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Education Briefs

Education Briefs

Kentucky School Advocate
August 2024

KDE fights chronic absenteeism 
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Chronic Absenteeism Working Group met on July 19 to discuss how to get students to come to school.

The working group was established in 2016 and designed to be a collaboration between school districts and community groups. KDE defines a student as chronically absent if they are present 90% or less of full-time equivalency, meaning the student has missed more than 10% of the enrolled time in school. This includes both excused and unexcused absences.

Districts have been dealing with chronic absenteeism for years, but the problem spiked following the COVID-19 pandemic: in 2018, 5% of districts were considered to have high or extreme levels of chronic absenteeism; in 2023, that percentage was 77%.

Leslie McKinney, KDE strategic data analyst, said the department has been gathering data and information on contributing factors surrounding chronic absenteeism. She highlighted the four biggest factors:

• Barriers like chronic health conditions, family responsibilities, transportation, housing or food insecurity and community violence;

• Aversion to school because a student may be struggling academically, behaviorally or with their peers;

• Disengagement with school because the student feels bored or has a lack of connection and enrichment opportunities; and

• Misconceptions about staying home for illness and the belief that attendance “doesn’t matter” or that only unexcused absences are a problem.

KDE is also working on a public messaging campaign, which includes ads on television, radio and on billboards emphasizing that attendance matters. The images feature messaging about how much Kentucky misses students in various aspects such as in class, at a football game, in band, in gym class, in lunch or at recess. The advertisements will start appearing in August.

Superintendents discuss possible new accountability system 
Members of the Local Superintendents Advisory Council (LSAC) discussed prototypes for the Commonwealth’s assessment and accountability systems during a July 30 meeting.  

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the Kentucky United We Learn Council have been working on prototypes for a new system using focuses on vibrant student experiences, encouraging innovation and collaborating with the community.

Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said one of his top priorities is a new assessment and accountability system that the state can be proud of.

“How do we ensure that every single child has those vibrant learning opportunities?” Fletcher said.

The Kentucky United We Learn Council has been gathering input from advisory councils, stakeholder groups and school leaders on two prototypes, which should not be viewed as mutually exclusive; rather, the council plans to incorporate elements of both into its next prototype.

The first prototype would allow for ongoing collection and submission of evidence of learning throughout the school year. In this model, schools would submit evidence to an external evaluator and the local board of education and would receive ratings on rubrics with feedback for improvement.

The second prototype values vibrant learning experiences. This system would focus on making sure students, families and communities are engaging in “authentic, joyful and relevant learning opportunities.” This system also allows students to be creative in their learning and applying their knowledge and skills through their personalized projects and experiences.

Harrison County Superintendent Harry Burchett said he likes an approach that emphasizes local control over how vibrant learning experiences are judged.

“That’s my mindset: a reduction in state assessments. Use what tools we have and meet the federal requirements, and demonstrate to the public that, yes, we are meeting our charge in education but, also, look at all this great local work that’s going on with these students and where they are and how they’re prepared in life, because that’s what we’re charged with,” he said. 

Jennifer Stafford, director of the KDE Division of Assessment and Accountability Support, presented some of the feedback on the two prototypes and each option within the prototypes.

Work will continue in 2025 and the goal is to have a finalized proposal to present to the Kentucky General Assembly during its 2026 regular session. 

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