Commissioner's Special Tuesday Message

Jan. 17, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

By now, I’m sure you’ve read about the lawsuit we received last week concerning a recent charter school law passed by the legislature, House Bill 9 (2022). The law creates a funding mechanism for charter schools and changes some regulations surrounding charter school approval.

The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) promulgated administrative regulations solely in response to HB 9 as instructed by the Kentucky General Assembly. The legislature was very prescriptive on what actions KDE and KBE must take in HB 9, leaving little room for input.

We at KDE provided input as this bill was going through the legislature last year, highlighting issues that we thought may be challenged in court. This lawsuit, which names me as commissioner and Lu S. Young as chair of the KBE, is the next step in the process of clarifying this piece of legislation.

As I have previously stated, I am not opposed to the concept of charter schools. As a superintendent in Colorado, I supported several charter schools that added quality educational options, placed a high value on equity and serving all students, and which made significant valuable contributions to their communities. At the same time, I have seen charter schools which do none of these.

We now have decades of law from other states on what works well – and what does not – when it comes to charter schools. Regrettably, HB 9 failed to consider and learn from these lessons and sets us on a course to repeat avoidable mistakes. Similarly, HB 9 also may have failed to consider important provisions of the Kentucky Constitution. Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to determine if this latest charter school law passes constitutional muster. I look forward to the judicial branch providing clarity.

KDE and KBE will not expend their time and resources defending the General Assembly’s charter school laws, as we advised the legislature of constitutional – and other – uncertainties with the law when it was being legislated.

We will be following this suit as it goes through the courts and will keep you informed about how any rulings will impact your district.

Kind regards,

Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.

Commissioner and Chief Learner

Tentative 2023-2024 Title I, Part A Census Poverty and Hold Harmless Rates Available

An explanation of tentative census poverty data and tentative hold harmless rates can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education Title I Part A Documents and Resources webpage.

These numbers, used in part to allocate Title I, Part A funds, can now be used to produce an estimate of the 2023-2024 school year Title I, Part A allocation.

Carefully review the information included in the document and remember that all data provided is tentative and is provided for planning purposes only. The information does not represent your district’s final Title I, Part A allocation for next school year.

For more information, contact your Title I, Part A consultant.

District Plan for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach Submissions Deadline Extended

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is partnering with the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma and Children (CTAC) to facilitate the use of trauma-informed practices in schools statewide. The deadline to submit district plans has been extended to Jan. 25.  

CTAC is examining the trauma-informed plans that districts created in response to the School Safety and Resiliency Act (SSRA) to highlight ways they are meeting the needs of their students exposed to trauma, as well as to identify any areas of support that are needed as KDE works toward meeting the requirements within the legislation.

Information from your plan will be combined with plans from other schools and districts to gain a better perspective of Kentucky’s response to the SSRA and guide the technical assistance KDE provides to districts through its partnership with CTAC. Any information specific to your district will not be shared without your permission.

Participation is voluntary and submission of plans to KDE or its partners is not required by the SSRA, but KDE is requesting that you upload your district’s trauma-informed plan to help facilitate this process.

KDE appreciates the 129 districts that already have submitted their plans. 

For more information, email Ginny Sprang or Leah Riggs.

Sign Up Now for Remaining Initial Certified Evaluation Training

Per 704 KAR 3:370 and KRS 156.557, all new evaluators must complete the Initial Certified Evaluation training.

For the 2022-2023 school year, there are only two remaining dates left to attend – Jan. 10-11 and Jan. 24-25. Registration for the Initial Certified Evaluation training is available online.

KCTCS Announces High School Teacher/Counselor Award

Nominations are being accepted for a new award, sponsored by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), to recognize high school teachers and guidance counselors for their outstanding efforts in assisting students with their college-going plans.

The KCTCS Pathfinder High School Teacher/Counselor Recognition Award will be awarded to one teacher or counselor in each of the system’s 16 college service areas. An overall statewide award winner will be selected from the 16 college winners.

“High school teachers and counselors play a critical role in assisting students with their post high school education and career plans,” KCTCS President Paul Czarapata said. “We want to honor the ‘unsung heroes’ who provide students with mentoring and support as they make important decisions about their future.”

Any high school teacher or counselor is eligible for the award and can be nominated by any KCTCS student or faculty/staff member. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Encouraged student(s) to attend a KCTCS college,
• Assisted student(s) in identifying a career and postsecondary path,
• Provided mentorship, and/or
• Maintained contact with student(s).

Nominations will be accepted in January and February and winners will be announced in April during a statewide press event. Winners will receive a specially designed award along with a prize package. 

Additional information and a nomination form are available online.

Boom Kentucky Partners with High School Students to Empower Youth

Boom Kentucky is currently partnering with six Kentucky high schools to teach young adults entrepreneurial skills to help them start their own businesses. The goal is the create job opportunities for families within the communities.

Boom Kentucky provides daily curriculum for entrepreneurial and code classes at the high school level. The students come together to launch a start-up.

Boom Kentucky guides these groups to create a minimum viable product through training in sales, marketing, branding, legal and problem-solving activities on Boom’s proprietary platform.

Schools currently partnering with Boom Kentucky are Paintsville Independent School, Bell County High School, Owsley County High School, Wolf County High School, Menifee County High School and Hazard Independent Schools.

The entrepreneurship program allows districts to offer new opportunities that will help their students engage in deeper real-life learning.

For more information or to subscribe to Boom Kentucky’s newsletter visit the Boom Kentucky website.

Those receiving this at KSB and KSD, please make sure all employees receive it. Also, ATC principals are asked to forward it to their staffs.

Please send your questions, comments and suggestions on the Monday Message to Jennifer Ginn by 10 a.m. Friday to be published in the upcoming week.