Commissioner Pet Peeves

1. If it is not tested, it is not taught.
2. We are doing this because of ESSA compliance.

Overview

• Current state assessment gone at the end of this school year. 
• Program Reviews still have to be completed. These are required in state regulations.
• At this time we do not know what the new assessment will look like.
• But we do know it will not be a single measure and be similar to a dashboard.
• May no longer be college ready or even career ready. Instead could be transition ready. This could be measured using ACT or SAT, ASVAB, AP or something else.
• Systems Integration Committee is now working on the findings of the five committees developing our new assessment. Over 350 people have worked on committees.
• Once completed it will move on the Regulations Committee.
• New science assessment will be grades 4, 7 and High School.
  
• Do not wait until the 4th grade to start teaching science.
• Schools must submit one piece of work for each student concerning science. This is not for accountability but instead for KDE self reflection.
• Commissioner wants the assessment to be simple enough that he could explain at the grocery store if someone asks.
• New RFP issued for calibration for PGES. State will start paying instead of districts.

Have deportation concerns reached our schools or classrooms?

FY17 Read To Achieve RFA (Questions Deadline Nov. 30, 2016; Application Submission Deadline January 13, 2017)

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) anticipates funding approximately 300 schools at an estimated $50,000 per year for a two-year period to support the hiring of one full-time reading intervention teacher and training for one classroom teacher (per year) per school. If the school is awarded Read to Achieve (RTA) grant funds, the school must assure the complete sustainability of the school’s proposed intervention services for the two-year period. After this two-year period, RTA schools will be eligible to request a grant renewal for an additional two years contingent upon successful implementation of all program components, grant requirement compliance, demonstrated student progress and the availability of funds.

The Kentucky Read to Achieve: Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant provides schools with competitive funds to design and implement a reading intervention program and/or practices that address the needs of primary (K– 3) students reading at low levels. 

The selected intervention program should promote effective instruction and be based on trend data specific to the needs of the struggling readers in the school.

As specified in KRS 158.792 (1) (c), the reading intervention selected by the school must:

·        Allow for short-term, intensive instruction in the essential skills necessary to read proficiently

·        Be provided to a student by a highly trained teacher

·        Be delivered one-on-one or in small groups

·        Be evidence-based, reliable, and replicable

·        Be based on ongoing assessment of individual student needs

The Read To Achieve RFA can be found here.

The questions deadline is November 30, 2016 at noon (ET). All questions must be sent toKDERFP@education.ky.gov.

To assist districts in preparing a quality application, the KDE will offer four regional technical assistance sessions for the purpose of application preparation. Attendance is not required but encouraged, as this will be the only opportunity for in-person questions. Technical assistance sessions are free and available to all applicants, but space is limited. Each attendee should RSVP by completing the following survey RTA RFA Technical Assistance (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7NJ7DPM). Please RSVP by Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 4 p.m. (ET) to allow time for preparation of materials.

The application submission deadline is January 13, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. (ET).

18 Kentucky School Districts Currently Using Livescan Fingerprinting