Commissioner's Weekly Message

Aug. 6, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

We at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) are excited to announce four new special assistants to the commissioner.

These wonderful educators and former superintendents will help my office with two-way communication between me and all of our district superintendents. This will allow for flexibility and availability for superintendents to discuss pressing matters in a timelier manner.

The special assistants will be partnering with the following cooperatives to facilitate communication:

• Anna Shepherd, former Floyd County superintendent, will work with Southeast/Southcentral Education Cooperative (SESC) and Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC).
• Jamie Weddington, former Lewis County superintendent, will work with Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES) and Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC).
• Mike Lafavers, former Boyle County superintendent, will work with Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) and Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC).
• Rachel Yarbrough, the former superintendent of Crittenden and Webster counties, will work with West Kentucky Education Cooperative (WKEC) and Green River Regional Educational Cooperative (GRREC).

These four special assistants will have monthly meetings with me to discuss common issues and recommendations from our educational cooperative partners, along with messaging we want to communicate to all of you. I look forward to continuing to build the open dialogue between us with the help of such talented individuals.

Kentucky United We Learn Council

Many of you are aware of the work our Kentucky United We Learn Council has been doing to reimagine what’s possible for our students.

The council and KDE have worked closely together to create a new Model Framework that details recommendations for a new vision of the state’s assessment and accountability systems, focusing on more local input and encouraging vibrant learning experiences for every student.

With this work in mind, we’re looking for new members for the council, particularly high school students and their families. You could help us tremendously by sharing the Kentucky United We Learn Council application link with any interested parties in your district. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 26.

As always, thank you for being …

All In,

Robbie Fletcher

Commissioner of Education

School Report Card – SRC Review and Approval Reminder

The School Report Card Portal Preview and Approval tools are open for review and approval of School Safety data. Safe Schools administrators must complete their review and, at minimum, approve at the district level by Aug. 11.

On Aug. 12, the Overview and Educational Opportunity domains and the Collector tool will open. At that time, schools can enter data into the collection tool, districts can add superintendent messages and track school-level collection and approval statuses. The Preview tool allows schools and districts to see data as it will appear in the public-School Report Card (SRC).

Any data anomalies that are found should be flagged for the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) awareness and review. The approval tool will be open for these domains and should be used to confirm data has been reviewed. KDE monitors district-level approvals, but districts have the option of using the approval tool to monitor completion of school-level reviews locally.

The Career and Technical Education and Transition to Adult Life domains will not open until mid-September. KDE is planning a soft launch to the public in early October that includes everything except the assessment and accountability data; that data will be released to the public mid-to-late November.

The SRC Portal dashboards may continue to spin after data is loaded; that is a known problem that AnLar is working to address. The system may time out if you have a period of inactivity, please log out and back in and that may also help. Other performance issues should be referred to AnLar.

The School Report Card Resources webpage will continue to be used as a central repository for communications and resources. The SRC timeline, resources and all SRC communications will continue to be posted to this webpage.

Family Friendly District Certification Opportunity

To support districts in a continuous improvement process in family engagement, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has been piloting a Family Friendly District certification process to complement the Family Friendly Schools and Early Care and Education certification processes.

Washington, Daviess, Harrison and Rowan County school districts have already been piloting the new process, which will be public starting in Nov. 2025. Interested district leaders are encouraged to submit their name and information to the Family Friendly District certification information form to receive updates.

Family Friendly District certification process is designed to show that a mass of schools have met Family Friendly School certification and the district has established the norms and structures at the district level to institutionalize family and community partnership as a core element of effective education practice at every level within the district.

Kentucky Department of Education to Host Kaleidoscope Community of Practice Sessions

Join the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for the next round of Kaleidoscope Community of Practice sessions for special education teachers.

Through the Community of Practice, special education teachers will expand their understanding of Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) through collaboration and co-creation. Teachers will leave the Community of Practice with a collection of resources, tools and skills that will grow their capacity to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Participants must attend one monthly session. Virtual sessions are from 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET or 5-7 p.m. ET.

