Webinar for New Coordinators and Trainers
If you are new in the role of SBDM coordinator and/or trainer, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will be hosting a webinar to introduce you to school-based decision making and what your role entails.
The webinar will be conducted through Microsoft TEAMS and will occur at 10:30 a.m. ET on July 28. If you are interested in learning more about how you can effectively serve councils in your new role, email Ashlie Cox to register.
Starting Points
With the academic year right around the corner, a new school-based decision making council already should have been elected for each school and its first meeting scheduled. At those initial meetings, there are some important documents to review to make sure the council runs efficiently.
Every school council member should have copies of these basic documents governing the school’s work. These can be placed in a binder with room to add others as needed or on a thumb drive or cloud drive. The following items are a place to start:
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School council policies: Policies are the written guidelines and procedures for the school to follow. These policies are developed and adopted by the school council. Include with the policies a checklist of the required policy areas and the date in which they were last reviewed and/or revised. Policies need to be reviewed annually.
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School council bylaws: Bylaws are the operating procedures of the school council. These bylaws help the council to effectively and efficiently conduct meetings. Include the last date of review and/or revision with the bylaws. Bylaws need to be reviewed annually.
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School improvement plan: School improvement plans define the school’s goals for the future. The plan includes a needs assessment that points out the priority needs of the school. It lays out the strategies and activities that are addressing these priority needs, including the staff’s professional learning requirements.
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Budget: Each spring, the school council is to approve the budget for the Section 6 instructional funds. The new school council will need to review this budget and may make amendments as necessary to meet the needs of the instructional staff.
As always, please remind council members that the goal of their work is to increase student achievement and that this should be at the forefront of every discussion, policy and decision.
Required Annual Documents
Pursuant to KRS 158.186, SBDM council members should receive copies of the two statutes linked below:
The attorney general's office requires that the below documents be distributed to council members within 60 days of the beginning of the council's term.
"The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings" explains the provisions of the open meetings act and the open records act. "Managing Government Records" provides guidance on how to manage public records and how to keep them organized and accessible.
"Proof of Receipt" must be signed by all council members to verify that they have received copies of "The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings" and "Managing Government Records." This signed form is kept on file at the school office. Superintendents verify distribution of the resources by completing the Certificate of Distribution form below:
These documents also can be found on KDE’s SBDM Technical Documents webpage.
Please ensure SBDM council members receive these documents, as well as sign the Proof of Receipt signature page. Pursuant to KRS 160.395, the distribution may be by an electronic means.
Continuous Improvement Summit Registration Now Open
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia™ invite you to the 2021 Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 22-23 at the new Central Bank Convention Center, adjacent to Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Through a partnership focused on ensuring success for all learners, KDE and Cognia are excited to offer a valuable professional learning experience to meet your needs.
During the Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit, KDE leaders, Kentucky teachers and administrators and Cognia staff will provide up-to-date information to help you effectively lead your district, school or classroom during the 2021-2022 academic year and beyond. Together we’ll learn and explore a wide range of valuable themes you can apply in your everyday practice:
- How to use Continuous Improvement resources to improve learning;
- Improvement planning and key processes for the upcoming school year;
- Accountability system updates from Senate Bill 158;
- Intervention plans focused on the loss of instruction from COVID-19; and
- Non-traditional instruction (NTI) programs, supports and ideas.
Join us to discuss these topics and more. Educators from across the state will connect and network during this two-day event. Do not miss out on the opportunity to learn from experts and peers to enhance your continuous improvement efforts.
Registration is available on the Cognia website.
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