The Every Student Succeeds Act – the federal law that governs K-12 public education – the phrase “parent and family engagement” is used in lieu of “parental involvement.” While that seems like a minor change, I think it is a big shift in how we think about the relationship between families and our schools.
Starting this month, you’ll begin hearing much more about our new school accountability system and what it means for each district, school and student.
Does handing a diploma to a high school graduate mean that he or she is ready to succeed in the next phase of life? Under Kentucky’s current graduation requirements, the answer is no, which is why I believe now is the time for us to make significant revisions to our requirements.
Following my recommendation to place Jefferson County Public Schools in state management, some school leaders, teachers and parents outside Louisville have asked “will our district be next?” The simple answer is “no,”
Traditional public schools have been and will continue to be the primary vehicle for delivering instruction to our students, but public charter schools may provide a much-needed opportunity for a high-quality education for some of our Commonwealth's most at-risk children.
It’s been eight years since any significant changes have been made to Kentucky’s graduation requirements. Eight years is a long time in our economy.
As parents and educators, we need to recognize that teaching children to be literate citizens has its place in all of the classes we teach in Kentucky’s schools.
2018 holds the potential for foundational changes that will lead to a stronger and more effective system of public education in Kentucky. However, we are at a pivotal point in the Commonwealth.
One of the curious things in education is while we tend to seek input from educators, parents and community members when making policy decisions, we don’t always seek input from those who are affected most by those decisions – the students.
The role of the school counselor has changed pretty dramatically since most of us were in school. At the Kentucky Department of Education, we realize the important role that counselors play in each and every school.