Across Kentucky, school districts are reimagining how education works—by building deep, local partnerships with families, communities, and organizations. The results are real: better engagement, fewer barriers, and stronger student outcomes.
This is The Kentucky Effect—a campaign that shines a light on 20 districts leading the way through collaboration, trust, and shared action.
Powered by Local Communities
At the heart of this campaign is building a groundswell for a big bold future for every Kentuckian—a statewide movement helping communities respond to the needs of students and families at the local level.
This isn’t a program. It’s a mindset. A way of working together that’s rooted in long-term partnership, not quick fixes. It’s about solving real challenges with attendance, access, achievement, family voice—one school and one neighborhood at a time.
Led by the Prichard Committee
The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has been a trusted leader for education in Kentucky for over 40 years. We are a citizen-led nonprofit with decades of experience in putting Kentucky voices first. Through The Kentucky Effect, Prichard is continuing this effort, helping elevate the success stories already happening—and inspiring more to follow.
Get Involved
Explore the stories on our social feeds below. Share your own. Write new ones. See what’s possible when schools and communities lead together.
This is the Kentucky Effect. Let’s build it together.
We hope you’ll join Kentuckians across the Commonwealth as, together, we build a Groundswell.
Learn more about how your community is doing when it comes to strong schools and engaged families. Use your Profile as a starting point for local conversations about your community’s strengths and weak spots.
Plug into upcoming trainings, virtual gatherings, and in-person events where you can build your skills and connect with others.
(Coming Soon)
Discover where your leadership strengths are today—and get personalized tips on how to grow. Whether you’re just getting started or already leading change, there’s always a next step.
The Prichard Committee’s collection of educational toolkits is designed to empower parents, educators, and community leaders. These resources provide practical strategies and actionable insights to equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact. Explore our offerings and join us in building a brighter future for all Kentucky learners.
Our toolkits are currently undergoing maintenance. We are working hard to improve your experience and will have our new and improved toolkits available shortly.
The counties in GREEN below are the areas of the state where we currently have Groundswell members. Our goal is to cover all 120 counties. The YELLOW bright spots indicate a community working towards making a difference at the local level. Click on the yellow dots to read their stories. The RED dots indicate schools that have been designated as Family Friendly Schools. The PURPLE dots indicate counties that have schools participating in the Kentucky Community Schools Initiative program.
If you are already a Groundswell Initiative member and have been working toward a Big Bold Future in your community, please tell us your story via this form
The contents of this website page and referring campaign materials were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Program. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.
“Our students are ready for more. We need to ensure that more is there for them as they pursue their personal and innate potential.” -Brigitte
Listen to Brigitte's latest interview with Jonathan Plucker on Eastern Standard: https://esweku.org/track/4196177/march-13-2025_brigitte-blom-jonathan-plucker #KentuckyEducation #ExcellenceGap #BigBoldFuture
Prichard Committee President/CEO Brigitte Blom joined Bill Bryant on Kentucky Newsmakers to discuss the Big Bold Future National Rankings Report, which shows how the commonwealth ranks among the 50 states on key education and economic indicators. Brigitte explains where the commonwealth stands, how we got here, and where we go...