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Dear Colleagues,
I know it’s been a tough past week and weekend for all of us, as our state has experienced a historic flooding event that displaced people from their homes.
Here in Frankfort, many of our roads and bridges are closed as the Kentucky River reached a record-high level of 17 feet above the flood stage. People have been evacuated as homes and businesses are underwater, including staff members here at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
We know that some of our school districts have been affected by the flooding as well. Western Kentucky was hit especially hard, with towns like Mayfield and Benton getting record rainfall of more than 15 inches.
Unfortunately, we also know that we have lost a few of our fellow Kentuckians during this horrific weather event. Our hearts go out to everyone who is feeling the loss, including our colleagues at Franklin County Schools, who lost one of their students last week. We know this is a stressful time for school leaders – both personally and professionally – but KDE is here and ready to assist.
The Kentucky Emergency Management team has requested school districts report damages to your county emergency management office as soon as you are able. If you need FEMA assistance, please send emails to pa.help@ky-em.org.
When you assess damages, KDE asks that you send an email to kdesafe@education.ky.gov with information about the damage and its estimated costs. This information will help us track relief efforts if funding is provided.
I, along with everyone here at KDE, is committed to helping districts recover from this disaster. KDE will keep our partners informed about any relief funds that may become available. We understand there’s a long road ahead for many, but by working together, we will come through this.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
Accepting Applications for Diagnostic Review Team Members
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia are accepting applications for diagnostic review team members to serve during the 2025-2026 school year.
The Cognia diagnostic review process is a performance-driven approach that relies on data from student performance, stakeholder feedback, classroom observations and a review of documents, artifacts and school practices.
Diagnostic reviews yield a comprehensive analysis of an institution in an extensive report intended to energize and guide continuous improvement planning for underperforming schools and districts.
All diagnostic review team members must have experience or expertise in the following areas:
- School or system administration with a specific emphasis on instructional leadership such as superintendent, principal, instructional supervisor, director of curriculum and instruction, assessment, special education, etc.
- Leading or supporting turnaround/improvement initiatives at the school, system or state department levels.
- Familiarity with the analysis and use of data as a driver for improvement.
Diagnostic review team members are required to complete specialized training. While there is no compensation for participating as a diagnostic review team member, all expenses associated with travel for an onsite visit will be reimbursed by Cognia.
If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please begin by submitting your contact information on the diagnostic review team member interest form.
We will send next step information to support you through the training process. We will have multiple training options available throughout the next few months in preparation for reviews scheduled for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have questions, please email the Cognia team.
Join Us for the 2025 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia invite you to a two-day event designed to elevate your impact in education. Mark your calendars to attend the 2025 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 22-23 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington!
This year’s keynote speaker is Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year. She teaches English as a second language to students from kindergarten through 8th grade and is a passionate advocate for her students, their families and fellow teachers. A Tennessee native and first-generation college graduate, Testerman takes pride in her former students’ success and is dedicated to ensuring the next generation receives a broadened education while living in a rural setting. She emphasizes the importance of teachers holding high expectations for all students from the moment they step into the classroom.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your professional learning, strengthen existing relationships or tackle unique challenges with fresh strategies, this conference is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to spark new ideas, gain insights from KDE leaders and join Kentucky’s continuous improvement movement!
Registration Open for Persistence to Graduation Summit 2025
Mark your calendars to attend the annual Persistence to Graduation Summit. Hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of Student Success, the summit will be held June 12-13 at the Hilton in downtown Lexington. This year’s theme will be focused on Elevating Student Voice.
During this two-day event, superintendents, district level personnel, school administrators, school counselors, educators, family resource and youth services center coordinators, school mental health and social service professionals, and community partners from across Kentucky will convene to share information and best practices to support students who may experience challenges to reaching graduation.
Engaging and interactive sessions will be led by facilitators from across the state and content will include:
- Student transition and re-engagement strategies;
- Alternative education programming;
- Well-rounded educational opportunities;
- Safe and supportive learning environments; and
- Effective use of education technology.
For more information contact Lalah Brewer.
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, 2025, 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.
Guidance on Unpaid Fees
Generally, a district cannot withhold grades due to unpaid fees. KRS 160.330 and KRS 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 somewhat more problematic, 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 or other 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 prohibition on a school lowering a student’s grades as a punishment for misconduct, including as a punishment for unexcused absences or tardies.
See OAG 96-28, which outlines this conclusion and describes the analysis when a student is suspended (the missed schoolwork may not be made up since that is the essence of the punishment). A school may, however, prohibit a student’s participation in a graduation ceremony since taking part in a graduation ceremony – or “walking” – doesn’t confer graduate status. Again, restricting the student’s participation in graduation may be technically allowable as leverage, but that strategy is not best practice and not recommended by KDE in keeping with the spirit of this OAG opinion.
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