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Dear Colleagues,
Kentucky’s assessment program and accountability system are about to go through some important changes as a result of House Bill 257, legislation that encourages districts to work more closely with their communities to establish priorities for their schools and help ensure all students have access to vibrant learning experiences.
KDE’s coverage of HB 257 on Kentucky Teacher provides much more information about the details of the legislation and just how exactly it reimagines assessment and accountability. With legislation this significant, the thoughts of leaders in education will be critical as we work to build it out across the state.
Over the summer, KDE leaders will be meeting with stakeholder groups as we finalize regulations surrounding assessment and accountability for the Kentucky Board of Education to begin considering in August. Among the topics we plan to discuss are how student attendance will play into the accountability system moving forward, how individual student growth is assessed, and how each indicator is weighted, among many other aspects.
KDE has already created a couple new advisory groups – the English Learner Growth Small Group and Accountability Thought Partners – made up of education stakeholders to receive feedback on these topics. Several other existing advisory groups will be consulted to further analyze the new requirements under this legislation. By February 2027, changes are expected to be finalized with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan and state regulations.
While KDE pledges support to districts with the technical changes involved with HB 257, the most innovative part is the indicators of quality that your districts and communities have the opportunity to develop. This includes flexible options to encourage more collaboration with your communities to set your own local priorities and incorporate them into the accountability model.
Also as part of HB 257, the KDE Division of Innovation's regional innovation specialists are here to foster connections between districts looking to learn from one another. Whether you are hoping to collaborate with neighboring districts or form partnerships across the state, the regional innovation specialists are available to help facilitate that network.
The regional innovation specialists offer guidance and collaborative, multi-district professional learning in developing local indicators of quality, creating vibrant learning experiences, building performance assessment systems, and establishing or refining your Portrait of a Learner. By sharing ideas, resources, and innovations, the regional innovation specialist team exists to help districts build meaningful, localized pathways to student success.
No matter where your district is on its journey – whether just beginning or refining established practices – the regional innovation specialists are ready to meet you there. Support is tailored to your district’s current needs, whether it's sparking initial conversations or expanding innovative practices. In every step, the regional innovation specialists help you connect with others and grow toward a more vibrant, learner-centered vision.
For more information or to connect with the regional innovation specialist in your area, email Robert Meacham.
We are looking forward to seeing the future of assessment and accountability in Kentucky. All of this work ties back into personalized vibrant learning experiences for our students and launching a system that is meaningful and useful to all our learners. These are the types of 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
National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program and Application
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) – formerly the National Title I Association – selects examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program.
Every year, states can identify up to two Distinguished ESEA Schools in three possible categories:
- Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years
- Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years
- Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)
The Kentucky Department of Education is now accepting applications for schools for Categories 1, 2 and 3. Schools interested in applying for consideration must complete and submit the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program and Application by the deadline of Aug. 7. If selected as a finalist, KDE staff will conduct a site visit to interview the principal, selected staff and students.
Two National ESEA Distinguished Schools from Category 1, 2 and/or 3 will be notified by email of their selection in November. For more information, email Tara Rodriguez or call (502) 564-3791, ext. 4042.
Innovative Teacher Fellowship Applications Now Open
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Innovation is excited to release the 2026-2027 application for the fifth cohort of Innovative Teacher Fellows!
The Innovative Teacher Fellowship will engage fifteen trailblazing teacher leaders from across the Commonwealth in professional networking and collaboration, professional learning, project development, along with leadership and advocacy opportunities.
Each Innovative Teacher Fellow will design, implement, reflect on, and share a classroom project centered on the three big ideas of the United We Learn vision: vibrant learning experiences, accelerating innovation – especially in assessment – and collaborating with communities. We hope to empower these teachers with the community and tools to create meaningful and transformative learning experiences in the classroom.
We are excited to announce Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has partnered with the Innovative Teacher Fellowship and will recognize Innovative Teacher Fellowship teachers to receive credit for up to three courses through the university’s master's principal certification program. This represents a savings of more than $3,000 in tuition, along with a meaningful reduction in the time required to complete the degree. This is an amazing opportunity for our Innovative Teacher Fellowship teachers who are looking at a rank change or a new certification! We are excited about the partnership and the opportunity it will bring our teachers.
The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12. Applicants will be notified of selection on Friday, June 26.
Interested teachers can apply at the following link 2026-2027 Innovative Teacher Fellowship Application. For more information, contact Robin Hyden.
End-of-Year Technical Education Database System (TEDS) Data Review – Key Reminders
As the academic year draws to a close, it’s essential to ensure all Technical Education Database System (TEDS) data is accurate and complete. Please take the time to carefully review the following items to avoid data discrepancies and potential funding issues:
- Confirm Your School’s Infinite Campus Closure Date
- All TEDS data must be validated prior to Infinite Campus closure and rollover to 2026-2027.
- End dates entered in Infinite Campus to finalize senior records do not impact this requirement.
