Commissioner's Monday Message

May 20, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

One of my favorite times of the year is graduation season. Seeing the graduating students walk across the stage, receive their diplomas and be celebrated by their friends and families is extremely rewarding.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Kentucky School for the Deaf graduation and being able to watch the five graduates celebrated and honored for their hard work was incredibly moving. On Tuesday, we’ll be celebrating the graduates of the Kentucky School for the Blind.

I want to express my appreciation for your outstanding support and dedication to your students. I know you  have worked tirelessly to ensure your students receive the education and support they need to succeed in their future endeavors.

During this time of celebration, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on this past school year on the areas your school districts succeeded in and areas seeking improvement for the upcoming school year.

As the school year concludes, the Kentucky Department of Education is also reflecting on our achievements, and areas of improvement, which impact student success. We continue to support the competencies for students as reflected in our state example of a Portrait of a Learner, and those portraits adopted at the local district level. These portraits give the framework to design instruction in a way that promotes real-world competencies and job readiness. These competencies align with the three big ideas of United We Learn and will enable this vision for transforming education in the Commonwealth to come to life throughout your districts, schools and classrooms. 

We have seen firsthand that education is more than just mastering challenging academic content; the students must have hands-on learning experiences that are more intentional about fostering communication, collaboration, adaptability and other skills needed to thrive.

One of our many goals in education is to make sure each and every student gains the skills, knowledge and resources needed to be successful. Ensuring that all students across the state are college and career-ready when they receive their diplomas.

Congratulations to all your graduates, I hope you all have a great week!

Sincerely,

Robin Fields Kinney
Interim Commissioner of Education

Compensation Increase Reporting

The Kentucky General Assembly recently passed House Bill 6, which includes provisions regarding certified and classified staff compensation increase reporting.

Page 64 of the budget legislation has the relevant details. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will be distributing a mandatory survey around June 1. This survey is crucial for collecting data necessary to fulfill our reporting obligations to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.

The survey will seek information specifically related to the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It will cover various aspects of staff compensation increases. To ensure accurate compilation and timely reporting, we kindly request that all responses be submitted no later than June 15.

Please be prepared to provide the following details:

• Describe the type of staff compensation increases adopted, such as percentage-based or flat rate, if applicable;
• The average percentage rate or average dollar amount of the compensation increases, for certified staff;
• The average percentage rate or average dollar amount of the compensation increases for classified staff;
• The manner in which the compensation increases were delineated, such as universally or by job classification;
• The date the local board of education adopted the compensation increases;
• The effective date of the compensation increases;
• Any changes to the district’s certified staff single salary schedule(s) such as flat rate or percentage based;
• Any changes to the district’s classified staff single salary schedule(s) such as flat rate or percentage based; and
• A PDF upload of any monetary compensation in addition to that provided through the district’s single salary schedule, such as extra service pay or one-time payments.

Your cooperation in promptly completing this survey will be greatly appreciated. By working together, we can ensure accurate reporting and compliance with the legislative requirements.

For questions on the survey, please contact Steve Lyles.

Register Now for the 2024 Persistence to Graduation Summit

KDE’s Division of Student Success invites you to register for the 2024 Persistence to Graduation Summit scheduled for June 11-12 at the Hilton in downtown Lexington.

Registration is free for participants but is limited to the first 300 participants and is filling quickly! Explore our engaging and interactive sessions designed to foster dialogue and collaboration among participants and facilitators. Keynote speaker Glenda Wright, from Wright & Hunter Consulting LLC, brings her passion for child welfare reform rooted in her experiences living in the Kentucky foster care system and the key role of educators in her journey. 

Superintendents, administrators, educators, counselors and community partners from across Kentucky will convene to share best practices in supporting students at all grade levels who may face challenges along the path to graduation. Explore student transition strategies, alternative education programs, well-rounded educational opportunities, safe and supportive learning environments, and effective education technology use.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Join us for this impactful event! For more information, visit the 2024 Persistence to Graduation Summit registration page or contact Michelle Wilson.

Registration Now Open for Momentum 2024 at STEAM Academy

Registration is now open for Momentum 2024, set to take place on July 9 at the STEAM Academy in Lexington. This event is co-hosted by the Kentucky Association of Educational Cooperatives (KAEC), The University of Kentucky's Center for Next Generation Leadership, and the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of Innovative Learning.

Join us for a day full of inspiration and vibrant learning experiences. Engage with a diverse panel of students and hear firsthand about their journeys with deeper learning. Learn from fellow Kentucky educators who are making impactful shifts in their classrooms and discover practical insights and strategies to bring your Portrait of a Learner initiative to life. Participants will earn six hours of Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credit for attending the full day.

Visit the Momentum 2024 registration page to sign up. Spaces are limited to 300 participants and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to guarantee your spot!

We look forward to seeing you there and building momentum together as we explore the power of deeper learning!

Verification of Successful Early Graduation Program (EGP) Students Due June 30 

KRS 158.142 establishes the Early Graduation Program (EGP), an optional program in which a student may receive a high school diploma, early graduation certificate and scholarship award from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) upon successful completion of all program requirements provided in 704 KAR 3:305, Section 5 in three academic years or less. 

KRS 158.142(7)(d) requires each public high school to report all early graduation scholarship certificate recipients by July 1 for the previous academic year to KHEAA. 

In order for students who successfully completed the Early Graduation Program to receive the scholarship award, information must be correctly entered into Infinite Campus no later than June 30. The Kentucky Department of Education will forward all qualifying recipients to KHEAA on July 1.  

Registration Open for Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning, Division of Early Literacy invites you to register for the Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference. The conference will take place June 20 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 Educator Writers Association Public Service Award in 2019 and the 2017 Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award from the American Educational Research Association.

The conference requires registration, but is free to Kentucky K-12 public educators and will offer focused learning paths to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE 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.

Please share this message and the Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference flyer with your colleagues.

Registration Open for 2024 Continuous Improvement Summit

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia™ invite you to the annual Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 23-24 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington. Please join us for an opportunity to explore a variety of topics and engage in conversations that will enrich your 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, 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 address your unique challenges in your journey of continuous improvement.

To receive early bird pricing, please register before Sept. 2.

KDE to Offer Statewide Federal Programs Training

The Kentucky Department of Education will be offering a virtual, statewide federal programs training at no cost to school districts on June 3-4. The same content will be offered on both days.

The training will highlight upcoming changes to the Uniform Grants Guidance, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, fiscal requirements, and other topics of importance for district federal program administrators.

The training will be provided by The Bruman Group (formerly Brustein and Manasevit), a legal firm that is nationally recognized for its federal grants management and education regulatory and legislative practice.

The training will benefit district staff who are responsible for the oversight and administration of federal education programs and compliance with legal requirements. The district superintendent, finance officer and federal programs coordinator are strongly encouraged to attend.

To register for this training, please complete the Bruman Group online registration form. An agenda and link to join the training will be sent in advance of the meeting.

For more information, email Leslie Bridges or call her at (502) 564-3791, ext. 4040.

Those receiving this at the Kentucky School for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Deaf, please make sure all employees receive it. Also, Area Technology Center (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.