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Dear Colleagues:
The General Assembly returned to session last week and things started moving quickly. I presented to the House Education Committee on Feb. 7 about the long-standing shortages we have been seeing in the educator workforce. You can read about my presentation to House Ed on Kentucky Teacher.
While I was happy to share information with them about the shortages we are facing and trend lines in the teacher workforce, I was disappointed with the turn the meeting took toward the end of the time I was there. Instead of staying focused on what we can do to support the teaching profession, some of the legislators ended up focusing on guidance the agency produced regarding using students’ preferred names.
Because I think there has been some misunderstanding about the document, I wanted to stress that this is guidance only for our schools and districts – not a requirement – that is rooted in evidence-based best practices that are cited directly in the document. It was designed to promote the health and safety of all students. Schools and districts are not required to adhere to the guidance produced by the KDE; rather, we view guidance as tools that should be used in combination with their own local contexts and practitioner knowledge to make an informed decision.
While I know this guidance document – and the treatment of LGBTQI+ students overall – is being hotly debated during this legislative session and election year, I want to assure you that my commitment to all of Kentucky’s students will not waiver. All of Kentucky’s students deserve to feel welcomed and supported in our public schools.
There also were a couple of bills filed last week that you may have heard about. Senate Bill (SB) 150 was filed by Sen. Max Wise. The bill states that neither the state board nor KDE can require or recommend policies regarding the use of pronouns that do not conform to a student’s biological sex at birth. Neither could a school district require school personnel or students to use pronouns that don’t conform to a student’s biological sex at birth.
We sent a letter to Sen. Wise regarding SB 150 last week.
Rep. Josh Calloway also introduced House Bill 173 last week. While it covers some of the same subjects as SB 150, it goes further, allowing parents to sue a school district if they felt their rights were violated. School staff also would be required to notify parents if their child starts dressing in a way that doesn’t conform to their gender or asks to be referred to by a different pronoun or name, among many other requirements in this 27-page bill.
Neither of these bills will do anything toward solving our teacher workforce shortage. HB 173 would actually hurt our recruitment efforts, since teachers would be under constant threat of being sued if someone misinterpreted a lesson plan, not to mention the devaluing of the years it takes to become a licensed educator.
I will keep you updated as the session progresses.
Kind regards,
Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.
Commissioner and Chief Learner
HEPA Units Available for K-12 Schools
The Kentucky Department for Public Health is offering a limited number of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration units for use in K-12 schools.
The units are being supplied by federal grant funds and will be provided at no cost to the schools. Four replacement filters to sustain approximately two years of use also will be supplied with the units. These units are portable, free-standing, plug-in units (120V) that require no installation and minor maintenance.
Requests may include units for district-owned facilities that house area technology centers.
Units will be distributed in the order requests are received until quantities are depleted. Pre-order forms for the HEPA filtration units must be completed no later than April 30 and will be shipped 30-90 days after the order is received.
For any questions regarding this program, please contact KDPHHEPA@ky.gov.
K-12 HEPA Webinar Set for March 10
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is hosting a webinar to present the new K-12 HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) Program. This webinar is open to K-12 schools and local health departments. It will take place from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET on March 10 on Microsoft Teams.
Dr. Connie White, DPH deputy commissioner for clinical affairs, will give a presentation about the program. Dr. Nancy Johnson, program manager from DPH’s Environmental and Occupational Countermeasures, will present on air quality recommendations.
Register for the K-12 HEPA Program webinar online.
Please note: Nothing presented or distributed by DPH is intended to contradict or supersede Kentucky Department of Education or local board of education policies. Information presented and distributed by DPH is broad, generalized public health recommendations without context for specific local plans, policies and procedures.
KBE Seeking Applicants for KHSAA Board of Control At-Large Position
The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE), through the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), is seeking an individual to serve on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s (KHSAA’s) Board of Control to fill an at-large position that will become vacant on June 30. The individual currently holding the position is not eligible for reappointment.
The KHSAA is the KBE’s designee to manage statewide interscholastic athletic programs. The Board of Control supervises KHSAA, establishes staff salaries, sets goals for the association, and has the authority to set rules and review proposed changes to the KHSAA constitution and bylaws. Regular attendance at KHSAA Board of Control meetings is a requirement of the position.
All interested individuals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, a resume and a minimum of two written letters of recommendation to KDE.
The KHSAA bylaws require that at least one member shall be Black and one shall be female. Based on this requirement and current KBE appointees, the appointee selected must be female. The KBE appointed Board of Control member must not be a current employee of a Kentucky public school district.
The deadline for applications is March 30, 2023. Materials should be mailed to Todd Allen, General Counsel, Kentucky Department of Education, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, KY 40601, or emailed to Todd.Allen@education.ky.gov.
The KBE will review applications for the KHSAA Board of Control at-large position and anticipates appointment at its June 2023 meeting.
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