Council Verification Data 

Pursuant to KRS 160.345(6), the principal, through the superintendent, is required to forward to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) the names and training verification of all SBDM council members by Nov. 1. If you have not entered the SBDM verification data, please do so immediately.  

This information is entered into the SBDM verification database that is housed in the KDE Web Applications. If you need access to it, please contact your district’s web application admin point of contact (WAAPOC).

In addition, Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools must enter the names of their advisory leadership team (ALT) members.

During phase three of the comprehensive improvement planning process, schools are required to complete and submit the comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP) in the Cognia Continuous Improvement Platform (CIP). 

A CSIP is a plan developed by the school council with the input of parents, faculty and staff based on a review of relevant data that includes targets, strategies, activities, a time schedule to support student achievement and student growth, and to eliminate achievement gaps among groups of students. The template has been updated and through this link you can download the new CSIP template. 

Three diagnostics encourage thoughtful reflection focused on priority needs, funding and closing achievement gaps between identified subgroups of students. Schools must address critical needs specified in the Needs Assessment and align strategies and activities to those needs. The deadline for submitting the diagnostic is Jan. 1. 

The updates to the goal building template align to streamlined goal requirements and give the opportunity for optional goals. The required goals on the CSIP goal building template are state assessment results in reading and mathematics and achievement gap. The optional goal areas include state assessment results in science, social studies and writing, English learner progress, quality of school climate and safety, postsecondary readiness and graduation rate.

You can find information on the different components of the CSIP within the Continuous Improvement Planning webinar.

Principal Technical Documents  

KDE is excited to share its newest technical document: Principal Packet.

While the Principal Packet is designed with new principals in mind, this resource may be helpful to all principals (regardless of experience level). The Principal Packet contains resources related to the Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, elections and common SBDM missteps.

Additionally, KDE developed editable agenda and editable minutes templates. These templates provide a useful framework for agenda developers and minute takers to use before and during council meetings.

SBDM Implications for Schools Identified for Comprehensive and Targeted Support 

While SBDM councils will continue to operate in schools that are identified for targeted support and improvement (TSI), including additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI), school council authority in schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) are suspended and transferred to the superintendent.

The SBDM Implications for CSI and TSI document provides some additional information for consideration for identified schools and their councils. 

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has compiled a list of topics and reminders for planning monthly SBDM agendas. Below are suggested topics for consideration at your November SBDM meetings. 

• The following diagnostics are due in the Continuous Improvement Platform by Jan. 1: 
  • Comprehensive School Improvement Plan 

• Review/revise the following policies:
  • Assignment of instructional and non-instructional staff time 
  • Student assignment 
  • School schedule 

As always, please remind council members that the goal of their work is to increase student achievement and that this should be at the forefront of every discussion, policy and decision. 

SBDM webinars typically occur on the second Tuesday of the month; however, the second Tuesday of November is Veteran’s Day. In observance of the holiday, the next webinar is scheduled for the third Tuesday of November, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. ET. A link to join will be emailed out closer to the webinar date.

SBDM coordinators are encouraged to reserve the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. ET. SBDM coordinators are encouraged to attend at least eight webinars a year.

Free Access to KET's Online SBDM 101

In partnership with KDE, Kentucky Educational Television (KET) is offering the online self-paced and facilitated SBDM 101 course free to an additional 105 participants. Free registrations are on a first come, first served basis. 

Please note that once those additional 105 spots are filled, the course is still available for completion and the cost is $95 per person. 

Please share the 2025 SBDM 101 Registration Form with your new council members interested in the training. Once they are confirmed as new council members, the instructions on how to use the coupon code and the coupon code itself will be shared with them.