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Dear Colleagues,
As you know, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), in conjunction with the Kentucky United We Learn Council, has been focused on reimagining assessment and accountability in the Commonwealth for several years now. Many of you have either joined us on this path or even helped pioneer some of the innovative ways of assessing how students are performing in the classroom and how well-suited they are for life beyond high school.
As part of this effort, we are documenting how districts have led the way with new ways of incorporating vibrant learning experiences into the classroom while emphasizing collaboration with the community and innovation on how we approach assessments. KDE has developed a new video series highlighting how this effort is taking shape in classrooms across Kentucky.
The videos, which can all be found on KDE’s YouTube channel as well as on our other social media platforms, showcase how districts have developed their own portraits of a learner, which are an agreed-upon set of aspirations for what every learner will know and be able to do when they graduate.
We have already published videos on Shelby County’s work developing local measures of quality and Rockcastle County’s efforts with its community-based accountability system, detailing how they worked with their communities to focus on what is important to them and their students. This includes how they incorporated defenses of learning into the accountability system where students present on what they have learned throughout the year and tie it to the indicators of quality established by the district.
We are working on a few more videos with Kentucky school districts to roll out in the coming months, including an upcoming spotlight on Kenton County. KDE has also released a series of animated videos explaining the vision for reimagined assessment and accountability in the classroom on our social media channels, showing how these systems can be changed based on the input and the needs of families and community members.
The types of experiences we are working on for our students are experiences that lead to positive outcomes for our children and our communities. When students experience vibrant learning and are engaged with the subject matter, they learn more and end up as more engaged and productive citizens.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for the third-annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference taking place at the Galt House in Louisville June 8-9.
This event, hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Early Literacy, is free for Kentucky K-12 public school educators and will include:
- Multiple breakout sessions across both days.
- A featured welcome and keynote the morning of June 9.
- Dedicated time for networking with education professionals, including a vendor hall experience.
- Lunch will be provided and structured transition times are built into the schedule.
Visit the Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference 2026 webpage to register. The full Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference 2026 Schedule at a Glance is available for review and planning purposes.
Hotel Information
A hotel room block at the Galt House is available for conference attendees at a special group rate. Rooms must be reserved by May 8 to receive the discounted rate. We encourage interested participants to book early, as availability is limited. Please visit the Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference 2026 hotel booking link to reserve your room!
2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit Keynote Announced and Registration Open
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia invite you to a two-day event designed to elevate your impact in education. Mark your calendars to attend the 2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 21-22 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington!
Mike Rutherford, 2026 Continuous Improvement Summit keynote, will engage participants with conversations on high-performance teaching and learning, leadership development, creating and leading team-based organizations and results-based organizational improvement.
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 2026 Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit registration webpage to register.
KDE Seeking Public Feedback About Its Website
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is inviting the public to complete a KDE website navigation survey as part of the department’s efforts to reorganize the KDE website to make it easier for people to find the information they need.
The survey includes questions about the content on the KDE website and how users navigate the website. Participants also have the option to provide written feedback.
Results of the survey will inform decisions about the website’s navigation and content. The survey is anonymous and should take about 5 minutes to complete.
Nominations Open for 2026 Grissom Award for Innovation in Special Education
The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Grissom Award for Innovation in Special Education.
The award is given in the spring of each year to a Kentuckian or a Kentucky organization to honor outstanding dedication to improving achievement for students with disabilities. Criteria for the award include:
- Leadership or implementation of innovative practice in curriculum, instruction or assessment that leads to improved learning, postsecondary or workforce outcomes for students with learning or behavior differences; and
- Districts or schools demonstrating significant improvement or sustained excellence in learning or behavior outcomes for students with learning or behavior differences.
The award is named in honor of the late Johnnie Grissom, a longtime Kentucky Department of Education employee who served as associate commissioner for the Office of Special Instructional Services. Grissom provided steadfast commitment, service and leadership, striving to help all students achieve at high levels regardless of their disabilities.
Nominations for the Grissom Award for Innovation in Special Education, which will be accepted online, are open through May 15 at 3 p.m. ET. The award will be presented at the KBE’s August meeting.
KDE Opens Nominations for 2026 Teresa Perry Compassion Award
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Teresa Perry Compassion Award.
The award is given each year to a KDE employee who exhibits integrity and is committed to assisting others, focuses on delivering excellent customer service for the department, is knowledgeable and productive, and shows compassion for others in the work they do.
The award is named in honor of the late Teresa Perry, who served at KDE as executive secretary to the commissioner of education. For more than 33 years, Perry worked tirelessly for the Commonwealth, KDE, each school district and Kentucky’s children. She provided outstanding customer service to internal and external audiences and provided positive inspiration toward others in the day-to-day operation of the agency.
