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 May 6, 2026
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District and School Request for Office of Teaching and Learning HQIR Support
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) has created an intake form for districts and schools to request technical assistance for high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) implementation support. This new HQIR Implementation Support Request Form provides a streamlined process for districts and schools to request targeted support aligned to their specific needs and stage of implementation.
Targeted areas for support include:
- Instructional visioning and HQIR adoption;
- Yearly curriculum implementation planning and monitoring;
- Curriculum-based professional learning and intellectual preparation (unit/lesson internalization, lesson rehearsal, student work analysis); and/or
- Instructional Practice Guide (IPG) observations and feedback support.
The form will also gather important information about HQIRs currently in use, grade bands impacted, timelines for support and existing partnerships or initiatives. Submissions are reviewed to determine alignment and next steps for providing coordinated, responsive support.
New Resource to Support Effective Intellectual Preparation in PLCs
The Office of Teaching and Learning has developed a suite of resources to support districts and schools in establishing and strengthening intellectual preparation within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Intellectual preparation is a foundational aspect of curriculum-based professional learning and supports educators in deeply understanding and effectively implementing HQIRs to improve the student experience and academic outcomes.
In response to feedback from instructional leaders across the state, a new tool has been created to support leaders in establishing intellectual preparation. The Facilitation Guide: Leading Intellectual Preparation in PLCs resource:
- Organizes PLC facilitation into a clear, repeatable structure to support consistent and effective implementation;
- Provides practical facilitation moves and prompts to support meaningful, HQIR-aligned discussions during PLCs;
- Outlines structures and guidance for engaging educators in each of the four core processes; and
- Includes examples of high-leverage coaching questions facilitators can use to help anchor or extend educator thinking for each intellectual preparation process.
This new tool for leaders builds on two earlier critical resources for establishing intellectual preparation:
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Intellectual Preparation Guidance - Provides an overview of the four core processes that make up intellectual preparation (unit and lesson internalization, lesson rehearsal and student work analysis), along with protocols to support each process.
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PLC Observation Tool - An observation form that includes specific indicators aligned to each core process used to understand the extent to which the PLC is engaging in intellectual preparation and supports leaders in providing targeted feedback for improvement.
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Recording of 2026 March Leadership Meeting Now Available
In order to provide vibrant learning environments for all students, it is important for schools and districts to translate the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) into a guaranteed and viable curriculum. The regional educational cooperatives, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), hosted in-person meetings in March for district and school leaders. This year’s session focused on the trajectory‑changing practices of consistency and coherence and how leaders can leverage new KDE tools, revised academic standards and aligned instructional systems to provide vibrant learning experiences for every student.
Key Topics
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Revised KAS for Reading & Writing: Learn what’s changed, why it matters and how to prepare for local implementation.
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Curriculum Implementation Monitoring Toolkit: New tools to help leaders monitor HQIR use, professional learning and classroom instruction.
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Aligning Tier 2 Intervention to Tier 1 Instruction: Practical guidance for creating instructional coherence across MTSS.
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Standards Review Update: Hear what's next in the statewide standards review cycle.
New resources support:
- Effective MTSS Implementation
- Effective Curriculum Implementation Monitoring
- Core Processes of Intellectual Preparation
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Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing Implementation
- Academic Standards Update
A recording of the March 2026 Leadership Meeting is now available, including access to the accompanying materials in the March 2026 Participant Folder.
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Missed something in previous newsletters?
Be sure to visit the newsletter archive to catch up on valuable updates and resources. You’ll find information on the Kentucky Academic Standards and related professional learning opportunities available through KYstandards.org and the KYLearningHub, including content‑specific tools, implementation guidance and support for high‑quality instructional resources.
Please email the standards team with any questions.
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Kentucky Department of Education
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