Commissioner's Monday Message

Jan. 29, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Last week, you should have received a press release alerting you to applications now being accepted for the non-voting teacher and student members of the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). Each member will serve a one-year term, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

To be considered for the teacher position, the applicant must be employed on a full-time basis by a Kentucky public school district in a position for which Education Professional Standards Board certification is required, not employed in an administrative role and must reside in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District. The 2nd Congressional District includes:

• Barren County
• Breckinridge County
• Bullitt County
• Butler County
• Daviess County
• Edmonson County
• Grayson County
• Green County
• Hancock County
• Hardin County
• Hart County
• Jefferson County (partial)
• LaRue County
• Logan County (partial)
• McLean County
• Meade County
• Muhlenberg County
• Nelson County (partial)
• Ohio County
• Warren County

For the student position, the applicant must be enrolled in a Kentucky public high school, be a junior at the time of appointment to the KBE and must reside in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District. The 6th Congressional District includes:

• Anderson County (partial)
• Bath County (partial)
• Bourbon County
• Clark County
• Estill County
• Fayette County
• Fleming County
• Garrard County
• Jessamine County
• Madison County
• Mercer County
• Montgomery County
• Nicholas County
• Powell County
• Scott County
• Woodford County

I know there are many outstanding teachers and students in the districts located in each of the above counties. I encourage you to let them know that this opportunity exists and encourage them to apply. Although these positions are non-voting, KBE members take input from the teacher and student members seriously. What they say helps shape policy and board priorities.

Additional information can be found on the KBE non-voting student application or the KBE non-voting teacher application. Applications must be submitted by March 8 at 5 p.m. ET.

Any questions about the application process can be sent to Kentucky Department of Education Executive Director of Education Policy Meredith Brewer.

Sincerely,

Robin Fields Kinney
Interim Commissioner of Education

Kentucky Teacher of the Year Applications due Feb. 23

Applications for the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Awards Program have been emailed to nominated educators. Presented by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), these awards celebrate some of Kentucky’s most outstanding educators.

KDE invites eligible candidates to submit a formal application by Feb. 23 to be considered for the award. Email awards@education.ky.gov to request an application. Refer to the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Awards Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Comprehensive District and School Improvement Planning: Phase Four

The last phase of the comprehensive district/school improvement plan process includes the vital step of progress monitoring. Continuous improvement planning requires careful monitoring, which ensures the needs of learners are met and that student outcomes are positively impacted.

During Phase Four, districts and schools may choose a flexible and customized approach to monitoring and implementing the comprehensive improvement plan. During this phase, districts/schools should collect both input and outcome data and ask themselves several key reflective questions regarding their plan:

• Are the planned strategies and activities being implemented as intended?
  • How do we know?
• Are our strategies and activities meeting the needs of learners?
  • How do we know?
• Will we adjust or stay the course?

Pursuant to 703 KAR 5:225, comprehensive district improvement plans (CDIPs) and comprehensive school improvement plans (CSIPs) must be posted online. CDIPs must be posted to the district’s website, while CSIPs must be posted to each school’s website.

With Phase Four diagnostics yet to be competed, it’s important to follow local policy regarding the timeline for posting and remember to include any attachments referenced in a diagnostic. Please see below for additional information on what should be posted for each improvement plan:

District’s Improvement Plan:

• Continuous Improvement Diagnostic for Districts

• Executive Summary for Districts
• Needs Assessment Diagnostic for Districts 
• District Assurances
• Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (including the Goal Building Template)
• Superintendent Gap Assurances
• Professional Development Plan for Districts

School’s Improvement Plan:

• Continuous Improvement Diagnostic for Schools

• Executive Summary for Schools

• Needs Assessment for Schools
• School Assurances

• Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (including the Goal Building Template)
• Professional Development Plan for Schools

Phase Four Diagnostics

Phase Four of the continuous improvement planning process also includes three district-level diagnostics and a school-level diagnostic that are each due May 1.

