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Dear Colleagues,
On Wednesday, we honored some of the best educators the Commonwealth has during the 2027 Kentucky Teacher of the Year ceremony, culminating with the naming of Beechwood Independent’s Molly Seifert as this year’s recipient of the award.
Seifert, an English teacher at Beechwood High School, is a tremendous educator whose impact goes far beyond the classroom, leaving a legacy of vibrant learning experiences through literature, theater, and the speech and debate team. She does a wonderful job encouraging students to develop their voice and become engaged, thoughtful citizens.
Seifert is among the nine educators who earned 2027 Kentucky Teacher Achievement Awards, and they represent the more than 40,000 fellow teachers in the Commonwealth who give extra effort to help our students achieve success. Their dedication to each and every student is what makes our communities so special.
These educators are also a shining example of Kentucky’s vision for public education, United We Learn, which emphasizes vibrant learning experiences, encouraging innovation in our schools, and collaborating with our communities. Each of these educators fill their classrooms with engaging lessons that leave a lasting impact on their students.
I encourage you to read more about our Teacher of the Year and the 2027 elementary school and middle school teachers of the year:
Nominations for the 2028 Kentucky Teacher of the Year awards will open Dec. 1, so I encourage everyone to think of other deserving educators in our schools who are making positive impacts on young people’s lives.
New Accountability System Timeline
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has been working for years on reimagined assessment and accountability, and we are closing in on a new system following the passage of House Bill 257 earlier this year.
As you know, KDE and our Office of Assessment and Accountability have been gathering feedback on a new accountability system, receiving input on how student growth is measured, how different accountability indicators are weighted, and how the new chronic absenteeism indicator should be calculated, among other aspects.
The discussions are continuing following the Kentucky Board of Education’s (KBE’s) first reading of the regulation in August. KDE leaders will meet with more advisory groups, including the School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council and the Local Superintendents Advisory Council, prior to the regulation coming to the KBE for a second reading during the Oct. 7-8 meeting.
Following the second reading and pending approval by the KBE, the regulation will be subject to a public comment period during November and December before the regulation is finalized. We appreciate all of the input you, your districts, and your communities have provided as we look to build a system that is useful and meaningful to all learners. The work is not over yet, and your input is still valuable and appreciated as we continue this initiative.
As always, thank you for being …
All In,
Robbie Fletcher
Commissioner of Education
School of Innovation Pilot Project
For the 2027–2028 school year, two Kentucky schools may each receive up to $2.5 million through the School of Innovation Pilot Project. Participation is a two-step process. First, a school must apply to the Kentucky Board of Education to be designated as a School of Innovation by requesting a waiver from a statute or regulation that creates a barrier to innovation. Schools can learn more about the waiver process and how apply for School of Innovation designation by visiting the Kentucky Department of Education's Kentucky Revised Statutes webpage.
After receiving a waiver and School of Innovation designation, schools may submit a separate application for pilot-project funding. The funding application is expected to be available this fall and will be due March 1, 2027. To be eligible for funding, a school’s waiver application must be heard by the Kentucky Board of Education at its October, December, February, or April meeting. The two selected schools will receive funding beginning July 1, 2027. Please contact Matthew Courtney via email with questions.
School Report Card – SRC Portal Closes Sept. 30
Thanks to all those working on the 2025-2026 School Report Card (SRC) data entry and data verification. A lot of work has already been done, and we thank those in the district that have already completed this work. This is a friendly reminder of the items that need to be completed by the end of this month. The School Report Card Secure Portal is open and districts can complete each of these tasks within that tool.
- Quality Control (QC) day for assessment and accountability data is scheduled for Sept. 23; district assessment coordinators (DACs) are provided details on that review process through separate communications.
- Districts that want to include a superintendent message should enter that in the Collection tool by Sept. 25.
- Schools should complete entry of their collection data in the Collection tool by Sept. 25.
- School and district staff should complete their review of the Overview and Education Opportunity domains in the Preview tool by Sept. 25. Flag and provide details if any issues are found within the Preview tool.
- Monitor school/district flags in the Approval tool, reach out to KDE Data Services for referral to the appropriate Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) contact if there is need to discuss.
- Once data is reviewed and any issues are resolved, please use the Approval tool to approve these two domains no later than Sept. 25. KDE monitors district-level approvals as an indicator that all schools have verified and the district has completed SRC tasks associated with each domain.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Transition to Adult Life domains will open Sept. 15. Please review and approve that data by Sept. 30.
- The School Profile Report must be printed and signed by principals, school-based decision-making members and superintendents, as applicable. The signed School Profile Report should be available in the local board office by Oct. 1.
- SRC embargo opens Oct. 13 and public release is scheduled for Oct. 15.
Select Help in the SRC Portal to access user guides. These guides, along with additional resources, are also available on the SRC Resources webpage to support schools and districts in completing SRC tasks.
Required House Bill 257 FAFSA Reporting for School Report Card
As required by House Bill 257 (2026), Section 2 (17)(a)5.c., the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will begin reporting the percentage of graduating students (1) who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the student’s graduation date; or (2) who have had a parent or legal guardian submit an appropriate form to the school or district to opt out of completion of the FAFSA after completing a district-approved presentation regarding the FAFSA for schools containing students in grade twelve.
One number representing the combined total of graduates who have completed or opted out of completing the FAFSA will be collected through the School Report Card Collector Tool as a district reported measure. The KDE is not legally allowed to have access to student FAFSA completion data. The percentage will be calculated using the number of current year graduates as reported on the school report card.
Districts may choose their own methods of preparing a district-approved presentation (video, virtual session, personnel led sessions at senior nights, FAQ, one-pager, etc.) and creating and tracking completion of appropriate opt-out forms. KDE will not be requiring state-level opt-out forms or presentations.
The KDE recommends participating in KHEAA’s FAFSA Completion Initiative to gain access to which students have completed the FAFSA. Please reach out to Charlene Myles or your KHEAA outreach counselor for more information on the FAFSA Completion Initiative.
Further guidance around calculating the final percentage to be reported will be provided upon the opening of the School Report Card Collector Tool in later summer 2027.
Please direct any questions to Caryn Davidson.
Required Evidence of K-12 MTSS Implementation Survey
The 704 KAR 3:095 legislatively required evidence submission window for district-wide comprehensive Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for the 2026-2027 school year opened Sept. 1 and will remain open through Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Each district MTSS point of contact or designee has received direction communication and is to complete the Required Evidence of K-12 MTSS Implementation Survey within this time frame. Superintendent support to ensure this survey is completed on time is greatly appreciated. Please reach out to Melissa Wainwright via email with any questions.
Funding Available To Help Implement Locally Developed Indicators of Quality
Kentucky public school districts have a new opportunity to support the development and implementation of locally developed Indicators of Quality. Under House Bill 257, districts may receive a one-time grant of up to $15,000 to offset costs associated with this work. To access the funding, districts must complete the Local Indicators of Quality Diagnostic in the Cognia Improvement Platform (CIP), including their design team, quality indicators, implementation timeline and evidence of local board approval.
The deadline to submit is April 1, 2027, with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) reviewing submissions and issuing grants on a monthly basis. Districts are encouraged to begin this process early and may contact their KDE Regional Innovation Specialist for technical assistance as they develop their local approach.
Leaders can learn more about the optional grant submission process by visiting KDE's Local Indicators of Quality webpage. For direct questions regarding submission, contact Brandy Breeze
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