In order to address the need for leaders who are prepared to lead effectively in the Cohort 3 Priority Schools and improve outcomes for students, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) intends to apply for the Turnaround School Leaders Program, a new competitive grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Turnaround School Leaders Program supports efforts to develop and implement or enhance and implement a leadership pipeline for School Improvement Grant (SIG) schools in a local education agency (LEA) or a consortium of LEAs. Should KDE receive this grant, it will be able to:

  • Recruit and select promising current and prospective school leaders, using locally-adopted competencies identified by the applicant as necessary to turn around SIG  schools;
  • Provide high-quality training to selected school leaders to better prepare them to successfully lead turnaround efforts in SIG schools;
  • Place school leaders in SIG schools and provide them with ongoing professional development and other support that focuses on instructional leadership and school management and is based on individual needs consistent with the LEA’s plan      for turning around its SIG school(s); and
  • Retain effective school leaders, using financial or other incentives, and replace ineffective  school leaders.

Those wishing to comment should send those comments to: Donna Tackett at donna.tackett@education.ky.gov. The deadline for comments is Tuesday, May 13, 4 p.m. ET.

For more information regarding this grant opportunity, visit:  www2.ed.gov/programs/turnaroundschlldr/index.html.