Jim Flynn gestures while talking to a woman on the Kentucky United We Learn Council.

Jim Flynn was named vice chair of the Kentucky United We Learn Council during its spring convening on April 25-26. During the meeting, members were invited to join a work group focused on a specific topic to aid the council’s accountability proposal design process. Photo by Crystal Sicard, Kentucky Department of Education, April 26, 2024

Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Kentucky United We Learn Council elected a new vice chair and discussed the next steps in the development of prototypes for a new accountability system during their spring convening on April 25-26.

Penny Christian will now be serving as the new chair, along with Jim Flynn as the vice chair.

“In positions of leadership, it is critical we understand the necessity for flexibility and growth,” said Christian. “As I begin my tenure as chair of the Kentucky United We Learn Council, I look forward to continuing the goal of co-creation while keeping our moonshot as our north. Every student in the Commonwealth is counting on us.”

Audrey Gilbert, who has served as the Kentucky United We Learn chair for the past year and a half, expressed her love and passion for the group of stakeholders who come together to create opportunities in education for students.

“I am honored to have served as the first chair of the Kentucky United We Learn Council,” said Gilbert. “Watching this passionate group of stakeholders come together and grapple with the tough questions to create a vibrant education system for our state gave me great confidence in our future.

“Through my time as chair, I am proud to have been a part of this effort and I am excited to see where the work goes. I am so thankful for this experience and greatly appreciate everyone who has encouraged and supported me along the way.”

Developing a Meaningful Accountability System
Interim Commissioner of Education Robin Fields Kinney praised the members for their ongoing efforts to achieve the council’s ambitious goal. In November 2023, the council identified a moonshot that is both aspirational and achievable, aiming to support the launch of a new accountability system that is meaningful and useful to all learners.

In a departure from the council’s previous committee structure, members were invited to join a work group focused on a specific topic to aid the council’s accountability proposal design process. The four work groups are:

  • Menu of Options: This work group is exploring how a menu of options accountability indicator could support vibrant learning experiences across the state and contribute to a more meaningful and useful Kentucky accountability system for all learners.
  • Learning from Local Districts: This work group is exploring diverse practices to foster a personalized, relevant and engaging education system. By conducting site visits and engaging with districts, the group aims to link local innovations with an understanding of vibrant learning. The work group supports the council’s moonshot by using local innovations to create an accountable and impactful education system in Kentucky that encourages deeper learning through vibrant learning experiences.
  • District Supports for Quality: This group is aiming to create a series of materials, tools and processes to support local districts in developing flexible but rigorous local systems of assessment and accountability, informing the state system of assessment and accountability.
  • Engaging and Communicating with Communities: This workgroup is ensuring broad and diverse representation of stakeholder voices in the council, beyond council membership, and to reach those same voices and more when sharing about the work of the Kentucky United We Learn Council.

The work groups will continue meeting periodically ahead of the next full council meeting in the fall of 2024.