Title I Meetings for District Coordinators and Staff

KDE staff will host a series of meetings to provide updates and assist districts with Title I planning for the 2019-2020 school year. Topics will include information about school staffing requirements, supplement not supplant methodology, new KDE guidance on district set-asides and more. Morning sessions (9 a.m.-noon local time) and afternoon sessions (1-4 p.m. local time) will be offered. Please visit the registration link to register for the session of your choice.

The dates and locations of the meetings are:

• Tuesday, Feb. 12, West Kentucky Educational Cooperative Conference Center, 435 Outlet Ave., Eddyville
• Friday, Feb. 15, Kentucky Department of Education, 1st floor training room, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort
• Monday, Feb. 18, Southeast South-Central Educational Cooperative, London Training Center, 55 Waco Drive, London
• Thursday, Feb. 21, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, 904 Rose Road, Ashland
• Monday, Feb. 25, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services, 5516 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring
• Wednesday, Feb. 27, Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, 230 Technology Way, Bowling Green

Please direct questions about the meetings or registration to Tara Rodriguez at (502) 564-3791, ext. 4042.

Free Teen Depression Webinar on March 21

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free “Understanding Teen Depression” webinar 7-8:15 p.m. ET March 21. Presenter Rebekah Gibbons will provide an overview of teen depression. The webinar also will cover communication strategies for teens and parents; treatment options; where to get help; and what to do if help is refused.

The program is designed for parents, guardians, caregivers, youth workers and any adults interested in teen mental health. If you are worried about a teen, new to the topic, proactively seeking education, or in need of a refresher on teen depression, this webinar is for you. Visit the Families for Depression Awareness website to register.

Working Conditions Survey Moved to Fall

The Kentucky Department of Education is working through the request for proposals process to identify a vendor to administer the state’s working conditions survey. Because of the timelines for completing this process, the spring survey for 2019 will not be administered. Instead, KDE anticipates a survey administration will occur in the fall of 2019.

Once a vendor has been secured, KDE will provide detailed communications with timelines and guidance for the fall administration.

Because some districts identified the working conditions survey as a source of evidence in their certified evaluation plan, the Leadership Surveys webpage has been updated to provide guidance to support districts through the transition of the administration timeline.

If you have questions, please contact: Christine Meisberger at (502) 564-5846, ext. 4510, or christine.meisberger@education.ky.gov.

2019-2020 Course Codes Changes Available

The Course Codes Changes for 2019-20 are now available on the Kentucky Uniform Academic Course Codes webpage. An updated Deprecated Course Codes and What to Use Instead spreadsheet is also available for your convenience. If you have any questions about this year’s changes, please send them to the course codes team.

Title V, Rural Education Achievement Program

The U.S. Department of Education has posted the initial eligibility spreadsheet for the FY19 REAP grant on the REAP/SRSA website for your review. The spreadsheet contains initial eligibility for both Small Rural Schools Award (SRSA) and Rural Low Income Program (RLIS) grants. 

Please review your information for accuracy. If you have corrections or questions, please contact Vicki Fosbender at (502) 564-3791, ext. 4026, or at Vicki.Fosbender@education.ky.gov by Friday, Feb. 15. The application window for the SRSA grant is February 20-April 20.

Regional Kentucky Academic Standards Meetings Scheduled

In March, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will host regional meetings for school and district leaders to kick off a new professional learning series. The purpose of the meeting will be to assist districts with planning and the implementation of improved practice and strong instruction around newly revised standards.

The learning will be focused on understanding the revised Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading/Writing and Mathematics, orient participants to initial planning and team structures that need to be in place at the district and school level, and explore the digital platform designed for ongoing professional learning and support. Districts should send the leaders in their system that are most qualified to gather the information and bring it back to the larger team for dissemination and planning.

These sessions will be held in various locations across the state. Click on the date of the session to register for the session of your choice.

• March 7, Henderson – John James Audubon Park
• March 8, Paducah – Paducah Chamber of Commerce
• March 11, London – Southeast South-Central (SESC) London
• March 12, Hopkinsville – James E. Bruce Convention Center
• March 14, Russell Springs – Russell County Natatorium
• March 18, Ashland – KEDC Ashland Location
• March 19, Hindman – Hindman Settlement School
• March 20, Morehead – Morehead Conference Center
• March 21, Prestonsburg – Jenny Wiley State Park
• March 25, Bowling Green – Green River Regional Educational Cooperative
• March 26, Elizabethtown – Pritchard  Community Center
• March 27, Lexington – Central Kentucky Special Education Cooperative
• March 28, Covington – The Metropolitan Club
• March 29, Shelbyville ­– Ohio Valley Educational Co-Op

Searchable Database to Replace Course Code Lists

A new Searchable Course Codes Database will be released soon. This database will take the place of the State Course Code Lists usually published on an annual basis; as a result there will be no updated lists for 2019-2020. Information about the release of the database – which will include the launch date, the date and time of a launch webinar, a tutorial video and an updated section of the Course Codes FAQ regarding the Searchable Database – will be communicated within the next few weeks.

2019-2020 Kentucky Reading Project Applications Available

The Kentucky Reading Project (KRP) is a year-long graduate-level course focused on research-based literacy instruction for teachers in grades K-5. Teachers will receive a stipend, professional resources and three hours of graduate credit upon completion of the course in May 2020. University literacy faculty at each of the eight state universities provide instruction at various sites across the state. The National Center for Families Learning provides one day of training during the course.

This initiative is sponsored by the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD). Since the program began in 1999, KRP has trained more than 3,800 teachers across the state. Visit the CCLD website to apply. You also may contact KRP Director Cary Pappas at cary.pappas@uky.edu or (859) 257-6118 for questions or additional information.

