(FRANKFORT, KY) – Members of Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) revisited their goals and discussed implementation plans during the EPSB meeting on Feb. 18.
Meredith Brewer, associate commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, said the department wanted to have a discussion with board members on how to plan together to achieve the goals set out during their last meeting in December.
The goals are:
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Every certified educator exemplifies behaviors that maintain the dignity and integrity of the profession by adhering to established law, including the code of ethics.
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Every certified position in a Kentucky public school is staffed by a properly-certified educator.
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Every approved educator preparation program meets or exceeds all accreditation standards and prepares knowledgeable, capable teachers and administrators who demonstrate effectiveness in helping all students reach educational achievement.
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Communication with stakeholders, education partners and the public is clear and promotes entry to and growth within the profession.
Within each goal, Cassie Trueblood, KDE policy advisor and lead counsel for EPSB, explained action steps KDE and EPSB members will take to achieve each goal. For the first goal, maintaining the dignity and integrity of the profession, she said EPSB members will promote awareness of the standards for ethical behaviors and legal staff will provide accurate and reliable data and present cases to EPSB in a timely manner.
Trueblood said that since the implementation of House Bill 300 (2024), a bill imposing strict timelines on the review and processing of complaints of educator misconduct, “we have not had any cases dismissed for failure to meet timelines, so that is a big accomplishment there.”
In order to achieve the second goal, ensuring every certified position in a Kentucky public school is staffed by a properly-certified educator, Trueblood said EPSB and KDE staff will:
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Undertake a continuous review of the certification structure to ensure that it aligns with the Kentucky Academic Standards and needs of the workforce to best serve the students of the Commonwealth;
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Monitor the validity and reliability of certification assessments; and
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Maintain a focus on continuous improvement for all certification procedures and processes.
Brewer said a workgroup made up of education stakeholders has just started meeting to analyze and suggest potential areas of reform within Kentucky’s teacher certification structure.
“We had great attendance and great conversation,” she said. “I do think that they have a very clear mission and I do anticipate some great recommendations coming to you, hopefully by the summer.”
Brewer said KDE also has started a pilot of an updated program review process for educator preparation programs (EPPs).
“We want to ensure that we have the information we need to feel confident that we are ensuring program quality, … but that we’re not creating unnecessary work for our EPPs,” Brewer said.
To address goal three, Trueblood added that KDE and EPSB will emphasize vibrant, hands-on clinical experiences, paid student teaching, innovation and collaboration with P-12 partners, and maintain a focus on continuous improvement for all preparation programs through regular and rigorous review of program quality.
The EPSB also plans to accomplish goal four by providing clear and consistent guidance on the options for obtaining initial certification, adding an area of certification and pursuing a rank change. This is in addition to work on the EPSB website to ensure it clearly communicates the purpose of the board, which Brewer said the department is making good progress on.
New EPSB Leadership
EPSB members voted to approve a new chair and vice-chair. Current chair Justin Mitchell has been leading the board for the last three years, the limit for how long one can remain the chair.
Amber Snell, the current vice-chair and representative of middle school teachers, was selected by the board to be the new chair. CJ Fryer, who represents high school teachers on the board, was selected to be the new vice-chair.
EPSB members presented Mitchell, a middle school teacher representative who has been on the EPSB since 2018, with notes of appreciation and an engraved gavel to commemorate his time as chair.
The next EPSB meeting is March 10.
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