Education commissioner applauds student at state board meeting
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(ASHLAND, KY) – LaMargaret Johnson, a junior at Bryan Station High School in Lexington, impressed upon a national audience of chief state school officers and educators the vital importance of strong career and technical education (CTE) programs in a speech in Washington, D.C., Monday. |
Speaking during the Council of Chief State School Officers Legislative Conference, Johnson spoke about her experience at Bryan Station, which is one of three schools participating in the Academies of Lexington program in Fayette County Public Schools. The Academies are small learning communities that allow students to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real-world applications and career pathways suited to their interest.
“In the three years I have been at the academies, we have undergone a transformation from a traditional high school system to a career academy model,” said Johnson. “Our students always had the potential, but now they also have the opportunity given to them by a dedicated group of teachers, administrators, community partners and business leaders. And when kids have pathways to success, they will exceed your expectations.”
During the April 10 Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) meeting in Ashland, Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis recapped Johnson’s speech.
“This was truly one of the proudest moments I’ve had in my role as commissioner,” said Lewis. “She really amazed the crowd in her presentation on career and workforce readiness.”
Lewis defines “novice” scores as academic emergency
Also during the meeting, Lewis presented a report titled “The Meaning and Significance of Novice Performance on Assessments.”
“I have come to understand that while Kentucky has used K-PREP assessments for some time with its accompanying four performance levels for students, there is not widespread understanding of what these performance levels mean,” said Lewis. “K-PREP performance levels, ranging from the Novice to the Distinguished levels, have greater meaning than simply performance levels one through four.”
A student scoring at the Novice performance level on the 8th grade reading and mathematics K-PREP assessment means he or she has a minimal understanding of the standards in reading and math at grade 8; that he or she communicates ideas ineffectively or inaccurately, providing little detail and little or no support; and his or her attempts at problem-solving or critical thinking are minimal or inappropriate.
In 2018 on the 8th grade K-PREP reading and math assessments, 17% of all Kentucky students performed at the Novice level. Nearly a quarter (23%) of economically disadvantaged students performed at Novice in reading and math. More than a third of African American students performed at Novice levels in reading (37%) and math (36%). And in some Kentucky school districts, more than a third of economically disadvantaged students and more than 40% of African American students performed at the Novice levels in reading and math.
“A student scoring at the Novice performance level is in a state of academic emergency,” said Lewis. “Similar to finding a child in a medical emergency situation, an immediate, intentional and skilled instructional response to the student’s academic emergency situation is necessary for recovery. Otherwise, like with a medical emergency, the chances for her academic recovery are slim; and those chances for recovery diminish more and more with each passing week that the emergency is not attended to.”
Chairman request current and historical budget analysis
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Associate Commissioner Robin Kinney and KDE Division Director Charles Harman provided a 2020-2022 Biennial Budget Update to the board. Kinney said budget staff have begun preliminary discussions with KDE associate commissioners regarding the formulation of the 2020-2022 biennial Budget Request.
At the June KBE meeting, staff will bring forward suggestions for potential 2020-2022 Budget Request priorities. KDE staff will brief the state board members at their meeting in August about budget requests and seek board input concerning prioritization of major budget issues. The final budget will be presented for the KBE’s approval at the October board meeting and then submitted to the governor’s office in November.
KBE Chairman Hal Heiner requested that prior to the June meeting, staff create a detailed current and historical analysis of both KDE’s budget and the operating budget for districts throughout the state, so that more conversations can be had on how rising health care and pension costs have impacted classroom spending.
Other business conducted
The following action items were approved by KBE during the April board meeting:
- Statement of consideration for social studies standards 704 KAR 8:060;
- Agency amendment to 703 KAR 5:270, Kentucky's Accountability System;
- Adoption of special education policies and procedures for the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Kentucky School for the Blind;
- Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act State Transition Plan for 2019-2020;
- Request from Woodford County High School for an alternative model of school-based decision making;
- New District Facility Plans for Rowan County, Todd County and Washington County school districts;
- District Facility Plan Amendments for the Warren County School District;
- 2018-2019 local district tax rates levied;
- Daviess County School District’s request for site acquisition approval that exceeds 10% of the maximum budget per 702 KAR 4:050; and
- Request from Ft. Thomas Independent for a waiver of 702 KAR 5:060.
Additional information on action items can be found online at KDE’s meeting portal. Video of the meeting is also online on the KDE media portal. The next KBE meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 in Frankfort.
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