Kentucky United We Learn Council

As the body that recommends new policy and practice or recommends changes to existing policy and practice, the Kentucky United We Learn Council is establishing structures and systems that are consistent with its purpose of supporting inclusive state and local co-creation and facilitating local ownership of solutions that will support the three big ideas of United We Learn. The council coordinates standing committees that meet regularly to advance work on their key missions and deliverables. The council partners with KDE and the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) to advance the work laid out in the United We Learn report. ​

All meetings are available as virtual meetings and are open to the public.​​​ Agendas, notes and recordings can be found on the committee's webpage.

Structure of the Kentucky United We Learn Council ​​

The council is composed of three standing committees: 

• Creating Vibrant Learning Experiences: Support local communities to transform the student learning experience. Learn from what is happening in the field, especially related to: Deeper Learning, Project-Based Learning and Local Laboratories of Learning.

• Accelerating Innovation: Support scaling of innovations within and across communities through changes in assessment and accountability. 
• Building a Bold New Future with Communities: Build the policy framework that is responsive to the needs coming from communities that support a bold, new future for education.
  

Process of the Kentucky United We Learn Council 

The council is committed to following four innovative habits:

• Inclusion: Bringing in diverse voices, building a sense of belonging. 
• Empathy: Understanding the views, feelings and needs of others. 
• Co-Creation: Working together to create and/or implement a solution to a challenge. 
• Reciprocity: ​Exchanging or sharing power/privileges for mutual benefit.​
  

The Kentucky United We Learn Council was established to give recommendations to the Kentucky education commissioner and the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). As such, a process has been established to illustrate how work will flow.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will work INCLUSIVELY with schools, districts, partners and all members of the Kentucky United We Learn Council (council) to learn about local innovations happening in schools. Those innovations will be 

shared with the council to gain an understanding of the efforts. If appropriate, the council will work with members of KDE to 
CO-CREATE or amend current policies or practices that support the innovative work and accelerate innovation. The recommended new or amended policies or practices will be presented to the KBE and, if appropriate, to legislators. These entities will work together through RECIPROCITY to finalize and approve such policies and practices. The KDE will work to accelerate 
implementation as needed.

External partners may provide technical support throughtout this process, all parties will come together to listen with an EMPATHETIC ear to ensure the best decisions are being made to serve all of Kentucky's students.

*External partners include:

Center for Innovation in Education (C!E), Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC), KnowledgeWorks, Capital Results,

Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), University of Kentucky Center for Next Generation Leadership, Lyons Assessment, Gray Matters, Center for Assessment 

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