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Dear Colleagues,
On March 1, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document in connection with its Dear Colleague Letter on Feb. 14 about Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) previously communicated with school districts regarding the Dear Colleague Letter in the Feb. 25 Commissioner’s Weekly Message. Like the previously released Dear Colleague Letter, USED’s FAQ document from March 1 does not have the force and effect of law and does not bind the public or create new legal standards.
As KDE previously explained, USED may not suspend, terminate or refuse to grant or continue federal financial assistance until it has provided the recipient with notice of alleged noncompliance, attempted to secure compliance through voluntary means, provided an opportunity for a hearing, made an express finding of noncompliance on the record, filed a written report with Congress, and waited 30 days after filing the report.
As you continue serving the students within your districts, please be mindful to follow all existing state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. Should you have any questions about your current programs or policies, please reach out to your legal counsel to discuss at length. The KDE Office of Legal Services will be available as needed to work in conjunction with your counsel to make specific recommendations.
Please also remember that all Kentucky school districts should be following the 2020 Title IX regulations, pursuant to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ injunction on subsequent amendments. As part of the 2020 Title IX regulations, each district must comply with the federal prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex.
Please feel free to contact me or Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel Todd Allen if you have any questions or concerns.
Senate Bill 253
With state lawmakers working through the latter part of their legislative session, I wanted to point your attention to an exciting bill that proposes significant changes to the state’s teacher scholarship programs, Senate Bill (SB) 253.
The bill’s key provisions include changes to the Teacher Scholarship Program, an expansion of the Dual Credit Scholarship program and a repurposing of the Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program to support the state’s efforts to recruit outstanding educators.
SB 253 would provide tuition scholarships for Kentucky residents who are enrolled or accepted in an eligible teacher preparation program at a Kentucky postsecondary institution. SB 253 also creates an opportunity for students in the Teaching and Learning career pathway to take up to 20 dual credit courses when working toward their education degree. These changes would create the possibility of a tuition-free pathway to certification in Kentucky.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
All In for Ag Education Week
With less than two weeks until All In for Ag Education Week kicks off, we invite you to explore the variety of resources we’ve prepared to support and amplify your district’s efforts with agriculture education for your educators and students.
Agriculture Education Week, which will be held March 17-21, is a statewide initiative created by Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher for Kentucky’s students.
Key Resources for Ag Education Week:
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Superintendent/Principal Presentation – this resource is ready for you to use to share Ag Education Week with your Principals and for them to share with their staff.
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Lesson Plans – All of our initiatives are ready for the classroom and align to state standards. This isn’t a pause in education, it’s a glance at real world application of standards through the view of agriculture.
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Field Trip/Volunteer Resources – We encourage you to get students into a Real Ag Experience through a farm or agribusiness tour or by having a volunteer from the agriculture industry Bring Ag to the Classroom. Click on your region of the map to find volunteers and farm/agribusiness locations opening doors to school tours during Ag Education Week.
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Ask an Aggie-Live Expert Panel – We hope you’ll join in schools asking questions to our experts live on March 20 at 1 p.m. ET. This is an opportunity to learn more from those in the field. Schools should register and submit questions in advance.
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Why it Matters? – We have research and overview ready for you to review. Ag Education increases engagement and allows real world application of educational standards.
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Showcase your District – We want to showcase the incredible work of your educators and the learning of your students during Ag Education Week. Email photos and captions to Bethany Mattingly with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. We will share the story of your district doing this work across social media platforms.
All these resources and more can be found at the All In for Ag Education Week website. Feel free to direct questions to Bethany Mattingly.
Keynote Speaker Announced 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 the second-annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 13 at The Galt House in Louisville.
Keynote speaker and educational consultant to state departments and school districts on explicit instruction and literacy, Anita Archer has presented in all 50 states, all U.S. territories, and many countries, including Australia and Canada, and has received 10 awards honoring her educational contributions. Archer has served on the faculties of three universities, including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon and San Diego State University. She is nationally known for her professional learning, and she has co-authored numerous curriculum materials and a best-selling textbook addressing reading and writing.
The conference, which will require registration but will be free to Kentucky K-12 public educators, will offer focused learning pathways 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 please stay tuned for registration information coming soon.
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 web pages 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 those success stories already submitted, please visit the District and School Success Stories website. To learn more about the FPC, please visit the Family Partnership Council website.
Kentucky Board of Education Seeks Nominations and Applications for Multiple Roles
The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) currently has the following open applications/nominations:
- The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) is accepting nominations for the 2025 Karem Award for Excellence in Education Policy. The award, named for former board chair David Karem, recognizes a state policymaker, education leader or citizen who has made notable, state-level contributions to the improvement of Kentucky’s public education system. Nominations are open through March 10.
- Applications are now being accepted through March 11 for the non-voting teacher member of the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). The selected teacher member will serve a one-year term, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The selected teacher member must reside in Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Jefferson County (partial). More details, including the link to the online application, are available on the Kentucky Board of Education Non-voting Teacher Member webpage.
- Applications are now being accepted through March 11 for the non-voting student member of the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). The selected student member will serve a one-year term, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The selected student member must reside in Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, which includes 35 counties. More details, including the link to the online application and supporting materials, are available on the Kentucky Board of Education Non-voting Student Member webpage.
KBE Seeking Applicants for KHSAA Board of Control At-large Position
The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE), through the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), is seeking an individual to serve on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s (KHSAA’s) Board of Control to fill an at-large position that will become vacant on June 30, 2025. The individual currently holding the position is eligible for reappointment.
The KHSAA is the KBE’s designee to manage statewide interscholastic athletic programs.
The Board of Control supervises KHSAA, establishes staff salaries, sets goals for the association, and has the authority to set rules and review proposed changes to the KHSAA constitution and bylaws. Regular attendance at KHSAA Board of Control meetings is a requirement of the position. The KBE appointed Board of Control member must not be a current employee of a Kentucky public school district.
All interested individuals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, a resume and a minimum of two written letters of recommendation to the Kentucky Department of Education. Letters of recommendation should be from individuals with whom the applicant has an established professional or personal relationship and has first-hand knowledge of the applicant’s skills and dispositions.
The deadline for applications is March 30, 2025. Materials should be mailed to Todd Allen, General Counsel, Kentucky Department of Education, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, KY 40601, or emailed to Todd Allen.
The Kentucky Board of Education will review applications for the KHSAA Board of Control at-large position and anticipates appointment at its June 2025 meeting.
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