Thank You!
Thank you for attending the April school-based decision making council (SBDM) endorsement training session! The professional learning opportunity is beneficial to your role as an SBDM coordinator or trainer and serves as the endorsement necessary for this important work and as required by KRS 160.345(6).
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) goal is to ensure you are equipped with SBDM and training updates, which are pertinent to the success of school-based decision making councils and the students in each of those schools. If you were not able to attend one of the endorsement sessions, email Mia Morales as soon as possible so that further guidance can be given.
Please note that SBDM coordinators and trainers who are brand new to their work and role also will need to engage in a more in-depth and introductory training to SBDM. The New Coordinator Training is scheduled for May 20 at 2 p.m. ET and June 17 at 10 a.m. ET. You can register through the SBDM New Coordinator Training form.
Training Options
As elections are concluding and annual trainings are underway, KDE is offering the following trainings free of charge for endorsed trainers to train councilmembers.
For new councilmembers,
- SBDM 101 (in-person or virtual)
For experienced councilmembers,
- Equitable Decision-Making (in-person or virtual)
- Rise to Proficiency: Councils and Family and Community Partnership (in-person or virtual)
- Roles and Responsibilities (in-person, virtual or self-paced)
- Council’s Role with Continuous Improvement (self-paced)
All of the trainings and their materials are available on the SBDM Training webpage. More information about each individual training can be found within the SBDM Training Module Flyer.
Election Tips
Council member elections are underway! 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 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 KDE's Superintendents Annual Attendance Report (SAAR) or internal data of enrollment on Oct. 1, 2023.
Virtual Experienced Member Training
KDE staff will be hosting a virtual experienced councilmember training on the Council’s Role with Continuous Improvement on June 12-13 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. ET. Members will have to participate on both days to obtain their certificate.
During the training, council members will learn about the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and their role in developing the school’s plan. KDE recommends, that if experienced council members have taken this course previously, that they participate in a different training course to expand their knowledge regarding their roles and responsibilities as a council member.
To register, interested participants must complete the 2024-2025 Council’s Role with Continuous Improvement Registration form to receive additional details regarding the training opportunity.
New Coordinator Training
If you are a new coordinator, the new SBDM Coordinator training will take place on May 20 at 2 p.m. ET and June 17 at 10 a.m. ET. The same material will be presented at both sessions, so you only need to attend the session of your preference.
Please register for the training through the SBDM New Coordinator Training form.
Graduations, 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 (KDE).
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.
Registration Open for 2024 Continuous Improvement Summit
The Kentucky Department of Education and Cognia™ invite you to the annual Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 23-24 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington. Participants can explore a variety of topics and engage in conversations that will enrich their understanding of continuous improvement.
Keynote speaker Marck Abraham, the author of “What Success Looks Like,” is a transformational leader with a wealth of experience in education. He is committed to providing a world-class educational experience that ensures all students achieve their goals of post-secondary college and fulfilling careers. His mission has been to create environments that assist students in reaching their maximum potential in life.
During this two-day event, attendees will enhance their 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 address their unique challenges in the journey of continuous improvement.
To receive early bird pricing, please register before Sept. 2.
|
