Commissioner's Weekly Message

Feb. 10, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

I was pleased to join Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell last week to announce the first Agriculture Education Week, set for March 17-21.

Gov. Andy Beshear will be signing a proclamation that week to make Agriculture Education Week official.

Agriculture Education Week delivers an all-encompassing learning experience for students, equips educators with ready-to-use lessons and fosters community involvement to create hands-on learning opportunities on the diverse world of agriculture for students.

During Agriculture Education Week, every elementary student throughout the Commonwealth will be engaged in learning more about agriculture. Kentucky’s K-2 students will be learning about pollination through an agricultural lens, and our students in grades 3-5 will be learning about erosion. These lessons are aligned to Kentucky’s science standards while also connecting to reading, writing and math.

While our students are learning about science and agriculture, they’ll also have the opportunity to explore the many professions that are related to agriculture in Kentucky. Students will be able to see videos of the many people who are connected to the state’s agriculture industry – from a large animal vet to an auctioneer to a sheep shearer. They all tell their stories about what a day looks like for them. This is a great opportunity for our students and our state.

Vibrant learning experiences make up one of the three pillars of United We Learn, the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) vision for public education. Agriculture Education Week gives students an exciting opportunity to engage in dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that bring to life how science applies to the real world and highlight how important agriculture is to us all.

I hope you will all join us in celebrating Agriculture Education Week and I encourage you to visit the All in for Ag Education Week website to find out more information, including potential lesson plans and resources.

As always, thank you for being …

All In,

Robbie Fletcher

Commissioner of Education

Register Now for the March 2025 Leadership Meetings

In order to provide vibrant learning environments for all students, it is important for schools and districts to translate the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) into a guaranteed and viable curriculum.

The regional educational cooperatives, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), will host in-person meetings in March for district and school leaders to explore new resources available to support effective implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) with an emphasis on Tier 1 curriculum anchored in a high-quality instructional resource (HQIR).

The purpose of the meeting is to provide updates on the following:

• New TNTP Report - “The Opportunity Makers” (2024)
• KDE resources to support MTSS and Trajectory-Changing Practices
  • Intellectual Preparation Guidance Document
  • Integrating Deeper Learning and HQIR to Strengthen Tier 1 Instruction Modules
• Academic Standards Review Process
  • Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Reading and Writing, Social Studies and Mathematics
  • KAS for Visual and Performing Arts professional learning resources

Dates and Locations

Click on the date to learn more and register for the live, in-person full day session of your choice.

• March 6: London, Southeast/South-Central Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 10: Cold Spring, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 13: Hazard, Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 14: Ashland, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 18: Shelbyville, Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 21: Bowling Green, Green River Educational Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. CT
• March 25: Lexington, Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
• March 28: Eddyville, Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. CT

Participants will need to bring a personal device to access documents from the digital meeting folder.

Assessment and Accountability Town Halls

Join Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher and the Kentucky United We Learn Council for a series of community conversations to shape the future of education in the Commonwealth, including a review of the proposed assessment and accountability system framework. Attendees also will see what innovative things are happening in surrounding districts to provide Kentucky’s students with vibrant learning experiences.

Attached is an agenda outlining the topics that will be explored during these sessions:

• Feb. 12: Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services, 5400 Old Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill, 5-7 p.m. ET
• Feb. 27: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, 904 W. Rose Road, Ashland, 5-7 p.m. ET

SEEK Roadshow Schedule

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is preparing for cooperative visits to offer district training on the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding program and tackle the main challenges associated with SEEK funding.

Our aim is to improve outreach by partnering with cooperatives to deliver training sessions for superintendents and finance officers. We will conduct a three-hour workshop that will feature a presentation by KDE representatives, followed by an extensive Q&A session. Each cooperative will provide registration details.

Please plan to attend one of the following educational sessions:

• Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon ET, Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) – CKEC Training Center, 2331 Fortune Drive, Suite 110, Lexington
• Feb. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET, Northern Kentucky Educational Cooperative (NKEC) – 5516 E Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring
• Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC) – WKEC Conference Center, 435 Outlet Ave, Eddyville

Kentucky Numeracy Counts Academies Informational Webinars

The Kentucky Center for Mathematics (KCM) and the Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform (PIMSER) are hosting February informational sessions to learn more about the Kentucky Numeracy Counts K-5 Teacher and Administrator Academies, funded by Kentucky Numeracy Counts.

Join this informational session to:

• Explore opportunities provided by the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act (HB 162);
• Receive information on what supports are available for local elementary schools from KCM and PIMSER and how the two organizations are providing a synergistic approach to local school improvement in mathematics; and
• Learn specifics about both the KCM K-5 Teacher Academy and PIMSER Administrator Academy, including objectives, dates, locations, suggested participants and application information.

Multiple sessions are being offered to accommodate the schedules of those interested in attending. The dates and times for the sessions are:

• Feb. 18: 1 p.m. ET
• Feb. 20: 10 a.m. ET
• Feb. 25: 4 p.m. ET

Complete the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Teacher and Administrator Academies Information Session Registration form to secure your place.

For more information on the KCM Teacher Academy, please email KCM Executive Director Kelly Stone Delong, and for more information on the PIMSER Administrator Academy, please email PIMSER Executive Director Kim Zeidler-Watters.

National Read Across America Day Contest

The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman would like to partner with Kentucky public schools to promote National Read Across America Day on March 2, 2025.

