Commissioner's Weekly Message

April 23, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

One of the most exciting events we at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) get the chance to be involved in is happening today: the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) State Championship at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

The event is more than just a competition; it’s a showcase of hundreds of student technology projects from across the Commonwealth through every grade level, allowing people to see just how capable our students are in a key area of the economy. STLP uses project-based learning, technology and digital content creation to empower student achievement.

It’s also the largest event we’ll host this year: nearly 21,000 people attended last year, and our Office of Education Technology is ready for more. Education leaders, volunteers and vendor partners help us put on the event, including contest judges, Robot World technicians and operations staff.

Our students are getting hands-on experience solving real-world problems as part of STLP. These events encourage students to use technology to learn, lead and solve problems in creative ways. The work these students participate falls right in line with our United We Learn vision for public education, especially the vibrant learning experiences we know leads to better outcomes for our students and our communities.

We will be seeing a lot of Kentucky’s future business and community leaders at the STLP State Championship, and I look forward to seeing what they have accomplished over the school year. I hope you all get the chance to stop by Rupp Arena and see the projects our students have worked so hard on and help me celebrate their achievements.

As always, thank you for being …

All In,

Robbie Fletcher

Commissioner of Education

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 register for 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.

School Report Card Q&A Opportunity

The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) School Report Card team is offering a question and answer (Q&A) session on Wednesday, May 7 at 10 a.m. ET.

The team asks that questions or discussion topics you’d like covered be submitted to the KDE data services mailbox in advance to gauge interest in this training. The meeting will be canceled if no questions or requests are received.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to ask for agency-wide on the School Report Card. Recorded trainings are available for review prior to the Q&A session. School Accountability and Academic Performance are new; other trainings were previously shared.

The 2023-2024 SRC Suite dashboard videos detail data by domain and include:

• SRC - Overview Training (SRC - Overview Training Transcript)
• SRC - Career and Technical Education and Transition to Adult Life Training (SRC - Career and Technical Education and Transition to Adult Life Training Transcript)
• SRC - Safety Training (SRC - Safety Training Transcript)
• SRC - Education Opportunity (SRC - Education Opportunity Transcript and SRC - Education Opportunity AI Notes)
• SRC - School Accountability 
• SRC - Academic Performance 

Questions about the training can be directed to KDE data services

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.

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.

2025 KFICS Training

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2025 Kentucky Facilities Inventory & Classification System (KFICS) in-person training, conducted by Ameresco.

This full-day training session will take place in person. Below is the 4-day training schedule. If you or a representative from your district would like to attend, please email Oxana Lopetegui-Pineda to request the meeting invitation link.

All trainings will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. local time.  

• May 5 - Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, 230 Technology Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101
• May 6 - Southeast/South Central Education Cooperative, 55 Waco Drive, London, KY 40741
• May 7 - Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, 904 Rose Road, Ashland, KY 41102
• May 8 - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Auditorium, Room C105, 200 Mero St, Frankfort, KY  40601

Please note that all four sessions will cover the same content. We are offering multiple dates and locations to ensure that everyone across the state has an opportunity to attend.

Feel free to contact Oxana Lopetegui-Pineda with any questions.

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.

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!

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.