Review TEDS Tab End Date Guidelines
- Do not remove an end date on the TEDS tab in Infinite Campus unless the student is enrolled in a course within the same pathway for the current school year (2025-2026).
- If the end date is removed during the current Infinite Campus year (2025–2026) and the student is not enrolled in a valid pathway course, this will result in a data violation and may impact funding.
- If the end date is removed after Infinite Campus has rolled over to 2026-2027, the student will appear as active in the 2026–2027 school year — even if they are not enrolled in a valid pathway course — resulting in a data violation and a potential funding violation.
Verify Transcripted Credits
- Ensure that all credit information in TEDS reflects the student’s official transcript. This should be completed through the final export/import process before the school year rollover.
- NOTE: If you are a POSTSECONDARY institution and you are providing courses for SECONDARY students: The correct count is ONE credit for the SECONDARY transcript and in TEDS.
Confirm Student Objective Status
- Verify that each student’s objective (e.g., Explorer or Concentrator) is accurately recorded in TEDS.
- This information must align with the data in the TEDS tab in Infinite Campus and be updated through the export/import process.
- NOTE: If you are a POSTSECONDARY institution and you are providing courses for SECONDARY students:
- A secondary student MUST complete 2 courses in a single program of study to be a concentrator.
- In Kentucky, a course is defined as 1 secondary credit on the student’s official transcript.
Validate Industry Certification Data
- Confirm that all industry certification attempts have been entered into TEDS.
- Ensure that all instructors have reviewed and submitted the necessary certification data.
- Deadline for the submission of industry certificates is Aug. 21, 2026.
New High School Feedback Reports are Available for Review
The Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) is providing High School Feedback Reports (HSFR) for the graduating class of 2024 for district review. The review window is through Tuesday, June 30, with the public release planned for early July.
This year, districts are asked to review the report on college going and success for the high school graduating class of 2024. The report compares: student outcomes including in-state college-going rates, types of schools attended, how students performed in their first year at in-state public colleges and universities and financial aid received by students.
District assessment coordinators were provided the URL and password to access the reports and were asked to share the reports with principals and superintendents for review.
These reports should be considered DRAFT; all district reports are currently viewable through the link but reports may change if data issues are found. These draft reports are for internal review only and should not be shared until public release.
If you have questions, please contact Barrett Ross at KYSTATS.
School Resource Officer Grant Funding
Finance officers, please remember current-year funds for the school resource officer (SRO) grant end June 30.
To request reimbursement, send your Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (CDIP) expenditure report for project 18RM to the KDE SRO Reimbursements email inbox by June 15 for final fiscal year 2026 payments. Any FY 2026 reimbursement requests received after June 15 will not be reimbursed as any remaining funds will lapse to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund, per House Bill 6 (2024).
If you have questions, contact Nicole Crosthwaite by email or by telephone at (502) 564-1979, ext. 4328.
2026 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention Survey to be Administered in October
Kentucky will administer the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP) Survey statewide in October 2026.
The KIP Survey is Kentucky’s most trusted source of information on student substance use and mental health. The data help districts and communities:
- Track student needs
- Identify disparities and emerging trends
- Guide decisions that support student well-being
- Identify challenges early
- Strengthen prevention efforts
- Guide school and FRYSC planning
- Access and compete for grant funding for prevention and mental health efforts
Your district’s participation matters. Without broad involvement, Kentucky cannot fully understand student needs or direct resources where they’re most needed. Participating gives your district high-quality, local data that supports decision-making and helps shape statewide planning.
The 2026 KIP Survey will be open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15. It is an online survey for students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Student answers are completely anonymous and are not linked to names or any personal information. Caregivers will receive clear information about the survey from the school and students may only participate if a parent or caregiver gives permission. Each district will receive its own results, and district-level data are not publicly shared. There is no cost for districts to participate in the KIP Survey.
We encourage your district to take part in the 2026 KIP Survey. Your leadership helps ensure every student’s needs are understood and supports a stronger statewide prevention system.
More information and previous statewide results are available on the KIP Survey website and on the KIP Survey fact sheet. If your district plans to participate or has questions, please contact KIP Survey Administrator Lisa Crabtree via email.
New Teacher Survey for 2025-2026 Academic Year
As part of the annual data collection required under KRS 161.031 regarding district new teacher induction and mentoring programs, we need your support.
Action steps:
- Please designate one district representative to complete the district Kentucky Educator Mentorship Program Survey. This response will provide an overview of your district’s program.
- Share this New Teacher Survey with school-level leaders in your district so they can distribute it to new teachers and mentors who directly participated in the induction/mentoring program.
- Important: Administrators should not complete this survey. Only new teachers and mentors involved in the program should respond.
The surveys will remain open until Aug. 14. The collected data will be compiled into a report for the Legislative Research Commission by the Oct. 1 deadline.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring accurate and timely data collection. For questions, please contact Kentucky Department of Education program consultant Allie Green via email.
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