In This Issue of the OSEEL Newsletter
- OSEEL Awarded $5.6 million State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) Award
- Early Learning ARP Projects
- Division of IDEA Monitoring and Results
- Division of IDEA Implementation
- KY LEADS
- Division of State Schools - KSB and KSD
- Gifted and Talented
- Extended School Services
- Teacher Leader Community
- CTE Summer Program
OSEEL Awarded $5.6 million State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) Award
The Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE's) Office of Special Education and Early Learning was recently awarded a 5-year, $5.6 million State Personnel Development Grant Award.
The grant project, Kentucky Educators Maximizing Postsecondary Outcomes for Workforce and Education Results for Students (Kentucky EMPOWERS), seeks to increase the quality of transition programming throughout Kentucky school districts in the areas of student skills, career development, collaborative systems, policy and Individual Education Program development by implementing a tiered model of professional learning. This program model will have three levels of professional learning, including universal supports, targeted coaching through a cohort model and a community of practice.
Additional information to be announced in upcoming months.
Early Learning ARP Projects
Registration Now Open for Phase 2 of LETRS for Early Childhood Educators
KDE's Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) is excited to launch phase 2 of the Kentucky Early Literacy Academies, which brings Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) for Early Childhood Educators to preschool educators across the Commonwealth
This professional learning provides deep knowledge of early literacy instruction. It empowers teachers to apply best practice strategies to guide children’s learning and provides the “why” and “how” of early literacy instruction across all domains – language, literacy, cognitive, motor, social and emotional. Teachers will understand the development of oral language, print knowledge, alphabet learning and writing skills.
This professional learning requires 32-38 hours of individual study and includes 12 hours of professional live online learning.
The second cohort of 160 teachers is set to begin in October 2023. Registration for this cohort is open through 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. Fill out this Google form to register for LETRS for Early Childhood Educators.
Please note: Registration must be completed by the participant. Phase 1 participants will not need to register, as they are already enrolled in professional learning scheduled to begin in August.
 Early Learning Teacher Leader Community participants and their administrators participate in activities that familiarize them with the Division for Early Childhood Recommended Practices and preschool regulations.
Teacher Leader Community
On July 10-11, early educators from across the state came together to connect, collaborate and learn at the Embassy Suites in Lexington.
The Teacher Leader Community Summer Event was hosted by OSEEL’s American Rescue Plan Early Learning Team and supported by the Early Learning Unit and the Regional Training Centers.
During this event, Kentucky preschool teachers and administrators participated in sessions on creating high-quality preschool programs, early childhood education leadership, kindergarten readiness, math, literacy and social-emotional learning. As part of their participation, teachers and administrators received resource books and materials to support the implementation of strategies discussed during the event sessions.
New Kentucky LEADS Academy Cohort Announced
Kentucky LEADS Academy scholars are selected through a competitive application process. Scholars must be enrolled at one of three partner institutions – Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University or Murray State University while – pursuing a director of special education (DoSE) certification.
As part of the professional development required of KY LEADS, scholars must participate in monthly Saturday Seminars and professional learning communities. They also must be willing to serve as mentors to future academy participants.
Division of State Schools: KSB and KSD
New Director of State Schools
 Shannon Sparkman, Director of State Schools.
Shannon Sparkman has been named the director of state schools, serving the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) and the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD).
Sparkman began her career in education as a school psychologist and most recently served as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act general supervision and support consultant in the Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) at KDE.
Sparkman earned her bachelor's and master’s degree in psychology from Eastern Kentucky University, a specialist degree in school psychology and a Rank 1.
She has collaborated with district and regional administrators across the state throughout her career. Her primary focus has been providing systematic consultation, program evaluation, professional development and guidance in developing practices and procedures that cater to the diverse needs of students with disabilities. With more than 15 years of experience in special education, Sparkman has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the field.
As she moves forward in her career, Sparkman remains committed to creating positive change and advocating for inclusive and equitable education for all students to improve outcomes for Kentucky's state schools.
In her new role that began Aug. 1, Sparkman will oversee the operations and management of KSB in Louisville and KSD in Danville, while providing support to school leaders. She also will work with stakeholders to improve student outcomes.