Participation in KRP involves no cost to the teacher, school or district.

2019 Kentucky Derby Poster Contest

High school students throughout the Commonwealth are invited to submit their own rendition of what they think Derby day looks like in a contest to design a Derby poster the governor and first lady will display in the Capitol.

The three finalists will be invited to attend a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion, where the winner will be revealed. The first place winner will be given the opportunity to attend the Kentucky Derby Festival Luncheon and the Derby Eve Gala as a guest of the governor and first lady. The first place winner also will receive a $500 scholarship; the second place winner will receive a $300 scholarship and the third place a $200 scholarship from the #WeAreKY, Inc. Foundation.

Artwork should be submitted online by Feb. 28 on the first lady’s website. Finalists will be required to submit original artwork for review.

Professional Learning Opportunities

3rd Annual Educators Rising Kentucky Conference Coming Soon

The 3rd annual Educators Rising Kentucky Conference will be held March 5-6 at the Knicely Center in Bowling Green. During the two-day event, students across the state who are interested in education as a career will gather to network, learn together and participate in 20 competitions designed to showcase their skills in various aspects in teaching. There also will be breakout sessions with topics that are of interest to future educators, as well as teacher leaders.

In the 2018-2019 school year, 35 high schools across the Commonwealth offer the Teaching and Learning Pathway with a total enrollment of 1,150 students.

For more information on the 2019 Educators Rising Kentucky Conference or the Teaching and Learning Pathway, contact Kathy Collins at Kathryn.collins@education.ky.us.

Free Professional Development for Principals and Assistant Principals

School administrators from across Kentucky are invited to attend Principal Partnership Project’s Spring Semester Learning Lab at Washington County on Feb. 13. Designed specifically to meet the observation training requirement of the Kentucky Framework for Evaluation,* the day will include authentic learning experiences that are planned to enhance observation skills while promoting reflective conversations.

A highlight of the day will be a focused classroom observation experience in a high school classroom and elementary classroom. There also will be many opportunities to network around timely topics that matter most to principals.

Registration is free and EILA credit will be provided. Please see this flyer for more information or use this Google form to register.

*This training meets the “TRAINING IN EFFECTIVE OBSERVATION AND CONFERENCING TECHNIQUES” requirement per 704 KAR 3:370.

3rd Annual KDE Leadership EdCamp: For Principals by Principals

The 3rd Annual Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Leadership EdCamp: For Principals by Principals will be held on Wednesday, March 27, at the Perkins Building on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).

The Principal Partnership Project at the KDE is proud to partner with EKU and KyGoDigital to offer this free professional learning opportunity to all school leaders. The event is intended to support and promote networking for principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, future school leaders and faculty in the principal preparation programs at local universities. EILA credit will be provided. Registration is available on this Google document.

Outside KDE

NCFL seeking presentation proposals

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) is seeking presentation proposals reflecting best practices for engaging families in education for the 2019 Families Learning Conference, scheduled for Nov. 4-6 in Louisville.

This call for proposals closes 11:59 p.m. PT March 1. For more information, visit the NCFL website. We hope you’ll consider applying or sharing with your colleagues.

3rd Annual Educators Rising Kentucky Conference Coming Soon

The 3rd annual Educators Rising Kentucky Conference will be held March 5-6 at the Knicely Center in Bowling Green. During the two-day event, students across the state who are interested in education as a career will gather to network, learn together and participate in 20 competitions designed to showcase their skills in various aspects in teaching. There also will be breakout sessions with topics that are of interest to future educators, as well as teacher leaders.

Rural College Access and Success Summit 2019

The Rural College Access and Success Summit will be April 28-30 in Lexington. This opportunity brings together teachers, principals, superintendents, legislators, nonprofit leaders and many others to share ideas and strategies for ensuring that rural youth have the opportunity to successfully transition from high school to college and to career. The summit highlights best practices and the unique challenges of increasing opportunity in rural America. More information can be found on the summit webpage.

National Rural Education Association (NREA) to be Held in Louisville

The NREA will hold its annual convention and symposium Oct. 24-26 at the Marriott Louisville Downtown. The conference will address the issues that affect today’s rural educators, providing tools and resources targeted toward meeting rural schools’ needs. More information may be found at the NREA’s Convention and Research webpage.

Apply Now for Code.org Professional Learning Workshop Scholarship

Did you know that there are Code.org professional learning workshops for teachers here in Kentucky? Applications are open for the 2019-2020 Professional Learning Program for middle and high school teachers.

Designed to support middle and high school teachers before and during their first year teaching Computer Science Discoveries or Computer Science Principles, the Code.org Professional Learning Program begins with a five-day, in-person summer workshop followed by four additional sessions throughout the year. No previous experience teaching computer science is needed. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you do not meet the requirements for the scholarship, the cost of the program is $1,900 per teacher, which is a 37 percent discount off the national cost due to the support of the Kentucky Department of Education, the College Board and Code.org.

The program fee covers the full year-long program, including teaching materials, workshop supplies, nine days of professional development and meals during the workshops. Additional travel costs are not covered.

To apply, visit Code.org’s website. For questions, contact Monique M. Rice, senior content director at AdvanceKentucky, at (859) 246-3258 or mrice@kstc.com.

Those receiving this at KSB and KSD, please make sure all employees receive it. Also, ATC principals are asked to forward it to their staffs.

Please send your questions, comments and suggestions on Monday Message to Jennifer Ginn by 10 a.m. Friday to be published in the upcoming week.