New Coordinator Webinar
If you are a new coordinator or trainer, the new SBDM Coordinator and Trainer training will take place on May 23 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Please register for the training through the SBDM New Coordinator Training form.
Senate Bill (SB) 5 Guidance
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) issued guidance on Senate Bill 5 (2023). SB 5 (2023) created a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define "harmful to minors;" requires local boards of education to adopt a complaint resolution policy to address parent complaints about materials that are harmful to minors; and requires the school to ensure that a student whose parent has filed a complaint does not have access to the material.
You can find the guidance and model complaint resolution policies and complaint resolution processes associated with SB5 on KDE's Legislative Guidance webpage.
Please note that the non-regulatory guidance posted on the Legislative Guidance webpage is intended to inform school districts and other stakeholders about recently enacted legislation. The KDE reminds schools and districts to consult their local legal counsel for additional information or legal advice.
Elections Procedures
Council member elections are underway! In 2022-2023, 3,760 teachers and 2,519 parents served on councils.
Parent and teacher election procedures determine how elections are run. Please note that electronic elections are permissible and more guidance can be found within the SBDM Elections Guidance document.
To that end, here are several points to keep in mind when constituent groups are gearing up for the election processes:
Teachers are elected to an SBDM council by majority vote. To be elected by majority vote, a teacher must receive half plus one of the votes by those eligible to vote. For example, if there are 30 teachers assigned to the building, then 16 votes are needed to be elected. All certified staff in the school, including itinerant teachers, part-time teachers, counselors and library media specialists, are eligible to serve as a teacher representative.
Parents are elected to council by plurality vote. Plurality vote means receiving more votes than the other candidates. Eligible parent candidates must have a student enrolled or preregistered to attend the school for the year they will be serving on the school council. The candidate must be a parent, stepparent, foster parent or a person who has legal custody of a student pursuant to a court order and with whom the student resides.
Minority representation is required when a school has 8% or more student minority population. Schools may choose to use the Kentucky Department of Education’s Superintendents Annual Attendance Report or internal data of enrollment on Oct. 1, 2022.
The Kentucky Department of Education and the Office of Education Accountability recommend that school councils remove election procedures for teachers and parents from a council’s bylaws. Teachers and parents should establish their own written election procedures. The following questions should be considered by parents and teachers and documented in the election procedures:
- When and how candidates are nominated;
- Who prepares the ballot;
- When, where and how parents and teachers can vote;
- Voting schedule and process; and
- When and where runoffs will be held.
Graduation, Grades and Unpaid Fees
Generally, a district cannot withhold grades due to unpaid fees. KRS 160.330 and 157.100, along with OAG 82-386, indicate that a school cannot withhold grades, diplomas or records as leverage to force a student to pay fees.
Taking part in a graduation ceremony – or “walking” – is a gray area since the act of the ceremony itself doesn’t confer graduate status. Instead, the diploma confers graduate status whether or not the student participates in a graduation ceremony. So long as the student is not prevented from receiving the diploma, using the graduation ceremony as leverage may be technically permissible. However, that strategy is not best practice and, in keeping with the spirit of OAG 82-386, is discouraged by the Kentucky Department of Education.
Any fee charged for participating in a graduation ceremony should be reasonable and permissible. If a graduation fee is for caps, gowns, et cetera (items incidental to the ceremony), these are reasonable fees. If the fee, however, is for the district to raise funds, this would be problematic.
As to the question of in-school detention as a consequence for a student’s failure to pay fees, this should be discouraged. Student code of conduct violations should be the only sources of student discipline such as in-school detention or in-school suspension. In-school detention or suspension deprives the student of the full instructional opportunity provided in the ordinary school day. Detention for a student who is unable to pay a fee is reminiscent of debtor’s prison and does not lead to the desired outcome for either party: payment of the fee.
The usual routes for recoupment of funds owed should be pursued, such as small claims court. This is in keeping with the Kentucky law prohibiting a school from lowering a student’s grades as a punishment for misconduct, including as a punishment for unexcused absences or tardies.
Save the Date for the 2023 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit
The Kentucky Department of Education and Cognia™ are hosting the annual Continuous Improvement Summit Sept. 25-26 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington. Attendees will have an opportunity to explore a variety of topics and engage in conversations that will enrich their understanding of continuous improvement.
Mike Rutherford, 2023 Continuous Improvement Summit keynote, will engage participants with conversation on high-performance teaching and learning, leadership development, creating and leading team-based organizations, and results-based organizational improvement.
During this two-day event, you will not only enhance your professional learning, but you will make new connections and build upon existing relationships with peers across Kentucky, hear up-to-date information from KDE leaders, and learn how Cognia can help you address your unique challenges in your journey of continuous improvement.
Don’t miss your opportunity to join the hundreds of Kentucky educators who attend this event annually! EILA credit will also be provided to participants. Additional registration details are coming soon!
|