• Session 1 (October, full-day, in-person): multiple dates and locations TBD by participants.
• Session 2 (Two hours, virtual): Nov. 13 or Nov. 19
• Session 3 (Two hours, virtual): Jan. 14, 2026, or Jan. 22, 2026
• Session 4 (Two hours, virtual): Feb. 11, 2026, or Feb. 19, 2026
• Session 5 (March 2026, full-day, in-person): multiple dates and locations TBD by participants

Free teacher kits will be given to participants who complete all five sessions!

Spots are limited. Visit the 2025-2026 Kaleidoscope Community of Practice registration form for more information. Registration ends on Aug. 29.

Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A Applications Open in GMAP

The Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A applications are now open in the Grant Management Application and Planning system (GMAP).

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) highly encourages districts to begin working on these applications immediately and submit for approval in GMAP by Aug. 31. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.

The tentative Title I, Part A; Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 and Title V applications are also open. Since KDE has not received all federal allocations for programs contained within the consolidated application, only these applications are open at this time. As other programs are allocated, they will be populated in GMAP.

If you have application specific questions, please contact the following KDE staff:

• KDE Title I, Part A consultants by district
• Title I, Part D, Subpart 2: Monica Higgins or Wes Blake
• Title II, Part A: Dana Kelly
• Title IV, Part A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment: Lee Bowling or Morgan Rhodes
• Title V, Part B: Shashawna Dotson

Kentucky Department of Education's Instructional Leadership Conference Series

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), in partnership with Mike Rutherford and Rutherford Learning Group, Inc., announces a free professional learning opportunity for the fall of 2025.

The KDE Instructional Leadership Conference Series offers Kentucky school leaders and leadership teams an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the areas of observing classrooms, identifying teaching talents and strengths, understanding the science and art behind effective instruction, providing growth-evoking feedback and coaching, and creating the conditions at a school that attract and retain excellent teachers.

This three-part series will be held at the Central Bank Center in Lexington on Sept. 9, Oct. 15 and Nov. 7, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ET. Mike Rutherford will lead the sessions, assisted by Haley Ralston and Deloreon Burton, KDE educational recovery leaders.

Each attendee interested in participating in the training series must complete the KDE Instructional Leadership Conference Series registration form by Sept. 5. Questions regarding the professional learning opportunity should be directed to Ralston's email.

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.

Title I, Part A Carryover Waiver

Section 1127(a) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) places a carryover limitation on Title I, Part A funds. No more than 15% of the funds allocated to a district for any fiscal year may remain available for obligation for one additional fiscal year.

Districts must ensure at least 85% of school year 2024-2025 (FY 2025) Title I, Part A funds (project 310L) are obligated for activities that occur no later than Sept. 30, 2025. As stated in Section 1127(c) of ESSA, this carryover limitation does not apply to districts that receive less than $50,000 in Title I, Part A for the fiscal year.

Section 1127(b) of ESSA allows the state to waive this carryover limitation if:

• It determines a district’s request is reasonable and necessary; or
• Supplemental appropriations for this subpart become available.

Typically, districts may apply for this waiver once in a three-year period; however, KDE has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education allowing waivers to be granted more than once in a three-year period.

Any district wishing to request a carryover waiver for 2024-2025 funds may do so no later than Sept. 30 by submitting an email to David Millanti. The email must:

1. State the district requests a waiver of the 15% carryover limitation;
2. Contain the reason for the excess carryover; and
3. Describe plans for effectively using carryover funds.

Questions may be directed to David Millanti or your district’s Title I, Part A consultant. Additional information about the carryover limitation is available in the Title I Carryover Information document.

Applications Open for the 2025-2026 Class of GoTeachKY Ambassadors

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is looking for new GoTeachKy ambassadors for the 2025-2026 school year.

The mission of GoTeachKY, an initiative of KDE, is to ensure that all students across the Commonwealth have equitable access to effective educators. GoTeachKY seeks to recruit the next generation of teachers in Kentucky, helping remedy the critical teacher shortage that affects every state in the U.S.

GoTeachKY ambassadors will act as the face of the GoTeachKY initiative, connecting with prospective educators and community members primarily through digital platforms like social media and Microsoft Teams. They also will foster positive in-person connections with colleagues and students at secondary and post-secondary schools. As representatives of the teaching profession, ambassadors will provide valuable information to those considering teaching careers and contribute to the elevation of the teaching profession.

