The Kentucky Department of Education released two new guidance documents on April 30 to help districts work through how to safely handle graduation alternatives and other end-of- school procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Kentucky Department of Education released two new guidance documents on April 30 to help districts work through how to safely handle graduation alternatives and other end-of- school procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, May 27, 2016

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) released two new guidance documents on April 30 to help districts work through how to safely handle graduation alternatives and other end-of- school procedures during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The documents – COVID-19 Emergency Guidelines for End-of-School Procedures and COVID-19 Emergency Guidelines for Graduation Ceremonies and Related Year-End Activities – provide guidance and options and offer questions districts should consider when making decisions about what kind of alternative graduation ceremony to have and letting students back into buildings to retrieve belongings and return school property.

Since Kentucky is a local-control state, many of the decisions on how to move forward in this challenging time will be decided by local boards of education and school-based decision-making councils, in consultation with local health departments.

“We worked with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the governor’s office to ensure the options we are sharing with districts and questions we are asking them to consider keep students, families and communities safe,” said Interim Commissioner Kevin C. Brown.

“We know this is a difficult time for many of our students, especially our seniors, and their families. This guidance will give district and school leaders things to consider while making plans on how to best recognize their students and finish up the school year.”

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the guidance documents will continue to be updated and amended as required to meet the needs of Kentucky’s schools and districts.

KDE staff is continuing to provide information and support to educators, schools and districts to help ensure students are receiving high-quality instruction during the pandemic, which forced all of the state’s 172 public school districts to use the Non-Traditional Instruction Program. More guidance and resources can be found on the KDE COVID-19 website.

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