The Continuation of Learning Plan will support the district in designing and implementing a plan for a continuation of learning during times when nontraditional instruction may need to be implemented to prevent a loss of learning. This diagnostic will describe the plan for the following school year. For questions regarding the Continuation of Learning Plan, please contact Steve Kissinger or David Cook.

The English Learner Plan for Districts (Lau Plan) diagnostic supports the district’s commitment to ensuring that English learner (EL) students can meaningfully participate in the district’s educational programs and services. It outlines the affirmative steps taken by the district to overcome educational barriers that impede equal participation by EL students in their instructional programs. For questions regarding this district level diagnostic, please contact Kaiman Triplett or Brandy Neal.

The final diagnostic is the Professional Development Plan for both schools and districts. Each school and district must design a professional development plan that supports its efforts to meet the goals established in KRS 158.6451 and addresses the priorities identified in their local needs assessment. The 2023-2024 Professional Development Plan will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year and incorporated into the improvement plan for that year. For questions regarding the Professional Development Plan, please contact Renee Yates.

Technical Education Database (TEDS) Deadline

The TEDS deadline to identify students as a concentrator in their career and technical education (CTE) pathway(s) and to verify the pathway credits is Feb. 1.

This step is necessary for a spring test ticket to be generated for the 2023-2024 CTE end-of-program (EOP) assessment or the Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) Pre-Apprenticeship Assessment. For more information, refer to CTE EOP critical deadlines.

When reviewing TEDS data, please remember, the student status for inactive students (those not currently enrolled in a CTE course for the pathway) is determined by the student’s status at the end of the last year they were enrolled in CTE courses within the pathway. TEDS users are reminded through the TEDS Monthly Notes of the need to keep data up to date; see the article, “How Clean Is Your Data” in each Monthly Memo.

It is the responsibility of the school to ensure data is entered correctly. If the student is unable to take an EOP assessment due to inaccurate data entry, it is the responsibility of the data entry staff and the school. If those students are not seniors and they take a course next year (the 2024-2025 school year), their data can be updated at that time, and they would then be eligible to take an EOP assessment in the spring of 2025. If they are seniors, they are eligible to take an industry certification assessment.

Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE) Annual Conference

KAGE will hold its annual conference at the Griffin Gate Hotel in Lexington on Feb. 26-27. Pre-registration is required for the Monday sessions.

TRS Board of Trustee Nominations Now Open

The Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Nominating Committee is accepting nominations to fill one active teacher trustee seat on the TRS Board of Trustees. The active teacher trustee must be an active, contributing participant in TRS who is currently employed in a Kentucky public school system.

All trustee candidate nominations must be submitted through this portal and will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 12. Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by another person. Nominees for the active teacher trustee position will be verified as participants of TRS.  

The TRS Nominating Committee will review all nominees who meet eligibility requirements at its meeting on Feb. 17. The committee will select two candidates for the active teacher trustee seat who will be placed on the ballot. The seat is currently occupied by an incumbent who is eligible for re-election. Voting for the TRS Board of Trustees will occur during April and May.

NOTE: The nomination form requires you to upload a recent resume, provide a short statement of interest and provide a recent headshot, which will be used on the ballot if selected.

For more information, please email Margaret Hockensmith or call (502) 848-8504, or email Eric Wampler or call (502) 848-8505.

Gifted Education Proclamation

February is Gifted Education Month in Kentucky. To kick off the month, there will be a Gifted Education Proclamation Ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda at noon ET on Feb. 6.

Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky Department of Education Interim Commissioner Robin Fields Kinney and President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate David Givens have been invited to speak. Students from the Craft and Gatton academies will speak and perform. All are invited to attend. 

Save the Date: Continuous Improvement Summit 2024

Save the date for the annual Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 23-24 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia™ are inviting you to the summit, where you will have an opportunity to explore a variety of topics and engage in conversations that will enrich your understanding of continuous improvement.

During this two-day event, you will enhance your professional learning, 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.

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.