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Dear Colleagues,
The Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council works with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) every year to ensure we are gathering critical feedback from students on important issues impacting them and their schools.
Each school year brings a new group of members, and I want to take the time out to welcome them:
- Lacey Paige, 12th grade, Christian County High School;
- Lillian Ruth Darr, 12th grade, Muhlenberg County High School;
- Patrick Bogdan Graboviy, 12th grade, North Oldham County High School (Oldham County);
- Hadley Nicolas, 12th grade, Martha Layne Collins High School (Shelby County);
- Abigail “Abby” Ladwig, 12th grade, Owensboro High School (Owensboro Independent);
- Tejas Basneth, 11th grade, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Fayette County);
- Charlie Kinkade, 11th grade, Danville High School (Danville Independent);
- Sophie Johnston, 11th grade, Morgan County High School;
- Tara Rakesh, 11th grade, Randall K. Cooper High School (Boone County);
- Delanie Crump, 10th grade, Boyd County High School;
- Vivian Fox, 10th grade, Elizabethtown High School (Elizabethtown Independent); and
- Prisha Shah, 10th grade, Ryle High School (Boone County).
We are also welcoming back a group of returning members:
- Austin Eric Vitato, 12th grade, J. Graham Brown School (Jefferson County);
- Daniel Ratley, 12th grade, Grayson County High School;
- Graham Borden, 12th grade, Highlands High School (Fort Thomas Independent);
- Luisa Sanchez-Almenarez, 12th grade, Boyle County High School;
- Manas Garla, 12th grade, Western Hills High School (Franklin County);
- Sophia Langford, 12th grade, J. Graham Brown School (Jefferson County);
- Gabriella MacAdams, 12th grade, Williamstown Senior High School (Williamstown Independent);
- Preston Graham, 12th grade, Woodford County School High School;
- Aliete Yanes Medina, 12th grade, Fern Creek High School (Jefferson County); and
- Ani Dundee Taliah Cockerham-O’Donnell , 11th grade, Kentucky School for the Deaf.
These students, who represent schools across the Commonwealth, will help us at KDE understand how decisions made at the state level affect them and their classmates. I looked forward to each meeting with the group we had last year for their bright insights and I know this year’s class will have the same energy and motivation to address important matters.
I want to thank you and your principals for your willingness to give our Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council members the time to participate in this thoughtful work. We understand their time is valuable and we are very intentional about the work this council – and all of our other advisory groups – do to truly make a difference on the educational landscape of Kentucky.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
School Report Card Update: SRC Collection and Review Period Ends Sept. 24
Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Transition to Adult Life domains are now open. Districts can begin reviewing data available in the School Report Card (SRC) Portal Preview site. The Perkins 3S1 indicator will be populated later this week, SRC contacts will be notified when data is available. Career Readiness data will be available when School Accountability data is released. The SRC Portal Link is available in the heading of the SRC Annual Tasks resource.
The School Report Card Portal is scheduled to close on Sept. 24 to prepare for initial public release of the 2024-2025 School Report Card Oct. 1. Please ensure SRC tasks are completed by this date. You can check the status of your district’s domain-level approvals using the SRC Approval Status Report available on the SRC Resources webpage.
Nominations open for 2025-2026 Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional Award
Gov. Andy Beshear’s Office, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, has opened the nomination window for the 2025-2026 Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional Award.
The top two nominees also will be considered for the national 2026 Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. Enacted by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education (USED), the RISE Award recognizes classified school employees who have displayed exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school.
From driving students to school or preparing their meals, to working with partner agencies to ensure essential needs are met, classified employees serve in a variety of vital – and often overlooked – roles.
Eligible candidates must work in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades.
Nominees must illustrate excellence in each of the following areas:
- Work performance;
- School and community involvement;
- Leadership and commitment;
- Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc.); and
- Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and in schools.
The nomination period will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 2. Each nominator can submit up to two candidates for consideration via the 2025-2026 Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional Award nomination form.