Individuals presently employed by the executive branch are eligible to be nominated. Eligible employees include all 18A classifications, merit and non-merit (associate commissioners are not eligible for this award). Eligible 18A employees must have completed the initial probationary period and be without disciplinary action within the past 12 months.
The nomination deadline is May 15. Nominations will be accepted via the 2026 Teresa Perry Compassion Award nomination form from individuals within KDE and from Kentucky educational partnerships and sources throughout the state.
The winner will be announced at the regular June meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education.
For more information, email Angie Risk.
Planning a Child Nutrition Director Change for the 2026-2027 School Year?
Please notify the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Division of School and Community Nutrition as soon as possible if there will be a change in the child nutrition director for the 2026-2027 school year. KDE has established procedures to support a smooth transition and timely notification is essential to begin this process.
For information on professional standards and the new director onboarding process, visit KDE's Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs webpage.
Once you have followed the guidance above to hire a new child nutrition director, please complete and submit the New Child Nutrition Director Notification form to report the change.
KDE’s Division of School and Community Nutrition is a valuable resource that offers support to all child nutrition program directors. If you have questions, please contact Katie Park.
Comprehensive District and School Improvement Planning: Phase Four
Phase Four Diagnostics
Phase Four of the continuous improvement planning process includes three district level diagnostics and a school level diagnostic that are each due May 1. The Non-Traditional Instruction Continuation of Learning Plan for Districts will support the district in designing and implementing a plan for a continuation of learning during times when nontraditional instruction may need to be implemented in order to prevent a loss of learning. This diagnostic will describe the plan for the following school year. For questions regarding the Non-Traditional Instruction Continuation of Learning Plan for Districts, please contact Steve Kissinger.
The English Learner Plan for Districts (Lau Plan) diagnostic supports the district’s commitment to ensuring that English learner (EL) students can meaningfully participate in the district’s educational programs and services. It outlines the affirmative steps taken by the district to overcome educational barriers that impede equal participation by EL students in their instructional programs. For questions regarding this district level diagnostic, please contact Neil Watts.
The final diagnostic is the Professional Development Plan for both schools and districts. Each school and district must design a professional development plan that supports their efforts to meet the goals established in KRS 158.6451 and addresses the priorities identified in their local needs assessment. The 2025-2026 Professional Development Plan will be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year and incorporated into the improvement plan for that year. For questions regarding the Professional Development Plan, please contact Renee Yates.
Progress Monitoring, Online Posting and Phase Four Diagnostics
The last phase of the comprehensive district/school improvement plan process also includes the vital process of progress monitoring.
Districts and schools may choose a flexible and customized approach to monitoring and implementing the comprehensive improvement plan. Districts/schools should be collecting both input and outcome data to reflect on the following questions regarding their plan:
- Are the planned strategies and activities being implemented as intended?
- Are the strategies and activities meeting the needs of learners?
- Will we adjust or stay the course?
Pursuant to 703 KAR 5:225, comprehensive district improvement plans (CDIPs) and comprehensive school improvement plans (CSIPs) must be posted online. CDIPs must be posted to the district’s website while CSIPs must be posted to each school’s website.
With Phase Four diagnostics to be completed by May 1, it’s important to follow local policy regarding the timeline for posting and remember to include any attachments referenced in a diagnostic. Please see below for additional information on what should be posted for each improvement plan:
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District’s Improvement Plan:
- Continuous Improvement Diagnostic for Districts
- Executive Summary for Districts
- Needs Assessment Diagnostic for Districts
- District Assurances
- Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (including the Goal Building Template)
- Superintendent Gap Assurances
- Professional Development Plan for Districts
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School’s Improvement Plan:
- Continuous Improvement Diagnostic for Schools
- Executive Summary for Schools
- Needs Assessment for Schools
- School Assurances
- Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (including the Goal Building Template)
- Professional Development Plan for Schools
Title III and Title IV, Part A Intent to Participate Open in GMAP
The Title III and Title IV, Part A Intent to Participate are now open in GMAP. Districts must complete the Intent to Participate and select if they want to receive grant funding, choose to join a consortium, or have their funds reallocated to other districts. Districts can visit the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Federal Grants webpage to view their FY 2027 preliminary allocations.
The deadline to complete the Intent to Participate for both programs and have superintendent approval is Friday, May 1. Please visit KDE’s Title III webpage and Title IV, Part A webpage for information and resources.
Please contact your KDE staff for additional questions.
Title III: Kaiman Triplett or Brandy Neal
Title IV, Part A: Morgan Rhodes or Lee Bowling
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