Commissioner's Comments
Dear Colleagues:
I know you all have been hearing from numerous perspectives regarding the governor’s decision to suspend in-person instruction in Kentucky’s schools until Dec. 7 for elementary (K-5) schools – if the county is not in the red and the schools are following the Healthy at School guidance – and Jan. 4 for high schools (grades 6-12). Managing schools through COVID has been a series of incredibly difficult choices and tough trade-offs and this decision is no different.
Closing schools to in-person learning is an attempt to protect students and staff from the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 that is spreading quickly across the Commonwealth. Almost all our counties are now in the red and we keep setting new records on the number of our community members testing positive. We also are seeing alarming increases in hospitalization and death rates and Gov. Beshear’s latest executive orders are part of a comprehensive effort to control these numbers.
Limiting the number of places where large numbers of people commonly gather is a vital tool to try to limit the number of people being infected with this potentially deadly disease.
School and district staff are to be commended for the incredible job you have done in putting in place layers of virus mitigation efforts that have been effective at controlling school-based transmissions. Rising community transmission rates put even more pressure on those systems, which is why it is critically important that we take proactive steps to try and get them under control.
If the governor’s attempt to limit the spread of COVID is effective, I am hopeful we will start the new year with our students able to return to their classrooms. But right now, we do not know what will happen in December and what tough choices may follow.
I know there is a cost to our students if we remain in virtual instruction. Many of our students are struggling and their families are struggling too. My own children are trying to adjust to a new home, a new school and trying to make new friends from their keyboard. This is not easy on anyone.
I wish that I could predict or guarantee what will happen in January, but no one can. We must remain flexible and make the best decisions we can with the data we have available. I know that all of you will continue to make every effort to create safe and quality learning environments for students, whatever that looks like for your community.
I also want to remind you of the next Superintendents Webcast, scheduled for 2-4 p.m. ET Dec. 1. Topics will include updates on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding, targeted instruction, a communications update and an update from the Kentucky Department for Public Health about vaccine distribution. The webcast will be available on the KDE Media Portal.
Stay safe and stay optimistic. I am confident that better days are ahead for all of us and the students and families we serve.
Kind regards,
Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.
Commissioner & Chief Learner
KDE to Host Webinar on Records Transfer of Students in Foster Care under HB312
The Nov. 23 Commissioner’s Monday Message included an announcement about a new report districts can run in Infinite Campus to track the timeliness of student records transfers.
As a reminder, HB 312 (2020) requires districts to request and send educational records for students in foster care within specific timeframes. The new Student Records Transfer report in Infinite Campus can assist districts in monitoring their processes and making improvements, as well as ensure the requirements of HB 312 are met.
To support districts in their implementation of the records transfer requirements under HB312, staff from the Kentucky Department of Education will be hosting a webinar at 10 a.m. ET Dec. 14 to:
- Introduce HB 312;
- Demonstrate how to run the Student Records Transfer report in Infinite Campus;
- Provide overview of the information data in the report; and
- Review the requirements of districts under HB 312.
Sharma Aitken, the state foster care point of contact, will email a meeting invitation to all district foster care liaisons with information about joining. District foster care liaisons and district student records transfer points of contact should participate in the webinar.
For more information about the webinar or educational stability requirements of students in foster care, email Sharma Aitken. For questions regarding the Student Records Transfer report, email KDE Data Services.
New Features for School Report Card 2020
Kentucky’s School Report Card now includes new trend and compare charts in select areas. Each chart defaults to the view of all students, though the selection feature allows users to select individual or multiple student groups together in one chart.
Data is limited for 2020 due to COVID-19 assessment and accountability waivers, but this functionality will be expanded on as more data is available in 2021.
BrightBytes has created a Data Page Comparisons, Student Group Multi Select and Trend Chart video that is available to provide an overview of this new functionality. The Public Website User’s Guide also has been updated to reflect the new features.
Trend charts are displayed as line charts and include three years of data where available. The following trend charts are available:
- Overview/Students/Enrollment/Student Membership
- Overview/Students/Student Groups/Economically Disadvantaged
- Overview/Students/Student Groups/English Learners
- Overview/Students/Student Groups/Students with Disabilities (IEP)
- Academic Performance/Assessment Results/Kindergarten Screen
- Transition to Adult Life/Graduation Rate/High School Graduation (4- and 5-year rates)
Compare functionality has been added to the Overview and Trends tabs in select areas. Users can compare up to four schools and/or districts. This functionality is available in the following areas and expands on current bar charts displayed on the overview tab and line charts on the trends tab.
- Academic Performance/Assessment Results/Kindergarten Screen
- Transition to Adult Life/Graduation Rate/High School Graduation (4- and 5-year rates)
As a reminder, KDE and BrightBytes are gathering feedback from SRC users. The feedback link at the bottom right of the SRC can be used to provide a quick comment or respond to a feedback survey at any time.
BrightBytes also is leading user experience testing sessions and providing feedback opportunities for additional input. Individuals or groups that would like to participate are asked to contact KDE Data Services or BrightBytes.
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