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Dear Colleagues,
During the 2024-2025 school year, Kentucky assessed slightly more than 1% of its total tested student population using an alternate assessment aligned with alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS).
Because this exceeded the federal participation threshold, on Aug. 12, 2025, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) requested a waiver from a provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requiring that states not assess more than 1.0% of the total numbers of assessed students in the state on the AA-AAAS. In applying for the waiver, KDE assured that it would continue to monitor, support and provide technical assistance to Kentucky’s school districts to ensure all students are assessed appropriately.
On Feb. 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education's (USED’s) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education declined to grant Kentucky’s waiver request. In addition to declining the waiver, USED placed a grant condition on Kentucky’s fiscal year 2026 Title I, Part A award.
USED provided directions on how KDE may attempt to remove the condition on funding. This requires the submission of an updated waiver request, an updated plan, public availability of the updated plan, and certain data demonstrating progress in reducing the percentage of students tested on alternate assessments in the 2025-2026 school year. KDE is exploring this option, and others, to limit the impact of the denial of the waiver.
Kentucky’s successful compliance with this provision of the ESEA requires:
- Support and oversight to each district that will exceed the 1% threshold;
- The monitoring and evaluation of districts to ensure districts are providing sufficient training to district staff;
- Addressing any disproportionality in the percentage of students taking an AA-AAAS; and
- Verification that each district that anticipates assessing more than 1% of its assessed students in any subject area using the AA-AAAS has followed Kentucky’s participation guidelines.
KDE anticipates the need for increased statewide monitoring, oversight and technical assistance to ensure districts consistently follow Kentucky’s participation guidelines for each student’s participation in the AA-AAAS.
KDE staff members have met with Special Education Regional Technical Assistance Center (SERTAC) directors to share information about the waiver denial and to call on SERTACs for assistance with addressing the 1% participation rate. KDE hosted training earlier this month for all SERTAC directors and other staff members to support local school districts by assisting with student record reviews and training related to alternate assessment participation.
Following this training, SERTAC representatives will contact local school districts in their region to offer support by reviewing decisions made for participation in the alternate assessment and ensuring appropriate decisions are made for students.
KDE is monitoring estimated alternate assessment participation data weekly to determine if the supports are helping to decrease the anticipated participation rate. Current data trends show Kentucky will increase participation rates with the 2025-2026 assessment if nothing changes.
KDE will continue to communicate with USED regarding this matter. As we learn more, we will continue to update our district partners.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
New Study Highlights Impact of LETRS Training on Student Reading Outcomes
A new analysis of Kentucky’s Reading Academies shows that Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training is making a difference for student literacy success.
Drawing on data from 574 elementary schools across 135 districts, the study found that schools with more LETRS-trained teachers experienced stronger growth in the share of students reaching the “proficient” level and a greater reduction of the number of students at the “novice” level on the Kentucky Summative Assessment.
With more than 7,000 educators and administrators participating, the findings reinforce LETRS as a powerful, no-cost professional learning opportunity to strengthen literacy outcomes across Kentucky.
Read the study summary infographic from the Kentucky Reading Research Center or the full report, “LETRS Implementation in Kentucky: An Analysis of Teacher Training and Student Reading Outcomes,” to learn more about the impact on student outcomes.
Application Deadline Extended for 2026-2027 Non-Voting Members of Kentucky Board of Education
The application deadline has been extended for the next non-voting teacher and student members of the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). The new deadline is March 31 at 5 p.m. ET.
Each member would serve a one-year term, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
As mandated by Kentucky law, the KBE develops and adopts the regulations that govern Kentucky’s 171 public school districts and the actions of the Kentucky Department of Education.
The KBE has 15 members. The governor appoints 11 voting members: seven representing the Supreme Court districts and four representing the state at large. The additional members – the president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, the secretary of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, a high school student and an active elementary or secondary school teacher – serve as non-voting members.
Non-Voting Teacher Member Application
To be considered for the non-voting teacher position, the applicant must be employed on a full-time basis by a Kentucky public school district in a position for which Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) certification is required, not employed in an administrative role and must reside in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.
Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District includes these counties: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Carter (partial), Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Nelson (partial), Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble.
