Commissioner's Weekly Message

April 17, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Thankfully, flooding across the Commonwealth has started receding from historic or near-historic levels, but some of our school communities are still working to get their students back to in-person instruction.

We at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) are ready to assist during this stressful time for school leaders. As we talked about during the Superintendents Webcast on April 8, we encourage you to quickly collect information about damage your district sustained as a result of the most recent severe weather and send that to your county emergency management office.

There are also sources of funding available to you to cover damages, including the new State Aid Funding for Emergencies 4860 fund established by House Bill 544 (2025) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Insurance doesn’t always cover everything, but FEMA can help with funding to help with debris removal and repair damage to buildings, access roads, drainage facilities and school buses. Damage to athletic facilities is also a major expense FEMA may cover.

Our friends at Kentucky Emergency Management also stressed how important it is to distinguish what severe weather event caused the damage you’re reporting, because unfortunately, we’ve had a few different weather events this year causing problems for our schools and it’s important to know which event caused what damage in order to keep accurate records.

There were so many districts impacted by the flooding and so many students that have lost their homes, but it is such a blessing to see so many stepping up to help their neighbor. I especially want to thank you for the help you have provided your communities during these struggling times. Kentucky’s schools are a rallying point for the entire community, during good times and bad, and it was heartwarming to see everything you did to help. From using school buildings as emergency shelters to volunteering district resources and staff to relief efforts, you played a crucial role in helping your neighbors get through yet another disaster.

Title VI Funding

KDE recently received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requesting that all state education departments, including KDE, certify compliance with antidiscrimination obligations to continue receiving federal funding for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. I previously communicated this information with you in a separate email on Sunday.

Of course, KDE is committed to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which provides that “[n]o person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” KDE has previously signed written assurances to USED memorializing its commitment to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Furthermore, each school district in Kentucky annually assures KDE of such compliance. However, this new request from USED has been added in light of the decision involving the Supreme Court case, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

This 2023 decision by the Supreme Court dealt with admissions policies used at postsecondary institutions, specifically Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The decision did not involve issues of elementary and secondary education, but some argue the decision has implications for both elementary and secondary education.

Following careful review and consideration, we determined that we will sign the OCR certification form. 

School districts should consult with board counsel on whether to sign the certification form. For school districts that choose to sign it, please submit those to the KDE legal team by 5 p.m. ET on April 18. For those school districts that choose not to sign, KDE will propose no enforcement action on the grounds that the certification form does not comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

As I explained during the Superintendent Webcast on April 8 and in my email to superintendents on April 7, the OCR certification form is not without issues. However, this decision should not get in the way of giving quality education to every student. I am confident that through our statewide commitment to providing opportunity and access for every student, we can advance towards meeting the needs and ensuring their success in Kentucky's public schools.

As always, thank you for being …

All In,

Robbie Fletcher

Commissioner of Education

Resources for Schools and Districts Providing Support to Families Affected by Recent Floods

The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) School Crisis and Emergency Response/Recovery webpage has updated resources that schools and districts can use to provide school-based supports to students, families, and staff who have experienced loss due to the recent floods.

“KDE Guidance on Grief and Loss” is a resource to assist students and staff with any grief, including non-death grief, that may be related to the recent natural disasters. “Implementing a Continuum of Tiered Behavioral Health Supports for Students, Families and Staff Following a Natural Disaster” provides some suggested activities for support at the universal (Tier I), targeted (Tier II) and intensive (Tier III) levels. Additionally, some resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network that are specific to floods are also available. These resources can be used in conjunction with existing emergency operations and trauma-informed plans that are in place at the local level.

LEAs that were directly impacted by the floods may also be eligible for additional federal funds through U.S. Department of Education’s (USED’s) Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grant program. District leadership can contact Christina Chapoton in USED’s Disaster Recovery Unit directly for more information, including details on applying for a Project SERV grant to help the school community specifically recover following a natural disaster or traumatic event. ED and FEMA have also issued an FAQ for schools utilizing FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program to recover from disasters

In addition to the Governor’s Flood Resources webpage, KDE has compiled resources that schools can use to provide supports to students, families and staff who have experienced the recent flooding in our state.

KDE has a trauma-informed toolkit to guide universal supports for students and staff as well as more intensive supports, if needed. A link to the trauma-informed toolkit can be found on the School Safety and Resiliency Act webpage. KDE’s School Crisis and Emergency Response/Recovery page has a variety of resource focused on how schools can help individuals and the community recover from disaster events.

Resources linked below are specific to flooding and can be used by schools or other agencies to support children following the recent flooding. These resources can be used in conjunction with existing emergency operations and trauma-informed plans that are in place at the local level. 

Other Resources:

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance on Helping Children Cope with severe weather emergencies.
• Child Trends has created a Toolkit for Child Welfare Agencies to Help Young People Heal and Thrive During and After Natural Disasters.
• The Managing the Stress of Children After a Disaster and Restoring a Sense of Well-Being in Children After a Disaster documents created by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress provides care givers with guidance following a disaster.
• Help Kids Cope is an app designed to assist parents in talking to their children about different disasters they may experience or have already experienced.
• A handout from Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide (PFA). This handout provides parents with common reactions after a disaster, ways to respond to those reactions, and examples of things you can say to your adolescent.
• The National Association of School Psychologists Large-Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Children Cope, along with additional information related to helping Relocated Students with Special Needs
• Everyone reacts differently to traumatic events. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resources to help families and communities in response to floods, including a resource that describes how young children, school-age children, and adolescents react to traumatic events and offers suggestions on how parents and caregivers can help and support them. 
• SAMHSA handout Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
• The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities published the Disaster School Preparedness Toolkit
• The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center provides an extensive library of resources and support for schools. Below are links to their most applicable resources for flooding.
• Preparing for Floods at K-12 Schools and School Districts
• Planning to Recover from Emergencies at Districts and Schools Webinar

Free Leadership Development Through National Institute for School Leadership

The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support has partnered with the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) to implement its National Institute for School and System Leadership (NISL) program.

