Commissioner's Monday Message

Aug. 14, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Today we announced the 10 outstanding teachers from across the state who are semifinalists for the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award. These teachers are in the running to be named as Elementary, Middle and High School Teacher of the Year, one of whom will be named the overall 2024 Kentucky Teacher of Year. Winners will be announced Sept. 13 at a ceremony in Frankfort.

Semifinalists for the elementary Teacher of the Year are:

• Katie Hale, Ponderosa Elementary (Boyd County)
• Deanna Landrum, Southgate Public School (Southgate Independent)
• Justin Moreschi, Klondike Lane Elementary (Jefferson County)
• Donnie Wilkerson, Jamestown Elementary (Russell County)

The middle school semifinalists are:

• Kevin Dailey, Ballyshannon Middle (Boone County)
• Doug Henry, Bullitt Lick Middle (Bullitt County)
• Kimberly Thompson, Eastside Middle (Bullitt County)

The high school semifinalists are:

• Ryan Davis, Waggener High (Jefferson County)
• Luke Glaser, Hazard High (Hazard Independent)
• Kumar Rashad, Breckinridge Metropolitan High (Jefferson County)

I love it when we can recognize the educators who are doing amazing things and engaging with their students every day in the classroom. The Kentucky Teacher of the Year program gives us an opportunity each year to recognize and shine a light on those who are doing outstanding work.

Each of these award-winning teachers are dedicated to uplifting their students, their school communities and the education profession as a whole. I want to congratulate them for receiving this prestigious recognition and thank them for the hard work that has led them here.

I also wanted to point out a story we ran on Kentucky Teacher last week, in case you didn’t get the chance to read it yet. The Wolfe County Board of Education celebrated the delivery of Kentucky’s first electric school bus on Aug. 8. The delivery is part of an effort funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. School districts were able to apply for funding and were then selected through a lottery.

In all, approximately 60 electric buses are on order for 10 Kentucky school districts this year. Each selected district will receive different buses depending on their infrastructure and needs.

And finally, don't forget that the next Superintendents Webcast will be 2-4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 15. This will be a jam-packed webcast, including KDE and Kentucky Board of Education updates, presentations on Portrait of a Learner: Guidance for Developing Competencies, Performance Outcomes and Indicators; Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan; Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness updates, Kentucky United We Learn Council updates, ESSER funding, Kentucky Reading Academies cohort 2, equity playbook and literacy initiatives, work-based learning requirements for accountability, Kentucky Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education review and a presentation from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services about Medicaid and unwinding the public health emergency.

You can watch it on the KDE Media Portal. And as always, you can ask your questions in advance using this Google form. I look forward to speaking with all of you tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.

Commissioner and Chief Learner

KDE Asks Schools to Provide Ineffective Teacher Data Promptly

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is asking all schools and districts to provide their collection of Kentucky Equitable Access to Effective Teachers data that is required for the Kentucky School Report Card in a timely manner.

Please forward this survey to the official within your district who is responsible for providing this required information. ALL districts and schools MUST COMPLETE this survey by Aug. 30. Any questions or concerns can be sent to Todd Davis. Thank you for your assistance!

KDE focuses on promoting equitable access to effective educators for all students, including minority students, those experiencing poverty, English learners and students with disabilities. Therefore, all districts and schools are charged with ensuring equitable access to experienced and effective educators.

Data will be collected to assess whether students enrolled in schools assisted under Title 1, Part A were served at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field or inexperienced teachers.

Due to the passage of Senate Bill 1 (2017), the measure and method for collecting teacher and leader effectiveness data was adjusted to fulfill the state law regarding district reporting and data collection.

The number of students taught by ineffective teachers is self-reported by each school, in aggregate, by subpopulation. Names of ineffective teachers are not provided/collected.

This survey collects data on ineffective teachers only. Data on inexperienced and out-of-field teachers is collected using the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) identification number provided in Infinite Campus. Please be sure all teachers have an EPSB number on file.

An ineffective teacher receives a summative effectiveness rating of “ineffective” as determined through the local performance evaluation system that meets the requirement established by KRS 156.557. An ineffective teacher consistently fails to meet expectations as determined by a trained evaluator, in competencies identified as the performance criteria in the Kentucky Framework for Teaching.

Please reach out to Todd Davis if you have any questions or concerns about this survey.

