Mark Your Calendar!
The Kentucky Department of Education is planning and preparing for next year’s SBDM trainings, including the endorsement training for coordinators. Please look at the training options and dates and mark them on your calendar.
Register for the endorsement training using this form. A link to the meeting will be emailed to you immediately after registering. If you have specific topics that you would like to have addressed during the annual endorsement training, email those ideas to Mia Morales.
SBDM Coordinator/Trainer Endorsement Training (webinar)
- April 8 at 1 p.m. ET
- April 9 at 9 a.m. ET
- April 15 at 9 a.m. ET
Training for new SBDM coordinators will be scheduled later in the spring. More information to follow!
Virtual Experienced Member Training
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will be hosting a virtual experienced member training on the Rise to Proficiency: Councils and Family and Community Partnerships from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET on June 17-18. Members will have to participate on both days to obtain their certificate.
During the training, council members will learn ways in which SBDMs can engage parents, families and communities in the work they do. KDE recommends that experienced council members who have previously taken this course participate in a different training course to expand their knowledge regarding their roles and responsibilities as a councilmember.
To register, interested participants must complete the 2025-2026 Rise to Proficiency registration form to receive additional details regarding the training opportunity.
Staffing Allocation Reminders
Tentative staffing allocations should have been sent to school councils by March 1, with a final allocation date of May 1.
If a district plans to revise its staffing formula for the 2025-2026 school year, it will need to send its updated staffing allocation worksheet to KDE for approval. These updates can be emailed to Mia Morales.
A sample staffing allocation worksheet can be found on the SBDM Technical Documents webpage on the KDE website under “SBDM Staffing Allocations.” Please allow time for KDE to review the allocations prior to May 1.
Staffing allocations for certified staffing positions are determined based on projected full-time equivalent enrollment. Section 4 of 702 KAR 3:246 states that, "a board staffing policy or guidelines shall be established to determine the number of allocated positions for certified staff for each school. To determine the allocation to school councils for certified staff, the district shall provide sufficient funds: (a) To meet class size caps and pupil contact hours established in KRS 157.360 based on the projected full-time equivalent enrollment for the upcoming school year. …”
Section 6 (Other Minimum Allocations) and Section 7 (Distribution of the Balance) of the regulation are articulated differently and specifically reference average daily attendance (ADA) when determining allocation amounts under those sections. When determining Section 6 and 7 allocations for the 2025-2026 school year, districts should use the 2024-2025 ADA.
Election Tips!
Elections for the 2025-2026 school year will start soon – if they haven’t already! The majority of information to assist council member constituent groups with their election processes can be found within the SBDM Handbook.
The Kentucky Department of Education and the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) recommend that school councils remove election procedures for teachers and parents from a council’s bylaws. Teachers and parents should establish their own written election procedures. The following topics should be considered by parents and teachers and documented in the election procedures:
- When and how candidates are nominated;
- Who prepares the ballot;
- When, where and how parents and teachers can vote;
- Voting schedule and process; and
- When and where runoffs will be held.
The Parent SBDM Council Member flyer and Teacher SBDM Council Member flyer may assist constituent groups and schools in raising awareness of vacant positions on the SBDM council and upcoming elections.
Success Stories of Effective Partnerships with Families
During its 2023 term, Family Partnership Council (FPC) members conducted an in-depth analysis of the latest research on family partnerships and collaborated to create the Family Partnership Council’s recommendations to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
These recommendations would:
- Support every school’s effort to form effective partnerships;
- Promote greater alignment of KDE’s and outside organizations’ family partnership initiatives; and
- Set the goals of the FPC for the next two years.
One of the four recommendations noted that KDE should encourage districts and schools to develop local webpages that include more robust relationship-building and communication metrics regarding meaningful family and community engagement. KDE is seeking to fulfill this recommendation by highlighting districts and schools that are doing family partnerships well and what they are doing with a special focus on innovative practices.
KDE is encouraging all Kentucky districts and schools to utilize the Success Stories of Effective Partnerships with Families form to share their stories of creating trusting relationships with families as partners that are making a positive impact for both students and families. Stories will be shared as a resource and inspiration to other schools across the Commonwealth as we seek innovative and successful ways to partner with our parents, families and our communities.
If you are interested in learning more about the success stories that have already been submitted, please visit the District and School Success Stories website.
To learn more about the FPC, please visit the Family Partnership Council website.
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