Ed | Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence

ADDRESSING LEARNING WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS

AUGUST 2019 \\\\\ MILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in ERLANGER-ELSMERE Vivid facts about an unusual predator capture a classroom of first graders in Northern Kentucky. Together, students read about the Humboldt squid — most common in the Pacific currents off South America, Mexico and California. The giant squid darts through the sea…

The new teacher next door – what support do new teachers need to grow and thrive?

Kentucky’s public schools welcome around 2,500 brand new teachers each year. What kind of support do these new teachers need? I recently spoke with Amelia Brown and Dana Lee Thomas to get their expert thoughts. Amelia is Professional Learning Coach at the Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES), and…

Problem-Solving: Delivering Will Require Mobilization

So, I’ve shared my excitement about problem solving in our science standards, our social studies standards, and our standards for an array of other disciplines. There’s one more thing to look at head on: these exciting expectations aren’t going to be easy to meet. Delivering will entail assignments where Kentucky…

Problem-Solving across Many Disciplines

Having shared how problem-solving has a central place in Kentucky’s academic standards for science and social studies, I’ll turn today to how a related emphasis appears across our standards for other disciplines that matter for our K-12 students.

Central on mathematical practice

Our mathematics standards are organized around eight practices…

Problem-Solving: Our Social Studies Standards Call for Deep Engagement

We want Kentucky students to be increasingly able to “Think and solve problems in school situations and in a variety of situations they will encounter in life.” Yesterday’s post looked at how our science standards call for deep work to meet that expectation from our 1990 Kentucky Education Reform…

Problem-Solving: Kentucky’s Science Standards Go Deep

I’m excited about Kentucky’s science standards, and problem-solving expectations are one of my biggest reasons. Since our 1990 Reform Act, we’ve called for schools to equip students to “Think and solve problems in school situations and in a variety of situations they will encounter in life,” and for many…

Beyond Averages: Exploring Why Teacher Salaries Vary (and Do Not Vary) in Kentucky

Within Kentucky school districts, teacher salaries vary in predictable and transparent ways. Teacher education levels and years of experience predict salaries – by design (from Kentucky state statutes) and through decisions (from school board members in local districts). Over the past 20 years, numerous recommendations have called for salaries to…

Kentucky Child Well-Being in the newest Kids Count Data Book

The Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation offers an important annual look at the well-being of children in each state, with Kentucky Youth Advocates as a key partner in the work. The 2019 edition is out now, and here comes a tour of the Kentucky data points…

Checking in on the Rose Requirements

30 years ago, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued its powerful ruling in Rose v. Council for Better Education, insisting that a constitutional “efficient system of common schools” must give each and every child opportunity to develop seven student capacities. Do our current state standards, assessments, and accountability rules aim to…