(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- At its regular meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations, had in-depth discussions and made decisions on a number of items, including the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS), preschool funding and local school district issues.
The board took the following actions:
- agreed to implement the National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) definitions and guidelines for "dropout" and create a state-approved secondary GED program
- gave final approval to 702 KAR 7:125, the regulation governing pupil attendance, to update guidance to school districts, make the regulation more user-friendly and conform to updated federal guidelines
- approved the per-child rates for the 2004-05 state-funded preschool program
- accepted the 2003 Report, 2003 Exceptions and the 2005 Plan required by regulation for in-service training of school district board members
- agreed to extend the contract for state assistance to Floyd County until June 2005
- agreed to focus on writing issues and directed the Commissioner to form a group to study those
The board also heard a number of presentations and had lengthy discussions on components of CATS, including:
- relating accountability to A1 schools and A2-A6 programs
- reward strategies for schools and districts meeting goals established by state and federal requirements
- longitudinal assessment and implications for accountability
- shaping assessment and accountability for the future
- greater assistance to teachers
- writing assessment modifications
Citizens and school district officials from Breathitt County and Jackson Independent attended the board's Management Committee meeting, during which the appeal of a non-resident student contract ruling was discussed. The two districts agreed to pursue mediation to resolve the issue.
The board heard a presentations from Carolyn Witt Jones of the Partnership for Kentucky Schools on the State Scholars program and from Jessamine County school officials on the Jessamine Early Learning Village. Department of Education staff presented a report on 2004 elementary and secondary education legislation and the biennial budget. The board also heard a summary of reports and recommendations of the statewide and regional stakeholders regarding services for students who are blind/visually impaired, deaf/hard of hearing and deaf-blind.
Other presentations included:
- Report on Title IX deficiencies for schools audited during the 2003-04 school year and recommendations for 2004-05
- KDE Coordinated School Health (CSH) efforts
- Update on deficit and watch list districts
- Refocusing Secondary Education
- Annual Report of the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC)
The board also approved the following items:
- 2003-04 district tax rates levied for Spencer County and Jackson Independent
- district facility plans for Carlisle, Greenup and Metcalfe Counties and Augusta and Russell Independents
- district facility plan amendments for Casey and Clinton Counties
- site for the proposed new consolidated Harlan County High School
- designation of Agent to Manage High School Interscholastic Athletics
- Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Board of Control appointment
- alternative model of school-based decision making (SBDM) from Caldwell County Primary School
- alternative school-based decision making model from Fairdale High School Magnet Center, Jefferson County schools
The board will hold a retreat on May 12 and 13 in Frankfort. No business will be conducted at that time.
The next meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education will be June 2 and 3 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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