KSD Principal Retires
Shaun Haun, Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) Advisory Board chair, presents retiring KSD Principal Toyah Robey with a commemorative KSD 200th Anniversary lapel pin and coin.
Toyah Robey, the principal of the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD), has retired after 30 years of dedicated service in education.
During her tenure, KSD achieved numerous accomplishments, such as the opening of a new elementary building and the construction of a new playground. Additionally, the culinary team won runner-up at the national meet and KSD celebrated its bicentennial under her leadership.
Robey also led the school to receive accreditation by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD), which is a voluntary process that involves evaluating the school's vision, strategies, priorities, leadership, programs and resources. This accreditation is linked to school improvement and is undertaken by CEASD member schools.
 A student holds a hammer, building a birdhouse.
KSB Hosts Summer Insight Program
The Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) had four weeks of summer school, hosting 42 elementary, middle and high school students from the school and students from districts across the Commonwealth.
Students participated in field trips on the Belle of Louisville, a steam train in Bardstown, the Splashpad at the Waterfront and the Science Center. Louisville Folk School brought a variety of instruments and performed for students on two different occasions.
Eight students attended KSB’s summer work program. The students worked at the American Printing House for the Blind, Kentucky Kingdom and the Louisville Zoo. Students performed a variety of jobs. KSB partners with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), which provides job coaches for students needing extra assistance.
The Insight Postsecondary Prep Program at Morehead State University had 29 students attend the week-long program. Students participate in college classes, travel on campus, stay in a dorm with a roommate and eat in the cafeteria. Insight has been in existence for 16 years, following a curriculum specifically designed for students who are blind or visually impaired. It is coordinated by Connie Hill, KSB orientation and mobility specialist.
KSB outreach consultants Robbin Cox and Angela Powell, in collaboration with Murray State University, the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation and OVR, hosted the first WINSight, modeled after Insight.
Gifted and Talented
New Gifted Student Services Plan (GSSP)
In collaboration with the KDE Office of Education Technology (OET), a new GSSP has been created for districts. The new form was released on June 14, and includes several new features:
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The GSSP is automatically populated from the gifted and talented (GT) student’s record.
- Comments can be added to the GT record and will show on the GSSP.
- The GSSP transfers with the student and is imported through the document transfer process.
- A report can be generated to show which students are in the GSSP portal.
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The New Portal Update Tool will turn on Parent Portal access by school and grade level.
For more information about the GSSP and tools, please see the GSSP Training posted in the GT Coordinator OneStop. The Kentucky Student Information System (KSIS) contact will need to grant rights/permission for GT and other appropriate staff to view and use the new form in Infinite Campus (IC).
In addition to training, virtual support for the new GSSP is provided through open office hours until Aug. 30. Office hours are scheduled on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. Please use the GSSP Support Microsoft Teams link to virtually join one of these times for support. If another time is needed, please contact Kathie Anderson.
Gifted and Talented (GT) Guidance and Support
There are several documents that offer guidance and support to district GT programs. One such document is the Data Standards for Gifted and Talented.
This document provides directions on many Infinite Campus (IC) topics such as how to enter a GT student record into the IC system. The updated version of the document has been posted to the GT Coordinator OneStop.
Extended School Services
The Infinite Campus Data Standards for Extended School Services are available on the Kentucky Student Information Systems (KSIS) Data Standards. Summer school data is due Sept. 30.
 Scholarship recipients and OSEEL staff.
Special Educators Attend CTE Summer Program
The Kentucky Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Program is observed as a marquee professional learning and networking opportunity for career and technical education across the Commonwealth.
On July 19, the KDE staff from OSEEL and the Office of CTE welcomed 12 special education professionals to take part in a shared professional learning opportunity alongside colleagues serving in CTE. The special education professionals represented their districts as recipients of the Special Education Professional CTE Scholarship Program.
The program provides recipients with an award for engaging in the professional learning opportunity and promoting student success in CTE. Career and technical education is an evidenced-based predictor of post-school success for students with disabilities for employment.
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