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Dear Colleagues,
As I mentioned last week, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) hosted the 2025 Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) State Championship at Rupp Arena in Lexington on April 23. I want to thank you as superintendents for your support of STLP and the amazing work our students produce year after year.
I was thrilled to be on hand as we celebrated thousands of students, coaches and teachers for all of their hard work on these technology projects. Walking around the exhibition floor, I saw hundreds of different projects from students from across the Commonwealth, and they all had a unique approach to solving issues within their own communities.
It is also interesting to see all the diverse types of technology these kids are working with, too. Whether they are using 3D imaging, computer engineering, or media arts with podcasts and videos, these students showed they can use modern technology to find solutions to today’s concerns.
These examples of project-based learning empower student achievement and provide an engaging environment for students to have vibrant learning experiences, one of the core tenets of United We Learn and a vital component toward a quality education. The projects we saw also showcased innovative thinking and collaboration with others in the community to address the issues they were trying to tackle.
Collaboration – another one of the three main pillars of United We Learn – is key to the STLP State Championship event itself. Hundreds of volunteers, vendor partners and other education leaders help us run the competitions smoothly, while providing students with a variety of fun learning experiences outside of the main competition. A lot of work from a lot of different people went into this event, and for that, I thank them.
I hope you all got the chance to celebrate with your students who participated in the 2025 STLP event this year, and please check out the 2025 STLP photo blog for more of the scenes from last week’s event. These students are Kentucky’s future business and community leaders, and they’re just getting started.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
Join Us for the 2025 Kentucky Coalition for English Learners Summer Institute
Registration is now open for the Kentucky Coalition for English Learners (KCEL) 2025 Summer Institute, taking place June 9-10 at the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro. This dynamic event will empower, engage and elevate educators with proven strategies, resources and insights to support English learners at all proficiency levels. Whether you're an experienced educator or just beginning your journey, this institute is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on English learners across the Commonwealth.
This year, the institute will feature two keynote speakers. Carol Salva, author and Seidlitz Education consultant, will share research-based strategies for supporting students with limited or interrupted formal education and teaching newcomers during her sessions and morning keynote. Valentina Gonzalez, author, educator and advocate, will deliver a keynote and session focused on promoting literacy and language development for English learner students. The institute will also feature presentations from Kentucky educators, representatives with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and education specialists offering valuable insights and best practices.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow! Visit the KCEL Professional Learning webpage for the full agenda and additional details. KDE will be sponsoring participant registration. Please use the KCEL 2025 Summer Institute scholarship registration link to take advantage of this opportunity. Scholarship registration will close May 31. If you have any questions, contact Kaiman Triplett by email or phone at (502) 564-3791, ext. 4089.
Persistence to Graduation Summit 2025: Registration Open and Keynote Speaker Announced
Register now to attend the 2025 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.
We are excited to announce Justin “Jay” Miller, dean of the University of Kentucky’s School of Social Work, as this year’s keynote speaker. At the time of his appointment in 2019, Miller was the youngest dean in the country, aligning with this year’s theme of elevating student voice. Miller is passionate about his work as an educator and scholar, with research and academic interests focusing on child welfare and youth involvement in juvenile systems. His work has shaped practice with foster youth and has informed a myriad of policies and practices related to participatory engagement with youth and families.
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.
The full schedule will be available soon and registration is limited to the first 300 participants. 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 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:
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:
- 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.
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