which wraps up April 15.
This year, lawmakers will pass a two-year budget. Gov. Andy Beshear already has proposed his budget, which has been filed as House Bill 114. The House proposal is expected to be filed soon.
Perry said there hasn’t been much movement on any other bills yet.
“It’s been a fairly slow start,” he said.
But there are several bills worth watching, Perry said, including measures dealing with the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE), artificial intelligence, numeracy and charter school funding.
Other business:
- KDE Associate Commissioner Matt Ross of KDE’s Office of Finance and Operations told superintendents that KDE will soon offer trainings to help districts comply with state and federal procurement statutes and regulations and local board policies; and
- KDE Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel Todd Allen and Associate Commissioner David Couch of KDE’s Office of Education Technology informed superintendents of a new ad hoc reporting tool that’s available to districts to facilitate legislative graduation citations for 8th- and 12th-grade students.
The next Superintendents Webcast is scheduled for Feb. 13.
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