This nationally recognized leadership development program was designed to help school and district leaders transform schools into high-performing learning environments and has been in place in Kentucky for the past 14 years. NCEE’s NISL program is the most widely used research-proven professional learning program for school leaders in the country.

Built on decades of research into the world’s emerging and highest-performing education systems, NISL equips leaders with the skills, strategies and vision to drive meaningful and sustainable change. This experience prepares leaders to explore global education trends, set a clear strategic vision and design rigorous instructional systems and build a culture of continuous improvement, ethical leadership and long-term school success. The monthly interactive experience focuses on the key themes for capacity-building and for transforming the school as an organization while improving student success.

School and district staff interested in participating in this free professional learning are encouraged to complete the NISL interest form no later than June 6. Questions regarding the training opportunity should be directed to Charlotte Jones.

Student Privacy Policy Office – Annual Notification

The Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) at the U.S. Department of Education (USED) sent its annual notification to local educational agencies (LEAs) on March 28, regarding educational agencies’ obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98). The annual notification is required by 20 U.S.C. § 1232h(c)(5)(C). 

The SPPO notice includes a new assurance of compliance requirement on page 3. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) must confirm by April 30 that the state education agency (SEA) and LEAs are complying with the provisions of FERPA and PPRA. The following information will be included in the KDE response.

KDE promotes FERPA and PPRA compliance for LEAs through promoting training opportunities and providing data governance and privacy resources, which includes links to the SPPO website. In addition, parents and students have access to their student data through the Infinite Campus parent/student portal in real-time.

Furthermore, LEAs sign a comprehensive annual assurance document that includes the following FERPA/PPRA compliance statement:

The local school district will comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) at 34 C.F.R. Part 99, Kentucky Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (KRS Chapter 160.700 to 160.731), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (1998) and accompanying rule (20 U.S.C. §1232h 34 C.F.R. Part 98), and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) at 20 U.S.C. §1232h. This includes required annual notifications to parents and eligible students as required by FERPA and PPRA.

LEAs are informed they are required to provide annual notices by any means that are reasonably likely to inform parents of their rights. It is considered a best practice to also post the FERPA and PPRA annual notification of rights on each school’s website. LEAs are directed to the SPPO webpage for annual notices for further assistance. KDE generally directs LEAs and parents to the SPPO in response to FERPA and PPRA concerns and alleged violations.

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:

1. 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.
2. Leading or supporting turnaround/improvement initiatives at the school, system or state department levels.
3. 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.

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.

Kentucky School District Exit Surveys

Per KRS 160.382, Kentucky school districts are responsible for collecting exit survey data from all employees who voluntarily leave the school district.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has developed a process to collect this data from districts without personally identifiable information. Information submitted by an employee and reported to the department include the position vacated, the employee’s years of service in the position and in the district, if the employee is taking a similar position in another district, and the reasons provided for leaving the district. The purpose of this data collection is to provide a means for analyzing the factors that impact teacher retention both at the district and state levels.

KDE has created a survey that districts can use to satisfy this requirement. Districts retain the option to purchase or use their own exit survey so long as they reported their data to the KDE annually.

For additional information, please email KDE Program Consultant Justin Edwards.

School Resource Officer Grant Funding

Finance officers, please remember current-year funds for the school resource officer (SRO) grant ends June 30, 2025.

To request reimbursement, send your Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (CDIP) expenditure report for project 18RL to the Kentucky Department of Education SRO reimbursement email inbox by June 15 for final fiscal year 2025 payments. Any FY 2025 reimbursement requests received after June 15 will not be reimbursed as any remaining funds will lapse to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund, per House Bill 6 (2024).

If you have questions, contact Nicole Crosthwaite by email or by telephone at (502) 564-1979, ext. 4328.

Nominations Open for 2025 Kentucky Exemplary Educators Program

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Kentucky Exemplary Educators Program (KEEP).

Superintendents, curriculum and professional development supervisors, principals, representatives from teacher training institutions and other education leaders are invited to recommend up to three individuals. Those recommended should have at least FIVE years of experience and showcase exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective and innovative instructional practices and student learning results. Qualified individuals recommended for KEEP will receive a certificate of excellence from the Kentucky Department of Education and may be considered for other recognitions and opportunities, including invitations to sit on advisory councils and committees.  

To nominate a candidate, visit the 2025 Kentucky Exemplary Educators Program recommendation form. Refer to the KEEP information sheet for required information and additional details about the recommendation process. Please note that nominations will require a resume and letter of recommendation. The deadline for submission is May 16.

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!

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.

Non-Course Code Work-Based Learning (WBL) Deadline Reminder

Districts wishing to submit applications for the Non-Course Code (WBL) KBE Approval accountability process must do so by May 1 for applicants to be considered for the current school year. Please ensure that all required documentation is provided to avoid any delays or denials by the review committee.

Use the checklist provided to verify that all necessary components are included. This includes student identification, employer information, type of work-based learning, alignment with credential or associate degree programs, employer verification of 300+ hours of WBL experience, state course codes, justification of school support, required signatures, and any supporting documentation.

Once the request is submitted using the Non-Course Cooperative (Co-op) or Internship Approval Request SharePoint site, your student will be assigned a Record ID. Please record this ID for future correspondence regarding the approval request.

For additional information on cooperative education and internships for state accountability pursuant to KRS 158.6455, please reference the FAQ Co-op-Internship for State Accountability document.

Thank you for your attention to this important deadline.

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.

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.

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.