Commissioner's Comments
Dear Colleagues:
It has been just over a month since Kentucky’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed, and it has been the longest month of many of our lives. But during that time, I have seen our schools and districts doing some tremendous things for students, from finding new ways to reach students who couldn’t access online assignments to parades of teachers driving through neighborhoods just to let their students know they are cared for and have not been forgotten.
What you are doing matters. It matters to me and it matters to all of Kentucky’s public school children. I want to personally thank you all for what you have been doing and I’d like to ask you to keep up the good work. None of us are sure how long in-person classes will be closed, but we do know that high-quality education must continue.
Here at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) we are working to answer all of your questions during this unprecedented time. To that end, we will be having another Special Superintendents’ Webcast 2-4 p.m. ET tomorrow. We’ll be covering information related to educator preparation, licensure and certification, certified evaluation plans and professional development. We’ll also have another question-and-answer session and you can submit your questions in advance using this Google document.
I also want to update you on some of the important work that has taken place at KDE during the past week.
Last Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education held a virtual meeting where they heard a discussion about the possibility of relaxing graduation requirements for the class of 2020. Local school districts have the option of waiving any additional graduation requirements beyond the 22 credits required by the state or petitioning the state board for relief that would eliminate elective requirements and lower the number of required credits to 15.
It is up to your local board of educations to take action on either option. I want to thank all of the students, principals, superintendents and other stakeholders who have voiced their opinions and helped ensure we have options that will work for all 172 school districts. You voice matters and rest assured, we are listening and value your opinions.
We also launched a new webpage designed to provide COVID-19 education-related updates and information for educators, staff and families. The department’s three main goals during this international pandemic are to remain focused on the continuation of education, feeding and support. All three of these are reflected on the site, which virtually aligns all of the resources KDE is providing in one place.
In addition, we released five new guidance documents to give you some information and questions to consider when your district is making decisions about the Senior Class of 2020, Instruction, Professional Learning, Mental Health and Wellness and Assigning and Reporting Grades.
These documents were put together with the input of superintendents, educators, students, parents, higher education and groups representing many education-related interests. We knew we could not create such important guidance in a vacuum. We needed the input of all the groups that are being affected by the closure of schools to in-person lessons.
There will be more opportunities for you to provide feedback in the weeks ahead and I hope you take advantage of the opportunities as they arise. These are trying times for all of us, but we will get through this together. We are #TeamKDE and #TeamKentucky.
Kevin
Here are some helpful links to resources you might find useful:
Completed School District FY 2020 Financial Audit Contracts Due May 29
The State Committee for School District Audits has approved the “Audit Contract and Requirements for FY2019-2020,” which is located on the Financial Audit Contract Information webpage of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) website. Changes to the audit contract and supporting documents are typed in red within the audit contract package. In addition, items have been highlighted for your convenience and as reminders within the “Superintendent Reminders for FY2019-2020” document located on the same webpage.
The completed FY 2019-2020 audit contract, required supporting documents and audit acceptance statement are due to KDE on or before May 29.
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, KDE will accept a scanned color copy of the signed audit contract, most recent peer review report, any letter of response (if applicable) and the acceptance letter emailed to Finance.Reports@education.ky.gov with the “DISTRICT NAME AUDIT CONTRACT DOCUMENTS” in the subject line.
For questions regarding the FY 2020 contract, email or phone the District Facility Management Branch staff:
As other questions arise relating to FY 20 audits and COVID-19, the FAQs found on KDE’s COVID-19 webpage will be updated.
Emergency Meals-to-You Information and FAQs for School Districts and School Food Authorities
Emergency Meals-to-You (EMTY) provides weekday breakfasts and lunches to students who were receiving those meals through the National School Lunch Program at a free or reduced price but temporarily cannot receive school meals due to emergency school closures. EMTY mails 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches every two weeks directly to the student’s home while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency.
For a family to receive EMTY boxes, there are two eligibilities that must be met. Both the school district or school and the individual student must be eligible.
To be eligible, school districts must:
- Participate in the National School Lunch Program;
- Have at least 50% of their enrollment eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. This requirement is covered if the school district participates in the Community Eligibility Provision. Note: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waivers changing Summer Food Service Program eligibility do not change this requirement;
- Be closed for at least four weeks; and
- Fall under the USDA’s designation of rural.
If the district is not eligible, but there are schools within the district that meet the above criteria, then the district can apply on behalf of those schools. The district should note this on the application and would only include the eligible schools on the application spreadsheet.
For more information about this program, view this FAQ document. More information about how to apply is available on this flyer.
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