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Dear Colleagues,
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is aware that your communities may have questions regarding the federal interagency agreements released on June 16 involving the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office for Civil Rights, and the U.S. Department of Justice. These agreements move the administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights enforcement to the U.S. Department of Justice.
It’s important to note that these interagency agreements do not diminish or alter the rights of students with disabilities or their families. The protections established under federal and state law, including the IDEA, remain unchanged and continue in full force and effect. The responsibilities of local school districts and KDE remain unchanged. Students and families continue to have access to the same procedural safeguards, individualized educational decision-making processes, and protections that have long been provided under applicable law.
Pursuant to the IDEA, Admission and Release Committees (ARCs) remain responsible for making individualized educational decisions based on each student’s unique needs and in accordance with legal requirements. KDE remains committed to working collaboratively with partner agencies to support positive outcomes for children and youth with disabilities, while ensuring that each agency fulfills its respective responsibilities under law. KDE will continue to monitor further developments and provide guidance consistent with federal and state requirements.
KDE values the partnership of families, educators, advocates, and community members in supporting Kentucky’s students with disabilities, and we remain committed to transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement in services and supports.
Summer Boost
Keeping students and families engaged in learning following the end of the school year is critical to fighting summer learning loss.
The Summer Boost: Reading and Mathematics Program, a partnership between KDE’s Office of Teaching and Learning and the Summer Food Service Program, provides free books and digital access to math games intended to motivate and remind families to make summer count through reading and math engagement during the extended school break.
This summer, 35 sites in 34 school districts are participating, and I have already had the opportunity to visit many of your communities and check in with the staff running these sites and the families who benefit from them. I appreciate the welcome folks in Metcalfe County, Whitley County, Elliott County, Ludlow Independent, and Augusta Independent have given me. Talking with the students and staff, answering their questions and reading to the younger students is such a joy.
These sites not only promote reading and mathematics during the summer months, but they also provide options for families who may be struggling with food insecurity. The Summer Boost program offers children tasty, nutritious meals at a time when the typical school lunches provided during the year aren’t an option.
Families interested in having their child participate should reach out to their local Summer Food Service department for more information about meal service sites within their district.
KDE’s Summer Support webpages also offer information and resources to encourage students and families to make learning a part of their daily routines in communities across Kentucky. Other resources available on the webpages include information for families and caregivers about literacy, mathematics and gifted and talented resources, as well as goal setting for summer reading and tracking sheets for elementary and secondary students. The webpages offer kids fun educational opportunities to keep their minds sharp and their spirits high.
With your help, we can make this an unforgettable summer of learning, laughter and adventure for our students.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
 Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher reads to students at the Summer Boost site at Ludlow Independent
 Students select books at the Ludlow Independent Summer Boost site
 Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher meets with students at the Summer Boost site at Ludlow Independent
Kentucky’s ESEA Waiver Request Approved
The U.S. Department of Education has approved the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) request to waive the following program requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA):
- Carryover limitation in Section 1127(b) of the ESEA for school year 2025-2026 Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on Oct. 1, 2026 (Project M). This waives the requirement that limits KDE’s ability to grant to its local education agencies (LEAs) a waiver of the 15% Title I, Part A carryover limitation in section 1127(a) to once every three years.
- Period of availability of funds in Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). This will allow KDE to extend the period of availability of school year 2024-2025 (Project L) funds for the programs listed below in which Kentucky participates under its approved consolidated ESEA state plan. The period of availability will be extended until June 30, 2027. School and district staff who work with these programs must continue to provide assistance to the same populations served by the respective programs. The programs are:
- Title I, Part A of the ESEA (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs), including the portions of the state’s Title I, Part A award used to carry out section 1003 school improvement, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2;
- Title I, Part C of the ESEA (Education of Migratory Children);
- Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 of the ESEA (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk);
- Title II, Part A of the ESEA (Supporting Effective Instruction);
- Title III, Part A of the ESEA (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement);
- Title IV, Part A of the ESEA (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants);
- Title IV, Part B of the ESEA (21st Century Community Learning Centers); and
- Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 of the ESEA (Rural and Low-Income School Program).
Additionally, the period of availability of FY 2022 Stronger Connections Grant funds (617K) (awarded through Title IV, Part A of the ESEA under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) is extended through June 30, 2027. Contract modifications will be sent to the district by mid-August 2026.
The revised 2024-2025 award notifications will be posted to the KDE Federal Grants webpage by Aug. 1, 2026. Please contact the following KDE staff with program-specific questions:
- Carryover limitation under section 1127(b): David Millanti.
- Title I, Part A and Title V, Part B, Subpart 2: Erin Sudduth.
- Section 1003 school improvement and 1003A direct student services: Ruth Swanson.
- Title I, Part C: Christina Benassi.
- Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 and Title III, Part A: Neil Watts.
- Title II, Part A: Dana Kelly.
- Title IV, Part A: Lee Bowling.
- Title IV, Part B: Brigette Stacy.
- Stronger Connections Grant: Kris Jarboe.
New District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Informational Seminar
The New District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Informational Seminar will be presented by the Kentucky Association for Assessment Coordinators (KAAC) on July 23.
The session begins at 9 a.m. ET and will be held at the 300 Building where the Kentucky Department of Education offices are located on Sower Blvd. in Frankfort. Visit the 2026 New DAC Workshop registration form for more details.
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.
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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