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Dear Colleagues,
With the current forecast, we at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) want you to be aware of significant snow and ice that could cover parts of the Commonwealth over the weekend and to be watchful for how it may impact your operations next week. Above all else, we want to ensure the safety of our students through all sorts of situations, including severe weather like what we may see this weekend. We are also here to help address whatever needs your district may have because of the winter storm.
With the legislative session underway, we at KDE are already monitoring hundreds of pieces of legislation and how they may impact what is going on in your schools.
Perhaps the biggest piece of legislation we are following is House Bill (HB) 257, which would make changes to Kentucky’s assessment and accountability systems to encourage working more closely with your communities to establish priorities and help ensure all students have access to vibrant learning experiences. The rundown of HB 257 can be found on Kentucky Teacher.
Another piece of legislation we are following is Senate Bill (SB) 22, which would expand dual credit for registered teacher apprenticeship programs. This is modeled after proposed legislation last year that we have worked with lawmakers on during the interim and hope to see it move fairly quickly as we continue our efforts to remove barriers for those who want to become educators and make the field as appealing as possible.
There are several cleanup bills that we are following – particularly SB 181, which aims to address some questions brought on by last year’s SB 181 and how to properly communicate with students. We heard many concerns about this legislation after it was signed into law and we are hopeful some of those concerns will be addressed while maintaining the focus on protecting our students.
Visit the Kentucky General Assembly’s website for more information, including the 2026 regular legislative session webpage for information on current legislation.
Before wrapping up our weekly communication, I also want to take some time to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday and celebrate the leading role Dr. King played in the Civil Rights Movement. We are all better for his contributions to society.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
End of Program Assessment Validation Deadline is Feb. 1
The deadline for identifying students eligible for end of program (EOP) testing in career and technical education (CTE) is Feb. 1. Transcripts must be reviewed and data updated to ensure that any student eligible to be classified as a concentrator is correctly identified. For certainty, the following should be verified:
- Have credits been updated on the transcript for each student’s pathway valid courses?
- Do the number of credits from pathway valid courses require the student status to be changed from Exploring to Concentrator? (i.e., the student now has at least 2 credits on their transcript for pathway valid courses)?
If the answer to either is yes, please make sure this is reflected on the Technical Education Database System (TEDS) tab in Infinite Campus and complete a new import into TEDS before the deadline of Feb. 1.
Remember, a student is not eligible for an EOP or Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) assessment if their records are not properly reflected in TEDS (not just on the TEDS tab in Infinite Campus).
If you have any questions, please contact the Kentucky Department of Education's CTE data services inbox.
Districts Can Apply for Summer Boost: Reading and Mathematics Program
Applications are open for the Summer Boost: Reading and Mathematics Program, which is designed to help districts provide a boost in reading and mathematics to fight summer learning loss.
The program is a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Teaching and Learning and the Summer Food Service Program.
The Summer Boost program promotes family engagement in reading and math by giving away free books and fun items such as wristbands, bookmarks and backpacks. Each awarded site will receive books to distribute at their meal sites to motivate continued learning throughout the summer months.
Summer meal programs can help ensure hunger doesn’t keep students from reaching their full potential. Through the Summer Boost program, districts have the opportunity to feed children while also providing support for reading and mathematics.
To be considered for participation in the Summer Boost Program, districts must complete an online application. If selected to participate, districts will receive, at no cost:
- Books to give away and digital math games for students to play;
- User-friendly training on how to use the materials to engage students and families;
- Ideas to share with parents or caregivers to promote literacy and numeracy in everyday life; and
- An opportunity for a guest reader to visit your site(s) and read to students.
Applications to participate must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 27. They should be submitted by districts’ Summer Food Service Program director or point of contact.
For additional questions, email Danielle Ward.
KDE’s State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children Welcomes New Members and Leadership
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) recently welcomed new members and leadership for the State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC).
The panel’s role is to inform KDE’s Office of Special Education and Early Learning about unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities in Kentucky. It also advises KDE on policies and practices that impact students with disabilities across the Commonwealth.
The new members who were appointed in late 2025 are Layla Frazier, Amber Hamm, Jaclyn Hawley, Eileen Hoover, Heather McConnell, Jessica Moore, Amy Smith, Laura Tipton and Alexandria Wright.
The new chair of SAPEC is Tiffanie Clark. As a seasoned administrator and former special education director, she brings strong leadership to the panel and a commitment to inclusive education.
The new vice chair is Laura Tipton, a parent representative who can bring a perspective of family engagement and advocacy to the panel. The secretary is Emily Fox, a returning officer.
Returning members include Allison Amshoff, Ashley Barlow, Jeffrey Coles, Jeni Ward Bolander, Jonathan Curry, Lacheena Carothers, Tiffanie Clark, Zachary Stumbo and ex-officio member Gretta Hylton, associate commissioner of KDE’s Office of Special Education and Early Learning.
Jarrod S. Slone, KDE’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Program and Fiscal Compliance specialist, will serve as the new panel facilitator.
In addition to advising KDE, SAPEC reviews and comments on rules or regulations proposed by the Kentucky General Assembly relating to the education of children with disabilities.
The panel also advises KDE in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the U.S. Secretary of Education, developing corrective action plans to address findings in federal monitoring reports, and developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
KDE’s State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education Welcomes New Members and Leadership
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education (SACGTE) recently welcomed new members and leadership.
SACGTE helps to make recommendations on the provisions of services for gifted and talented students in Kentucky’s education system.
The new council members are Diane Ford, Sade McKnight, Cassidy Rosenthal, Kim Walters-Parker, Amanda Wells and Abigail Wheaton. New ex-officio members are Robin Hebert, representing the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education; and Veda Stuart, representing the Education Professional Standards Board.
The newly elected chair is Julia Roberts, a professor at Western Kentucky University and a nationally recognized advocate for gifted education.
The vice chair is Hannah England, gifted and talented coordinator for Russell County. In the district, she focuses on advocating for the services and identification of gifted and talented students.
The secretary is Lindsay Burton, a teacher at Paint Lick Elementary School (Garrard County), who has a strong commitment to supporting gifted learners.
Melissa Thompson also joins the council as KDE’s Gifted and Talented Education consultant. She is a non-voting ex-officio member.
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