National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program and Application

The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) – formerly the National Title I Association – selects examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program. Every year, states can identify up to two Distinguished ESEA Schools in three possible categories:

• Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years
• Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years
• Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English Learners, etc.)

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is now accepting applications for schools for Categories 1, 2 and 3. Schools interested in applying for consideration as a Distinguished School in Categories 1, 2 or 3 must submit a completed application signed by the school principal and district superintendent by Aug. 25.

If selected as a finalist, KDE staff will conduct a site visit to interview the principal and selected staff.

Two National ESEA Distinguished Schools (one from Category 1, 2 and/or 3) will be notified by email of their selection in November. For more information, email Tara Rodriguez or call (502) 564-3791, ext. 4042.

2023-2024 Application for the Kentucky Innovative Learning Network Deadline is Sept. 22

The Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Innovation has released the 2023-2024 application for the Kentucky Innovative Learning Network’s (KY ILN’s) second cohort of Innovative Teacher Fellows. This fellowship will engage 10 trailblazing teacher leaders from across the Commonwealth in professional networking and collaboration, professional learning and project development, along with leadership and advocacy opportunities.

Each Innovative Teacher Fellow will design, implement, reflect on and share a classroom project centered on the three big ideas of the United We Learn’s vision:

• Vibrant learning experiences;
• Accelerating innovation (especially in assessment), and
• Collaborating with communities.

The network is designed to empower these teachers with the community and tools to create meaningful and transformative learning experiences in the classroom.

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. ET Sept. 22. Applicants will be notified of selection on Oct. 2.

To participate, teachers’ districts must have been members of the KY ILN during the 2022-2023 school year or have committed to joining for the current school year. Interested teachers may review the 2022-2023 list of KY ILN districts.

The KY ILN is currently in the recruitment and recommitment phase. To join the KY ILN, a district leader needs to complete an annual Letter of Commitment document and return it to Rob Collins by Sept. 22. For more information, contact Rob Collins.

Apply for Title I, Part A carryover waiver by Sept. 30

Section 1127(a) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) places a carryover limitation on Title I, Part A funds. No more than 15% of the funds allocated to a district for any fiscal year may remain available for obligation for one additional fiscal year. Districts must ensure at least 85% of school year 2022-2023 (FY23) Title I, Part A funds (project 310J) are obligated for activities that occur no later than Sept. 30, 2023.

As stated in Section 1127(c) of ESSA, this carryover limitation does not apply to districts that receive less than $50,000 in Title I, Part A for the fiscal year.

Section 1127(b) of ESSA allows the state to waive this carryover limitation if:

• It determines a district’s request is reasonable and necessary; or
• Supplemental appropriations for this subpart become available.

Districts may apply for this waiver once in a three-year period.

Any district wishing to request a carryover waiver for 2022-2023 funds may do so no later than Sept. 30 by submitting an email to David Millanti. The email must:

1. State the district requests a waiver of the 15% carryover limitation;
2. Contain the reason for the excess carryover; and
3. Describe its plan for effectively using carryover funds.

Questions may be directed to David Millanti or your district’s Title I, Part A consultant.

2023-2024 Comprehensive Improvement Planning for Districts and Schools

Improvement planning for the 2023-2024 academic year is underway. A collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders is essential to identifying priority needs and the resources and actions to best address them.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will continue to use the Cognia Continuous Improvement Platform (CIP), and the 2023-2024 diagnostics are now available. Schools and districts must annually develop an improvement plan and therefore must begin new diagnostics. When creating and completing your diagnostics within CIP, please ensure that the correct level (system or school) and current year are chosen.

The process and timeline for comprehensive school and district improvement planning outlined in 703 KAR 5:225 remain unchanged as outlined on the KDE’s Comprehensive Improvement Planning webpage. While comprehensive improvement planning is a continuous process and plans may be reviewed and revised at any time, the timeline identifies the diagnostics included in each phase of the planning process and their statutory due dates.

We hope you will join us for the Continuous Improvement Summit, scheduled for Sept. 25-26 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, to learn more about improvement planning and continuous improvement.

For additional information about CIP, contact Ruth Swanson. For more information regarding improvement planning, visit KDE’s Comprehensive Improvement Planning webpage.

