(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.
The board approved the criteria for dissemination of Commonwealth School Improvement Funds to schools categorized as in need of assistance under the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). Schools will use those funds to reduce achievement gaps and improve the overall achievement of their students.
After presentations and comments about facilities plans for the Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for Deaf, the board approved both plans. The board also approved the recommendation to appoint Jill Griffiths of Ashland as a member of the Kentucky School for the Blind Advisory Board. An update on academic achievement and progress at both schools was presented.
Members of the National Technical Advisory Panel for Assessment and Accountability (NTAPAA) joined the board Thursday afternoon, and discussion centered on the state's writing assessment.
The board also took the following actions:
- approved 2004-05 Local District Tax Rates Levied
- approved 2004-05 Local District Working Budgets
- approved District Facility Plans for Boyd, Lyon, McLean and Pike Counties
- approved local district facility plan amendments for Fleming, Grant, Hart, Mercer, Rockcastle and Trimble Counties
- approved the removal of the Emergency Declaration designation from Covington Independent
- granted a waiver of 702 KAR 5:080, which was requested by the Montgomery County school district and enables a visually-impaired school employee bring his service animal onto school buses
- agreed to delay for one year the full implementation of a new attendance calculation mandated by 702 KAR 7:125
- agreed to endorse legislation that suspends the prevailing wage requirement for school district construction for two to five years and to study the impact
The board also agreed to delay action on the SEEK transportation funding formula until its February meeting.
The board reviewed the following items:
- content and student performance standards
- the CATS Online High School Prototype
- 702 KAR 3:030, Insurance Requirements
- 702 KAR 5:110, Reimbursement for Vocational Pupil Transportation
- the School Breakfast Program in Kentucky
- Kentucky’s writing assessment
The next meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education will be January 5 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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