Standards Newsletter: August 26, 2026

August 26, 2026

Congratulations to the Results-driven Initiatives for Science Education (RISE) Leadership Academy Cohort 2 Districts

The RISE Leadership Academy cultivates a network of teacher leaders who engage in curriculum-based professional learning to enhance science instruction across Kentucky. By using high-quality instructional resources and modeling intellectual preparation, RISE empowers educators to implement effective, inquiry-based science teaching. 

Campbell County, Fulton County, Nelson County and Owensboro Independent school districts were selected to be part of the second RISE cohort. They will collaborate with Office of Teaching and Learning science consultants through structured sessions to build teacher leadership capacity and ensure alignment with the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science. This year-long program fosters a coherent K-12 vision for science education, shifting mindsets to drive lasting district-wide improvements. Read more about the RISE Leadership Academy on KYStandards.org.

Due Soon: Civics Test Reporting Requirement Reminder

The Civics Test reporting deadline is approaching. Local boards of education requiring a civics test for graduation must report testing data to the Kentucky Department of Education by Sept. 1 each year, including first-time pass rates and average attempts. Districts using a half-credit civic literacy course instead are exempt from reporting. For more information on Civics Test Reporting, visit KYStandards.org.

Family Resources for Back to School

Start off back to school relationship-building with students and families with these three helpful resources: Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) Family Guides, A Family’s Guide to Understanding Student Assessment and the Read at Home Plan Family Guide. Read the Family Resources for Back to School article on KYStandards.org for more information.

Learn more about the Kentucky Academic Standards and professional learning offerings

KYStandards.org houses the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS), along with key guidance and professional learning (PL) resources to support implementation. Educators can explore content‑specific tools and PL that support meaningful implementation of the KAS. District and school leaders also can access targeted resources to support adoption and implementation of high‑quality instructional resources (HQIRs). 

The KYLearningHub course catalog provides further access to professional learning opportunities that support effective standards implementation as well.

Getting to Know the KAS for Reading and Writing on the KY Learning Hub

If you were not able to attend the standards workshops in person this summer, you can still engage in the learning asynchronously. The Getting to Know the Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing course on the KYLearningHub offers educators high-quality, self-paced professional learning aligned to the standards. This asynchronous course helps educators synthesize evidence-based literacy practices and high-quality instructional resources. Participants can build their capacity around the standards while earning up to 5 hours of professional learning credit, if approved by their district. Start your learning at KYStandards.org.

Reminder: Kentucky Mathematics Improvement Plan Requirements for the 2026-2027 School Year 

Per KRS 158.8402, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, within the first 60 calendar days, a mathematics improvement plan, based on data from the diagnostic assessment, shall be developed and implemented by a mathematics improvement team for any student in K-3 identified as needing to make accelerated progress toward proficient performance in mathematics. 

To assist districts in effectively developing and implementing Mathematics Improvement Plans, the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning has developed a Mathematics Improvement Plan Template as an example that incorporates the requirements of KRS 158.8402. Districts may modify the template to fit the local context as needed. This template can be used during the problem-solving process to document intervention plans, progress monitoring data and parent notification. Learn more about the Mathematics Improvement Plan on KDE website. A virtual Office Hour session will be held Sept. 16, 2026, from 10-11 a.m. ET to support effective implementation. Bookmark the virtual session on your calendar today.

2026 Continuous Improvement Summit Registration

Join educators from across Kentucky at the 2026 Continuous Improvement Summit, Sept. 21-22 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington. This year's Summit features several sessions designed specifically for school and district leaders focused on strengthening literacy and science instruction through high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs), instructional leadership and continuous improvement practices. Whether you're a principal, district administrator, instructional leader or instructional coach, you'll find opportunities to deepen your understanding of instructional shifts, support effective implementation and improve outcomes for all learners.

Featured sessions include:

• A Confident Approach: What Leaders Need to Know About the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Reading and Writing (Leigh Turner and Tina Withorn, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders
• Turning Observation into Action: Using HQIR-Aligned Feedback to Improve Literacy Instruction (Amelia Powers and Ashley Hill, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders, instructional coaches
• Continuous Improvement for Literacy Instruction: Aligning to the Instructional Shifts (Whitney Hamilton, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders
• Developing a Coherent Yearly HQIR Implementation Plan (Fox DeMoisey, KDE)
  • Intended audience: Administrators
• Getting Started with the Kentucky Learning Hub: Practical Ways to Support Professional Learning (Katie Hale, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders, instructional coaches
• Voices from the Field: Kentucky District and School Leaders Share Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Lessons Learned (Melissa Wainwright, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders, MTSS teams
• What a Literacy Leader Needs to Know: Making the Shift to Using a High-Quality Instructional Resource (HQIR) that Builds Knowledge (Angela Ballinger and Stacy Rutledge, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders
• What a Literacy Leader Needs to Know: The Shift to Structured Literacy (Angela Ballinger and Byron Darnall, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders
• Leveraging Learning Walks for Continuous Improvement in Literacy Instruction (Tara Griffith, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders, instructional coaches
• The Science Instructional Shifts: What You Need to Know (Erica Baker and Amanda Prewitt, KDE)
  • Intended audience: School and district leaders

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn from Kentucky leaders and gain practical strategies for implementing high-quality instructional resources, supporting continuous improvement and leading instructional change. Register today for the Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit.

Reading Improvement Plans

The Read to Succeed Act requires districts to implement Reading Improvement Plans for K-4 students needing accelerated intervention. To assist districts in effectively developing and implementing Reading Improvement Plans, the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning has developed a template as an example that incorporates the requirements of KRS 158.305. Districts may modify the template to fit the local context as needed. ​This template can be used during the problem-solving process to document intervention plans, progress monitoring data and parent notification.​ ​Read more about the Reading Improvement Plan at KDE Website.

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Please email the standards team with any questions.