U.S. Department of Education (USED) Releases Title VIII Equitable Services Non-Regulatory Guidance

The USED has released new guidance titled Title VIII, Part F of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA) of 1965: Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel, Non-Regulatory Guidance.

The guidance consolidates and updates information previously included in multiple documents to support state educational agencies, local educational agencies and private school officials in the implementation of the equitable services requirements under Title VIII, Part F of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Note: the guidance covers the following programs under the ESSA, but is not applicable to Title I, Part A, which has its own requirements and guidance document.

• Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children;
• Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction;
• Title III, Part A: English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement;
• Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; and
• Title IV, Part B: Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

As you review the document, please reach out to your Kentucky Department of Education program contacts with questions.

• Title I, Part C – Education of Migratory Children: Christina Benassi or Duane Kline
• Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction consultants
• Title III, Part A - English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement: Kaiman Triplett or Brandy Neal
• Title IV, Part A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: Lalah Brewer or Lee Bowling
• Title IV, Part B – Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Brigette Stacy
• General ESSA Equitable Services Questions: David Millanti

Sign Up for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Paint the Plow Program

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is holding its first statewide Paint a Plow program to promote safe driving during snow and ice season, and we want your participation!

Winter weather can create hazardous conditions for all that share the road. Paint a Plow is an opportunity for your students to paint one of our snowplow blades to promote safe driving habits for your community during inclement winter weather and prepare your students to operate vehicles responsibly as they become eligible to drive.

Plow availability is limited, so please reach out to your county’s corresponding highway district contact.

• District 1: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken and Trigg: View the District 1 invitation.
• District 2: Caldwell, Christian, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster: View the District 2 newsletter.
• District 3: Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, and Warren: Contact Wes Watt for more information.
• District 4: Breckinridge, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor and Washington: View the District 4 invitation.
• District 5: Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble: View the District 5 invitation.
• District 6: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton and Robertson: View the District 6 invitation.
• District 7: Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Scott and Woodford: View the District 7 invitation.
• District 8: Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell and Wayne: View the District 8 invitation.
• District 9: Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan: View the District 9 invitation.
• District 10: Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell and Wolfe: View the District 10 invitation.
• District 11: Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie and Whitley: View the District 11 invitation.
• District 12: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Martin and Pike: Contact Shantana Woodward for more information.

Registration Open for Initial Certified Evaluation Training

Registration is still open for Initial Certified Evaluation Training. As required by KRS 156.557 and 704 KAR 3:370, all administrators newly assigned the role of evaluator of certified personnel must complete the two-day training and pass corresponding assessment prior to completing a formative or summative evaluation.

In-person and virtual training dates are available. Twelve hours of Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credit will be earned. Register at the Principal Partnership Project (P3) website.

New Principals Invited to Join P3 Cohort

The Principal Partnership Project (P3) team invites all new principals (0-6 years of experience) to be part of the 2023-2024 New Principal Cohort.

A kick-off event will be held on Sept. 19 at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in Frankfort. The in-person professional learning event will include keynotes from Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass and Kentucky Board of Education Vice Chair Lu S. Young. KDE personnel will be available to share resources and supports specific to the role of school principal.

Attendees will have numerous opportunities to network with other principals and engage in authentic learning experiences designed to support the complexities and extensiveness of the school principal’s position. Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credit will be awarded.

Registration Now Open for Phase Two of LETRS for Early Childhood Educators

The Kentucky Department of Education Office of Special Education and Early Learning has launched phase two 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.

LETRS for Early Childhood Educators is a no-cost professional learning opportunity open to all preschool teachers employed in state-funded preschool programs.

The early childhood years are critical to building the foundations young children need for success in school and life. This training provides deep knowledge of early literacy instruction. It empowers educators 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 oral language development, print knowledge, alphabet learning and writing skills.

Two hundred preschool educators across the Commonwealth are set to participate in phase one of LETRS for Early Childhood Educators, which begins in August. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in phase two, which is scheduled for October 2023 through May 2024.

Register for cohort 2 of LETRS for Early Childhood Educators. For questions, please contact Lori Bean.

Kentucky Center for Statistics Summit Set for Sept. 28

The Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) invites educators to its Beyond ’23 Data Summit on Sept. 28 in Louisville. During the event, attendees will hear from the KYSTATS team and partners, national data experts and state policymakers about what they have learned about education and workforce outcomes through the current data infrastructure and the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System, and what it could look like Beyond 2023.

