education

State Education Dept Launches Academic Review Process

By Stu Johnson • May 16, 2017
Kentucky Department of Education

The Kentucky Department of Education is moving ahead with a review and revision process for academic standards in English, language arts, and math.  

State Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt Monday outlined what’s been done so far and what lies ahead. 

He says teachers across the state will play a key role in this ongoing review, “They will look at the feedback we get from the field.  We’ve already made some revisions that started back in 2015, where we had teachers who actually helped write the standards.”

 

Kentucky Charter Schools Bill Headed To Governor's Desk

By Ryland Barton • Mar 16, 2017

UPDATE 9:31 p.m.: The Kentucky House has approved legislation authorizing charter schools in the state. The final vote was 53-43.

After weeks of not moving, the legislation emerged in a legislative committee Wednesday, passed out of the Senate in the afternoon and the House in the evening.

House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins objected to the quick pace of the debate.

With Last Minute Changes, General Assembly Races To Pass Charter Schools Bill

With hopes of passing a charter schools bill out of the legislature by the end of the day, the Senate Education Committee Wednesday approved last-minute changes to a bill that would allow the organizations to open up across the state.

Gov. Matt Bevin showed up to the committee to once again throw his support behind the bill.

“It’s hard for me to imagine that it’s needing a debate at this point,” Bevin said. “This idea that some would say ‘well we’re not ready, we haven’t had time, we haven’t studied it.’ Really?”

Kentucky Education Reform Bill Set For Vote

By Stu Johnson • Feb 16, 2017
Kentucky.com

An education reform bill, a top of the Republican-led Kentucky senate is headed to the floor Friday.

A major thrust of is to give local schools more say in revising academic standards.  Bill Sponsor Mike Wilson said it increases local decision making and decreases bureaucratic burdens on educators.


Fayette Schools Asking Volunteers To Give10

By • Feb 3, 2017
Stu Johnson/WEKU

 

Officials at the Fayette County School System are recruiting more volunteers to assist some of its 41,000 students.

 Business, faith based, education or civic groups are being asked to encourage members to take part in Give10 by giving up to 10 hours a month volunteering in schools. The new initiative was announced Thursday at Harrison Elementary School.  


Mayor Gray Focus For 2017: Increasing Jobs, Fighting Youth Violence, Drug Epidemic

By Stu Johnson • Jan 3, 2017
Kentucky.com

Jim Gray is halfway through a second term as Lexington Mayor. The Glasgow native and construction business veteran just completed an unsuccessful attempt to unseat U.S. Senator Rand Paul. 


Focus On Business: Jerry Rickett on the "Promise Zone"

By Bryan Bartlett • Nov 17, 2015

President Obama designated Eastern Kentucky as one of the first five rural regions in the country to benefit from the administration’s “Promise Zone” program. Federal agencies partner with local communities and businesses to create jobs, improve educational opportunities, build private investment and improve public safety. All of this is being coordinated by the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation where Jerry RIckett is president and CEO. He shared details with Tom Martin.

Jack Conway Unveils Education Plan in Louisville

By Ashley Lopez • Sep 8, 2015
Ashley Lopez / wfpl.org

Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Jack Conway released his education plan in Louisville Tuesday.

In it, Conway continues his push for more early childhood education programs in the state. His plan aims to expand access to preschoolers in families at 138 percent of the poverty level.

The big question is, though, how the state would pay for that expansion.

Focus On Business: Carla Blanton on the 2015 General Assembly

By Bryan Bartlett • Jan 12, 2015

Education, economic development, and tax policy are among the focus issues of Commerce Lexington’s 2015 local, state and national Public Policy Agenda.  Tom Martin’s conversation with the Chamber’s public policy committee chair Carla Blanton deals with matters before the 2015 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Child Health and Education Improve in Kentucky, but Poverty Prevails

By Kentucky News Connection • Jul 22, 2014
Greg Stotelmyer

While a year-by-year indicator of child well-being shows steady improvement in the health and education of children in the Bluegrass State, the number of children living in poverty is continuing to grow.

Focus on Business: Science, Education Research & Innovation

By John Hingsbergen • Dec 2, 2013

Tom Martin of the Lexington Herald Leader speaks with Kris Kimel, co-founder and president of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, a non-profit that champions science, education, research and innovation in the Commonwealth.