GoTeachKY ambassadors also must be able to attend a minimum of 80% of monthly meetings. The first meeting is in person and required. Reimbursement for your substitute will be available. Ambassadors will receive a $75 monthly stipend with opportunities to earn additional compensation.

Visit the GoTeachKY Ambassador Program Application to apply and learn more information on the program requirements. Applications close on Sept. 30.

For more information, please email Justin Edwards and Jarvis Terrell at the Kentucky Department of Education.

Important Due Dates for Superintendents Available

The updated Important Due Dates for Superintendents webpage outlines key district deadlines and required reporting timelines.

Points of contact for all listed programs also have been updated to reflect current Kentucky Department of Education staffing.

School-Based Mental Health Professional Use of Time Survey Due Nov. 1

Per KRS 158.4416(3)(f), superintendents must report to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), no later than Nov. 1 of each year, the number of school-based mental health service providers, the position held, placement in the district, certification or licensure held, the source of funding for each position, a summary of the job duties and work undertaken by each school-based mental health service provider, and the approximate percent of time devoted to each duty over the course of the year.

This School-Based Mental Health Services Provider Professional Use of Time Survey has been created by KDE so that each school district's superintendent can fulfill this requirement.

At the link provided, there is a "Read Me First" tab which gives instructions on how to best complete this process. An instructional video has also been created to assist school districts in completing the Use of Time Survey. Please submit your spreadsheet to the Use of Time Survey Sharepoint site.

For technical questions or assistance, please contact Leslie McKinney. If you require clarification or have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Michelle Sircy.

Moral Instruction Provider Reporting Tool in Infinite Campus

Senate Bill 19 (2025) amended KRS 158.200 to include the following: “Local boards of education shall allow pupils to be excused for up to one (1) hour on no more than one (1) day each week, which shall include time attributed to travel to and from, to attend a district approved request for a moral instruction offering upon receiving the consent of the pupil's parent or guardian.”

This regulation requires new data collection and new reporting for Moral Instruction Providers.

Reporting includes:

• Name of each applicant that submitted a request to provide a moral instruction offering;
• The date of the application;
• The local board’s approval or denial of the application; and
• If the request was denied, reason for denial. KDE must report annually by Dec. 1 to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate Interim Joint Committee on Education.

Districts will meet the requirements for Moral Instruction reporting to the Kentucky Department of Education through a custom tool in Infinite Campus. Please see the Moral Instruction Providers Guidance Document for more information about using this tool and send any questions to Caryn Davidson.

Register 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. Registration is now open 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! Visit the 2025 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit registration webpage to register.

School Resource Officer Funding Available to Districts

The general fund appropriation included $18 million in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Kentucky Department of Education to assist local districts in funding salaries for school resource officers, as defined in KRS 158.441, on a reimbursement basis.

In accordance with House Bill 622, the Kentucky Department of Education shall reimburse local school districts up to $20,000 for each campus employing at least one on-site full-time certified school resource officer. Once each local district has staffed and continues to maintain one school resource officer for each campus in that district, the local district is then eligible to apply for reimbursement for additional assistance in funding salaries for school resource officers, except that the assistance allowed under this paragraph shall be limited to:

1. Funding available; and
2. No more than one school resource officer for each academic building.

Monthly grants shall first be applied to the per-campus requirement across all local districts and then to districts that meet the per-campus requirement and have additional school resource officers, but only to the extent that funding is available.

Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any portion of general fund money not expended for this purpose shall lapse to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund Account (KRS 48.705). Mandated reports shall be submitted pursuant to Part III, 24. of this Act.

In order to meet the requirement outlined above, the Kentucky Department of Education is asking districts that will seek reimbursement to complete the School Resource Officer (SRO) Funding Intent to Participate form by Sept. 15.

Information provided in the survey will determine funding amounts available to districts for SRO funding.

For questions, please contact Karen Wirth or Lalah Brewer.

Kentucky High School Students Invited to Attend Fall Service Academy Information Fair

Sen. Rand Paul is hosting his annual Service Academy Information Fair on Aug. 28 at the Knicely Conference Center at Western Kentucky University. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. CT, with the event being held from 6 to 8 p.m. CT.

The event provides interested students and parents with an opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Army, Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies. Representatives from each will be on hand to answer questions.

Interested students may RSVP to the Office of Sen. Paul: (270) 782-8303.

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.