The Ombudsman’s Office is dedicated to serving Kentuckians and investigates complaints made about programs or services provided through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. These include services such as kinship care, foster care, K-TAP and SNAP that directly affect the well-being of our youth.

To increase awareness about the office, it's hosting a Bookmark Drawing Contest and would appreciate your help in distributing information to Kentucky schools throughout the Commonwealth.

Below are the general rules for the contest:

1. The submission should be a drawing of the contestant’s favorite book character enjoying the magic of reading.
2. The entry must be original artwork that is not copied or generated by artificial intelligence.
3. Participants must be 13 years or younger and a resident of Kentucky.
4. Each person may only submit one submission.
5. The parent or guardian of the participant should submit all entries to Hannah Wall with the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman. The submission shall identify the participant’s name and contact information of the participant’s parent or guardian.
6. Submissions are due Feb. 24.

The winning drawing will be announced on March 2 on the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman Facebook page. The drawing will also be added to the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman bookmarks that will be distributed across the Commonwealth!

You can learn more by watching Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball introduce the drawing contest.

The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman invites you to help celebrate a love for reading across Kentucky. Your assistance in spreading this message throughout Kentucky is appreciated!

Regional Sessions on Educator Apprenticeships

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is hosting three regional sessions on educator apprenticeships in March.

Discover how apprenticeships are being utilized to create a sustainable pipeline of new K-12 and pre-school educators! Learn from districts, community colleges and education preparation providers on how they created partnerships to implement their successful models.

There will also be breakout sessions on how Teaching and Learning and Early Childhood Education programs play an important role in this initiative. Information will also be provided regarding funding opportunities.

The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

• March 10: Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Springfield campus
• March 11: Hopkinsville Community and Technical College
• March 13: Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Due to space constraints, we ask that you limit registration to two attendees per organization. Learn more and find links to register by visiting the Regional Sessions on Educator Apprenticeships flyer.

Approved Lists for Early Literacy Screening and Diagnostic Assessment Have Been Updated

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) recently reviewed early literacy and numeracy screening and diagnostic assessment submissions for inclusion on the KDE approved lists. The updated lists are now available on the Early Literacy Screening Assessments webpage and the Numeracy Screening Assessments webpage.

KRS 158:305 and KRS 158.8402 require each superintendent to select a universal screener and diagnostic assessment for reading and math that have been determined by the KDE to be reliable and valid to be administered as part of a multitiered system of supports for students in kindergarten through grade three.

Please contact Christie Biggerstaff, director of early literacy, or Jennifer Fraley, KDE director of mathematics education​, with any questions. 

Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference Date Announced

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Division of Early Literacy invites you to the second-annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 13.

The conference, which will require registration but will be free to Kentucky's K-12 public school educators, will offer focused learning paths to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE Office of Teaching and Learning 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 13 event and stay tuned for registration information coming soon.

Schools and Districts Encouraged to Submit Best Practices

The Kentucky Department of Education’s Best Practices and Sustainability webpage is open for submission of best practices from schools and districts.

The Best Practices website is designed to serve as a clearinghouse to promote practices that motivate, engage and provide measurable results in student learning, achievement and school/district processes. Any aspect of a school or district system that can impact student outcomes through improved instruction or operations can be submitted as a best practice.

Best practices should be submitted to the Best Practices database by May 9 to be considered for acknowledgement at the Continuous Improvement Summit, scheduled for Sept. 22-23.

For more information, email Natasha Stein.

KDE’s Communication Skills for School Leaders Series

The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Communication Skills for School Leaders Series, facilitated by Mike Rutherford, consists of three one-day conference experiences offered in Lexington at 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.

The Lexington sessions are scheduled for Feb. 25, March 18 and April 30. The Bowling Green sessions are scheduled for Feb. 27, March 19 and May 1.

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

Communication skills are learnable. Everyone can become a better communicator. This three-part series will engage school leaders in a rigorous and lively examination of the skills necessary to be a clearer and more compelling communicator.

Topics will include public speaking; presentation skills; interpersonal skills; difficult conversations; communicating with individuals, small groups and mixed groups; communicating with varied constituent groups; communicating with print, social and on-camera media; how to interview and be interviewed; how to advocate for a cause; how to be a keen listener; how to be more influential and persuasive; how to facilitate learning for adult professionals; and even how to talk to yourself in a more positive and productive way.

The three sessions will be interactive, engaging and filled with opportunities to practice skills with immediate feedback in a safe, supportive environment.

Registration for the Communication Skills for School Leaders Series is required by Feb. 17. Questions regarding the training should be directed to Haley Ralston.

Tentative 2025-2026 Title I, Part A Census Poverty and Hold Harmless Rates Available

An explanation of tentative census poverty data and tentative hold harmless rates can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education Title I Part A Documents and Resources webpage. These numbers, used in part to allocate Title I, Part A funds, can now be used to produce an estimate of your 2025-2026 school year Title I, Part A allocation.

Carefully review the information included in the document and bear in mind that all data provided is tentative and is provided for planning purposes only. It does not represent your district’s final Title I, Part A allocation for the next school year. An overview of the notification was included in the December 2024 Title I webinar.

For more information, contact your Title I, Part A consultant.

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 Commissioner's Weekly Message to Joe Ragusa by 4 p.m. Monday to be published that week.