Resources for Flood-Impacted Districts
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has resources that schools and districts can use to provide school-based supports to students, families and staff who have experienced loss due to the recent floods.
“Implementing a Continuum of Tiered Behavioral Health Supports for Students, Families, and Staff Following a Natural Disaster” provides some suggested activities for support at the Universal (Tier I), Targeted (Tier II), and Intensive (Tier III) levels. Additionally, some resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network that are specific to floods also are available. These resources can be used in conjunction with existing Emergency Operations and Trauma-Informed Plans that are in place at the local level.
Local education agencies that were directly impacted by the tornadoes also may be eligible for additional federal funds through the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grant program. District leadership can contact the USED's Disaster Recovery Unit directly for more information about this resource.
Other resources that may be of use include:
 Dear Colleagues:
It’s hard to believe that we are already getting ready for the new school year! As we prepare for the upcoming year, I want to bring you up to speed on United We Learn, our shared vision for how our education systems can continue to improve in the coming years.
What is United We Learn?
The United We Learn vision began not with me or the Department of Education, but with Kentucky’s students, families and community members. In the spring of 2021, we began a series of listening tours across the Commonwealth to hear from Kentuckians about what was going well in our schools and what needed to be reassessed. The Kentucky Coalition for Advancing Education, a group of diverse education stakeholders from throughout the Commonwealth that included students, families, teachers, school administrators and community leaders, was also created to gather information on how to improve our system.
Three big ideas emerged from this work and laid the foundation of our United We Learn vision:
- The need to create more vibrant student experiences,
-
Encouraging innovation in our schools, particularly in assessments, and
- Building greater collaboration with our communities.
Vibrant Student Experiences
The first big idea – creating more vibrant learning experiences for students – is focused on bringing about deep and authentic approaches to learning that spark curiosity, motivation and engagement on an individual level. This will help us create lifelong learners prepared to confront not only the challenges and demands of today, but also be ready to step up and lead the world of tomorrow.
Encouraging Innovation
The second idea builds on the first theme and focuses on innovation, including new approaches to assessments and accountability. Businesses of today – and in the future – need workers who are critical thinkers, creators and problem solvers. We want to build a culture that embraces innovation and new solutions that improve teaching and learning to meet this need. Regarding assessments, our current system does a good job getting at basic literacy and numeracy skills, but we need to do more to align them with deeper learning and the problem-solving skills needed to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Collaboration with our Communities
The final theme is building processes and avenues for authentic community collaboration to support learning. The feedback from stakeholders throughout Kentucky is that schools can build even closer connections with key constituencies in their communities. We need to embrace a culture of partnership between schools, families and the communities in which we live. This could be higher levels of engagement with businesses; establishing internships and mentorships; and finding partnerships that result in learning opportunities. All of you are doing this to some extent already – some really well – but it’s an area we can expand with new opportunities.
How can you help?
To be clear, United We Learn is not a top down mandate from KDE. Districts around the state have had varying levels of engagement to this point, but for this to be successful, I need each of you to take ownership of the vision and make it work in your district to address your particular needs and situations. You and your teams are best equipped to identify how to pursue these ideas in your community.
A Communications Toolkit Just for YOU!
KDE is committed to helping you on this journey. We’ve created a United We Learn Communications Toolkit of resources and information you may find helpful as you determine the best way to approach this work and communicate this new vision with district staff and members of your community. It includes the “Welcome Back” video embedded in this letter, as well as a template letter to your staff and families, brochures, letterhead and logo graphics. We’ve also just launched a new United We Learn webpage focused on helping our stakeholders – educators, students and community members – understand what this new vision is all about and what it means for them.
This is an exciting time for education in our Commonwealth. As we welcome back our students, families and community to our schools, I cannot wait to see what we can do together to improve our students’ educational experiences and better prepare them for life after graduation, no matter where that takes them.
Best wishes for a successful and exciting 2022-2023 school year!
Kind regards,
Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.
Commissioner and Chief Learner
School Report Card – Data Review Window Opens Aug. 3
The School Report Card (SRC) Data Approval Tool opens Aug. 3. In addition to the School Safety domain that is already open, the Overview, Education Opportunity and Transition to Adult Life domains will open for district review and approval.
Schools and districts can begin verification of this data, enter school collection items through the collection tool, flag data issues and approve data within each of these domains. The review period for the School Safety domain has been extended to Aug. 5, and the review period for the other domains ends on Sept. 16. In addition, all collection items should be entered by Sept. 16.
The SRC timeline and highlights of 2022 reporting changes are posted on the KSIS SRC Resource webpage. The Data Approval Tool User Guide has been added to that page.
Kentucky Equitable Access to Effective Educators Survey for School Report Card
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Education Licensure and Effectiveness now collects data pertaining to the count of ineffective teachers through the Kentucky Equitable Access to Effective Educators Survey and it is reported in the Kentucky School Report Card.
An ineffective teacher receives a summative rating of “ineffective” as determined through the local performance evaluation system that meets the requirements established by KRS 156.557.
Superintendents (or designee) should complete the survey as soon as possible so that it may be reviewed before the data for School Report Card goes public.
If you have any questions, email Scott Tremoulis.
National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) – formerly the National Title I Association – selects examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program.
Every year, states can identify up to two Distinguished Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Schools in three possible categories:
- Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years
- Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years
- Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English Learners, etc.)
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is accepting applications for schools for Categories 1, 2 and 3. Schools interested in applying for consideration as a Distinguished School in Categories 1, 2 or 3 must submit a completed application signed by the school principal and district superintendent by the deadline of Sept. 2. If selected as a finalist, KDE staff will conduct a site visit to interview the principal and selected staff.
Two National ESEA Distinguished Schools (one from Category 1, 2 and/or 3) will be notified by email of their selection in November. For more information, email Tara Rodriguez or call (502) 564-3791, ext. 4042.
Last Call for the Kentucky Reading Academies
Registration for the first cohort of the Kentucky Reading Academies closes this Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. If you are a K-5 teacher of reading, you do not want to miss this opportunity; please sign up today!
A child’s ability to read is a critical predictor of both educational and lifelong success. Kentucky’s youngest readers must have every opportunity to develop their literacy skills, but as our schools tackle unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers must have unprecedented support.
In response to this critical need, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has a new, exciting partnership to bring the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling professional learning to educators across the Commonwealth, called the Kentucky Reading Academies. This course of study was specifically chosen because of its demonstrated success on a national scale in bringing significant increases in literacy achievement.
The Kentucky Reading Academies will offer comprehensive no-cost professional learning in three phases starting in fall 2022, beginning with up to 2,400 K-5 educators.
Find out more about the Kentucky Reading Academies in the recording of the informational webinar.
For questions about the Kentucky Reading Academies, please email KDE Chief Academic Officer Micki Ray.
|