Beshear will forward the names of the top two classified employees to USED as Kentucky’s nominees for the national RISE Award by Nov. 1. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will select a single classified employee from among all nominees to receive the national 2026 RISE Award.
Improvement Planning Phase Two and the 2025-2026 Needs Assessment Diagnostic
As districts and schools are completing phase one diagnostics in the comprehensive improvement planning process, due Oct. 1, many teams have begun the process to determine their areas of focus for this year’s improvement plans.
As a reminder, the comprehensive improvement planning timeline is outlined in 703 KAR 5:225 and includes a Nov. 1 deadline for submission of the associated diagnostics, including the Needs Assessment for Districts and Schools diagnostics.
With a later release of Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) data this year, schools and districts are encouraged to utilize local data to determine areas of strength and areas for improvement to complete and submit the diagnostic by the deadline. As living documents, diagnostics may be updated to reflect new information, changing circumstances, or evolving needs. Once KSA data is available, the Needs Assessment for Districts and Schools diagnostics may be revised in the Continuous Improvement Platform (CIP) as needed.
Phase two also includes the District and School Assurances diagnostics, the District Safety Report diagnostic and the new District Trauma-Informed Approach Plan diagnostic.
For questions about the Trauma-Informed Approach Plan, please contact Christina Weeter. For questions about improvement planning or the CIP platform, please contact Veronica Boller. For additional guidance on improvement planning, visit the Comprehensive Improvement Planning webpage.
Resources for Schools to Commemorate Constitution Day
Tuesday, Sept. 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. This day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
In accordance with federal requirements, every educational institution receiving federal funding must provide an educational program for students focused on the U.S. Constitution. KDE’s Constitution Day document features resources from a variety of organizations that may support educators in planning their instruction for Constitution Day.
For more information, visit KDE’s Social Studies Laws and Regulations page.
Applications for 2026 U.S. Senate Youth Program Closing Sept. 29
The deadline for students to apply for the 2025-2026 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a merit-based program that takes the most outstanding high school students from around the country to Washington, D.C., for a week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it, is approaching.
Two Kentucky high school students will be selected this fall as delegates and will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the U.S. Senate, with encouragement to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) oversees the selection process of the two students to be part of the national 104-student USSYP delegation.
Students will attend Washington Week, scheduled for March 7-14, and participate in meetings and briefings with high-level officials from each branch of the federal government.
KDE is asking superintendents to urge high school teachers and principals to nominate qualified high school juniors and seniors to apply. Applications for the 2025-2026 USSYP program are available online.
Applicants should be interested in and participating in leadership, public service and government-related activities. Students will need to submit a transcript, two letters of recommendation, three essay responses, a resume and a signature form as part of the application process.
The semifinalists will interview in Frankfort on a date to be determined.
Email awards@education.ky.gov for more information or call KDE Academic Program Manager Rosalind Turner at (502) 564-2000, ext. 4626. Additional information can also be found on the KDE U.S. Senate Youth Program website.
Evidence of K-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Implementation Survey Open
Per 704 KAR 3:095 (3), superintendents must report to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), no later than Oct. 1 of each year, evidence demonstrating district-wide implementation of a comprehensive multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), including evidence provided by the district to address implementation requirements as provided in section 704 KAR 3:095, Section 2 for grades K-12 and implementation for K-3 required by KRS 158.305(2).
The submission window for the required Evidence of K-12 MTSS Implementation Survey is now open and will close Oct. 1. Each district’s MTSS point of contact or designee is required to complete the Evidence of K-12 MTSS Implementation Survey during this time. Only one response is needed per district. If the designated point of contact has changed, the role should be updated in the Person Role Manager so the correct individual receives the survey details.
This submission is an important part of ensuring that KyMTSS promotes coherence under one comprehensive framework to more efficiently use resources while focusing on improving outcomes for every student. If you require clarification or have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Melissa Wainwright.
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.
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.
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