(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – After more than a year-and-a-half of extensive outreach and engagement efforts, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has submitted its Consolidated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to the United States Department of Education (USED). The version of the plan submitted to USED can be found on the KDE website.

The plan details the implementation of the ESSA in Kentucky and how federal education dollars will be spent.

“My thanks to every Kentuckian who had a part in this plan – and there were thousands,” Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt said. “While development of the plan hasn’t been easy and not everyone has always agreed, it has been a collaborative effort from the beginning, with the participation of Kentucky educators, parents, students, legislators, business people, education partners and community members.

“I feel confident that together we have crafted a plan that not only reflects Kentucky’s values, but also will move us ahead in education. At the heart of the plan is a new accountability system for schools and districts that focuses efforts on closing the achievement gap and ensuring each student is successful and ready for the next step.”

Kentucky’s consolidated state plan is designed to ensure that:

  • resources are allocated to support the learning of all students;
  • all students have access to rigorous academic standards, coursework and aligned assessments;
  • all students have the opportunity for rich learning experiences and a well-rounded and supportive education, including opportunities in career and technical education;
  • the state’s accountability system moves away from a system of competition to one of collaboration among schools and districts, and away from a mentality of compliance in favor of a mindset that promotes continuous improvement;
  • the school report card provides a more complete and transparent view of each school’s and district’s strengths and weaknesses; and
  • support is provided to schools with low performance and very low-performing student groups.

KDE considered all comments that were submitted during the public comment period that ended Sept. 5. Several changes were made to the plan as a result of the comments.

Kentucky is one of 34 states that opted to submit its plan by the Sept. 18 deadline. This submission begins the dialogue with USED officials about the plan and whether they will request any changes before approving it.

Of the 16 states and the District of Columbia that submitted plans in spring of 2017, nearly all have been approved to date – most without substantive changes.