This is a free conference, and all are invited to attend. Registration is limited to the first 300 attendees. An agenda will be available in the coming weeks. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, with a reception directly following the close of the conference. Lunch will be on your own.

Please Share Information about Medicaid Renewals with Families

Did you know 50% of Kentucky's children rely on Medicaid and KCHIP for health coverage? As part of back-to-school season, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is asking the Medicaid community to help ensure not losing health coverage is at the top of families’ to-do lists this year.

To help spread this message, CHFS has created a flyer about health coverage that is available for download. This material can be printed and shared with families during back-to-school events and placed throughout school facilities in places of high visibility, such as bulletin boards and break areas.

For additional information and resources related to the unwinding and the return of member renewals, please visit the Medicaid Public Health Emergency Unwinding website. Thank you for partnering with us to help raise awareness.

Share your ESSER Stories

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is sharing how schools and districts are using funds they received through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.

KDE recently highlighted  how Paducah Independent has used ESSER funding to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

If you would like to share how your schools or district is using ESSER money to help students succeed, send your information to Chief Communications Officer Toni Konz Tatman.

USED Offering Free Webinar on ESEA Title VIII Equitable Services Non-Regulatory Guidance

At 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 22, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is hosting a webinar on the recently released guidance, Title VIII, Part F of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965: Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Children, Teachers and Other Educational Personnel, Non-Regulatory Guidance.

The webinar will provide an overview of the guidance, including frequently asked questions on ESEA Title VIII covered programs, such as Title II, Part A, and Title IV, Part A, and will include staff from USED’s Office of Non-Public Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and Office of the General Counsel.

Participants must register for the free USED webinar in order to participate. Please complete the online registration form as soon as possible to ensure that you receive a link to participate.

For more information, please contact David Millanti.

KDE’s Transformational Change Series for School Leaders

The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Transformational Change Leadership Series consists of three one-day conference experiences offered in Lexington at the Hilton Downtown and the Central Bank Center, and in Bowling Green at the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. local time.

Participants interested in attending the sessions in Lexington should mark their calendars to attend on Sept. 1, Oct. 19 and Dec. 12. Participants interested in the Bowling Green sessions should mark their calendars to attend on Aug. 31, Oct. 23 and Dec. 13.

Each conference experience is designed for optimal engagement, relevance and applicability. The conference series comes at no cost to participants.

The first conference will engage participants in an in-depth study of the nature and logic behind transformational school leadership and how transformational change leadership differs from leadership for continuous, incremental improvement.

Topics will include the leadership concepts of self-awareness, characteristics of high-trust organizations, servant leadership values, developing a personal leadership platform, collecting and interpreting data to support school transformation and the role of instructional leadership for transformational change.

The second conference will focus on designing and leading change, improvement science, leadership transitions, futuring and paradigm studies, creating meaningful work and principles of sustainability.

The third conference will center on the study of how organizational culture can be assessed and shaped to catalyze transformational change, creating community, developing constituent voice, attracting and retaining talent, leading great groups and how to effectively market/brand a school’s improvement vision.

Each attendee interested in participating in the training series must complete the KDE Transformational Change for School Leaders registration form no later than Aug. 28. Questions regarding the training should be directed to Tim Godbey.

2023 Continuous Improvement Summit: Save the Date, Registration Link and Event Schedule

Mark your calendars to attend the annual Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit. Co-hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia, the summit will be held Sept. 25-26 at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington.

During this two-day event, attendees will enhance their professional learning, make new connections and build upon existing relationships with peers across Kentucky. They also will hear up-to-date information from KDE leaders and learn how Cognia can help address unique challenges in their journey of continuous improvement. Please join us for this opportunity to explore a variety of topics, engage in conversations that will enrich your understanding of continuous improvement, and be energized by the keynote speaker Mike Rutherford.

Attendees are encouraged to view the 2023 Continuous Improvement Summit schedule to learn more about the learning sessions being offered.

Registration is available on the 2023 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit event webpage. Register by Sept. 1 to receive early bird pricing of $185 per ticket.

Those receiving this at KSB and KSD, please make sure all employees receive it. Also, ATC principals are asked to forward it to their staffs.

Please send your questions, comments and suggestions on the Monday Message to Jennifer Ginn by 10 a.m. Friday to be published in the upcoming week.