Required materials for the teacher application include the online KBE non-voting teacher application, resume, narrative statement explaining why the applicant wants to serve as a non-voting teacher member of the board, a statement of assurance that the applicant meets the definition of a “teacher” as defined in 701 KAR 5:160, and a description of any pending or final disciplinary action against the applicant by the EPSB.
Non-Voting Student Member Application
For the non-voting student position, the applicant must be enrolled in a Kentucky public high school, be a junior at the time of appointment to the KBE (which means a sophomore at the time of the application submission) and must reside in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District.
Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District includes these counties: Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Jefferson (partial), LaRue, Logan (partial), McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson (partial), Ohio and Warren.
Required materials for the student application include the online KBE non-voting student application, resume, narrative statement explaining why the applicant wants to serve as a non-voting student member of the board, two letters of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator, employer, coach or volunteer supervisor explaining why the applicant should be appointed to the board; a parent statement of support and an optional school statement of support.
More details can be found in the article about the 2026-2027 KBE non-voting member applications on Kentucky Teacher.
KDPH Releases FAQ Document on School Immunization Requirements
The “Kentucky School Immunization Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions” document was developed by the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) to address common questions from schools, providers, and families regarding the recent CDC vaccine schedule reorganization and whether anything has changed for Kentucky schools or childcare settings. It will help support you in responding to questions and help you reassure families/guardians of school-age children that:
The KDPH is committed to protecting the health and safety of all people in our Commonwealth, including through access to vaccines. KDPH continues to recommend that health care providers follow the child and adolescent immunization schedules published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians and that families consult with their health care providers to make informed decisions about their health.
This document joins many other resources found in the 2025 Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Outreach Toolkit — a streamlined, updated resource to support vaccination efforts across Kentucky. It includes immunization schedules, noncompliance and declination forms (in English and Spanish), resources for immigrant and refugee children, and updated flyers and social media graphics — all tied to the new theme: Healthy Roots, Stronger Futures.
Just as strong roots help children grow and thrive, timely vaccinations lay a foundation for lifelong health and are available through the KDPH Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Outreach Toolkit.
If you have any questions, please contact SchoolHealth@ky.gov.
We Lead CS Can Help Districts Expand Computer Science Programs
Computing and technology skills are no longer optional; they are among the most in-demand qualifications across every sector of Kentucky’s economy. Yet many of us in K-12 education have faced real challenges in expanding computer science offerings, from the shortage of certified teachers to the cost of launching and sustaining high-quality career pathways.
That is why the Kentucky General Assembly established We Lead CS.
We Lead CS enables districts to expand computer science education without the traditional staffing and enrollment barriers. Through the program, districts gain access to:
- Kentucky-certified teachers who provide synchronous instruction and tutoring in virtual classrooms.
- Up to five computer science dual-credit career pathways – 11 different courses including Kentucky’s first Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course – with no minimum enrollment requirements.
- Tremendous benefits for students, including opportunities to:
- Earn up to 23 hours of dual credit.
- Connect with 30+ employers through year-round virtual work-based learning.
- Earn industry certifications important to Kentucky employers.
- Access paid work experiences that make our students as competitive in the job market as any in the nation.
Districts participate by signing a contract with We Lead CS and paying a per-student seat fee: $500 per student for a year-long course and $250 per student for a semester-based course. Discounts are available for districts taking early action to sign up for the program and request courses for the 2026-2027 schedule. Information is available on the We Lead CS website.
Importantly, We Lead CS covers the cost of dual-credit textbooks, course fees, and industry certification exams, while the Kentucky Work Ready Dual Credit Scholarship covers tuition—significantly reducing financial barriers for districts and families alike.
As educators, we know how powerful it is when students see clear relevance between their learning and their future. In a story close to home for me, I hope you’ll take a minute to watch Lawrence County student Ryder Rowe’s story. Ryder’s participation in We Lead CS helped lead to a paid internship with Procter & Gamble. Ryder’s story—and others like it—demonstrates the real impact of this program on students’ lives and career trajectories.
You’ll also find testimonials from educators around Kentucky about how the program is making a difference for their students at We Lead CS website.
We Lead CS just released its 2026-2027 schedule and the team is available to meet with districts to discuss how the program can support your local workforce and instructional goals. Growth has been rapid, from 86 students in five schools in 2024–2025 to more than 220 students in 27 schools in 2025-2026
Student seats for 2026-2027 are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Now is the time to schedule a conversation by emailing the We Lead CS team.
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