Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide Now Available!
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has created a consumer guide to support districts in evaluating and selecting high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) for science.
The "Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide" is intended to help decision-makers in Kentucky districts select high-quality science instructional resources aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science that meet the unique needs of students, educators and local communities. The guide includes:
- An introduction that highlights the importance of HQIRs and how selection of instructional resources fits within the Curriculum Development Process;
- An overview of specific markers and equity “look-fors” of high-quality science instructional resources;
- Four key steps districts may use as they seek resources, evaluate their effectiveness and ultimately select high-quality primary and supplemental resources for use in schools;
- Key questions to consider when working through each step;
- Considerations for navigating the current science market; and
- General and content-specific tools to support local teams in the selection process.
The "Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide" is available now on the High-Quality Instructional Resources webpage on KYstandards.org.
 Text-Dependent Questions and Making Meaning of Complex Texts
How can educators promote deep engagement and critical thinking while reading?
The combination of grade-level, complex texts and text-dependent questions (TDQs) fosters deeper thinking than just looking back for a quick answer. TDQs, instead, push students to closely read, analyze, infer and ultimately develop new and more complex understandings. The interactive professional learning module, “Understanding Text Dependent Questions,” helps teachers learn how using TDQs gives ALL students, from diverse backgrounds and different life experiences, the opportunity to make meaning of complex text through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
In addition to learning from the module, educators can explore Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) released items paired with TDQs and Reading Informational Text standards for grades 3-12.
This module includes:
- A rich collection of elementary and secondary question stems aligned to grade-level standards that promote textual exploration;
- Examples that model effective responses, guiding students toward meaningful insights.
- Clear alignment to grade-level standards, making integration into instruction seamless.
If currently using a green-rated high-quality instructional resource (HQIR), TDQs are already embedded to guide students toward critically thinking about complex texts. Noticing where these are and capitalizing on these moments of instruction can be powerful for deeper engagement when reading!
Feedback Sought on Draft Kentucky Academic Standards for Visual and Performing Arts
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking feedback on the draft Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for the Visual and Performing Arts. The draft was developed by the Advisory Panels and Review Committee, each made up of arts educators from around the state.
KRS 158.6453 calls for the KDE to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The schedule calls for one or two content areas to be reviewed each year and every six years after that on a rotating basis.
To provide feedback on the draft KAS for the Visual and Performing Arts document, please use the public comment feedback form. The public comment period will last until April 4, 2024. Due to the amount of text within the survey, it is recommended that surveys be completed on a full-size computer or laptop screen.
Additional Mathematics Resources Available Now: Expanded Grade-Level Sample Library for the Roadmap to Implementing High-Quality Mathematics Instruction
The Roadmap to Implementing High-Quality Mathematics Instruction resources take educators on a journey designed to:
- Ground instruction in the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Mathematics;
- Support intentional integration of evidence-based instructional practices; and
- Expand educators' familiarity with strategies to interweave the development of social-emotional competencies along with mathematics content.
This resource demonstrates how to cultivate vibrant student learning experiences that incorporate evidence-based instructional practices, while valuing educator expertise and autonomy.
A video orientation summarizes all the components available to support educators engaging with the resource. Educators are invited to explore the Roadmap Overview, the Roadmap itself and the grade-level samples developed in collaboration with Kentucky teachers. Additional grade-level samples have been added for grades 3, 4, 8 and High School Algebra.
A New Home for Mathematics Formative Assessment Lessons
The Formative Assessment Lessons (FALs) for mathematics were designed by the Kentucky Department of Education and field-tested by Kentucky teachers. These lessons utilize effective instructional practices and strategies based on the work of Dylan Wiliam’s 5 Key Strategies for Formative Assessment.
- Concept development lessons are meant to first reveal students’ prior knowledge, and then develop students’ understanding of important mathematical ideas, connecting concepts to other mathematical knowledge.
- Problem-solving lessons are meant to assess, and then develop, students’ ability to apply their mathematical knowledge and reasoning in flexible ways to non-routine, unstructured problems within mathematics and with real-world applications. Problem-solving lessons allow for different entry points with multiple strategies and often span several grade levels.
Please visit the Mathematics webpage to check them out! If you have any questions about these resources, please contact the math team at kdemath@education.ky.gov.
 Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference Date Announced
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) Division of Early Literacy invites you to the first annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 20, 2024, at the Central Bank Center, formerly the Lexington Convention Center.
Keynote speaker and educational journalist Emily Hanford, host of the Sold a Story podcast, the second-most-shared show on Apple Podcasts in 2023 and one of Time magazine’s top three podcasts of the year, has been covering education for American Public Media since 2008. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the EWA Public Service Award in 2019 for Hard Words and the 2017 Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award from the American Educational Research Association.
The conference will require registration but will be FREE to Kentucky K-12 public educators and will offer focused learning pathways to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE OTL consultants and partners about:
- Evidence-based instructional shifts for literacy;
- The benefits of structured literacy;
- Why high-quality instructional resources matter; and
- Available resources for implementing the Read to Succeed Act.
Mark your calendar for this June 20 event, and please stay tuned for registration information coming soon.
Standards Newsletter Archive
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