Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt has asked KSBA to solicit and recommend local board members who would volunteer to serve (one person each) on a series of five working groups related to the Kentucky Department of Education’s creation of a new school accountability system under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. KSBA will forward the names of volunteers to KDE, and the commissioner’s office will make the final selections.
Working groups will meet twice a month between now and October. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by KDE.
One board member volunteer is sought for each of these working groups:
College and career readiness – This panel will recommend how we should define college and career readiness in our new accountability system. It will consider literacy, numeracy, career and technical education, science, social studies and postsecondary data indicators.
Assessment – This team will focus on how our new accountability system should measure academic achievement for all students. Elements to be considered are elementary, middle and high school grades, non-tested subjects, growth, English language learners, career licensure and alternative schools.
Opportunity and Access – The work of this group will center on how our new accountability model can measure equal opportunity for a well-rounded education. Areas to be studied include arts, world languages, advanced coursework, gifted and talented, students with disabilities and career pathways.
School Improvement – Volunteers on this group will address how our new accountability model can incentivize continuous improvement for all schools. They will consider identifying lowest-performing schools, setting ambitious goals and indicators of continuous improvement, and bolstering interdistrict collaboration.
Educational Innovations – This advisory team will recommend what new and innovative approaches could be integrated in our new accountability model. Topical areas will include local measures, measuring quality indicators, flexibility for accountability and collaboration incentives.
Board members who are willing to volunteer to serve on a specific one or any of these KDE advisory panels are encouraged to reply as soon as possible to Kerri Schelling, [email protected] or call her at 800-372-2962.