education

Kentucky School Districts are Seeking "Innovation" Status

Associated Press — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:53:23 +0000

Education experts will soon be examining applications from public schools districts across Kentucky that want to become “Districts of Innovation.”

The Kentucky Education Department says the designation allows the districts to seek exemption from some rules and regulations to try to improve student learning.

The idea is to let school districts change the way they teach and students learn with initiatives such as competency-based learning and a modified school schedule.

Seventeen districts submitted applications for the designation. Staff from the Education Department, the Education Professional Standards Board and the Regional Education Laboratory that serves Kentucky will review the applications in May and make recommendations to the Kentucky Board of Education. The board will select the districts June 5.

Districts could begin implementing plans as early as the coming school year.

Kentucky House OKs Dropout Bill Compromise; Expected to Become Law

Kenny Colston — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:43:14 +0000

The House has approved a compromise to raise the dropout age in Kentucky gradually, after previous compromises have failed.

Senate Bill 97 would allow local school boards to choose whether to raise the dropout age to 18. After 55 percent of Kentucky’s school boards raise the age, it would become mandatory statewide in four years. The bill’s advocates say they believe the new dropout age will be in effect throughout the state by 2019.

State Representative Jeff Greer of Meade County has been shepherding the bill through the house. He called the compromise a victory.

"I view this as a tremendous victory for our state, we're sending a message to our young people."

The Senate also agreed to the compromise. This will send a dropout bill to Governor Steve Beshear's desk for the first time in the five years Beshear has pushed the issue.

Opponents of Vandy Policy Want to Strip School of Police Powers

Associated Press — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:27:24 +0000

Opponents of a Vanderbilt University policy banning discrimination in student groups want to enact a law to strip the private school of its police powers if it doesn't change its ways.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Mae Beaver of Mt. Juliet and fellow Republican Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon was the subject of competing press conferences at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville on Tuesday.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam last year vetoed a bill to do away with Vanderbilt's "all comers" policy, which requires student groups at the school to allow any interested students to join and run for office. Religious groups argue the policy forces them to accept students who don't share their beliefs.

Haslam said he disagrees with Vanderbilt's policy, but opposes targeting a private institution.

First Lady Jane Beshear Kicks of Literacy Celebration Week at WKU

Kevin Willis — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:29:01 +0000

Kentucky's First Lady says new technology is offering young people new ways to access reading materials. Jane Beshear kicked off the 2013 Literacy Celebration Week Monday at WKU by speaking to an education class about the impact of reading on college readiness.

Mrs. Beshear says it doesn't matter if young people read books the old-fashioned way, or if they use an mobile electronic reader.

"I don't care how they read, as long as they read. We're in the technology age, so that's as engaging as anything. So if that's what it takes to get them involved, then I'm all for it."

After her visit to WKU, the Kentucky First Lady then toured the Housing Authority of Bowling Green to talk about how literacy growth can be incorporated into after-school programs.

Tennessee Has Biggest Improvement in High School Graduation Rate in Nation

Kevin Willis — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:40:40 +0000

A new report shows Tennessee with the fastest-improving high school graduation rate in the nation. The Tennessean reports Volunteer State education leaders hope to reach the 90 percent diploma threshold by 2020.

The report shows the Tennessee high school graduation rate has improved by 6.5 percentage points since 2001, with an average annual growth rate of 1.25 points between 2006 and 2010. During that time period, Tennessee improved at nearly double the national rate.

The report is the combined effort of the groups Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America’s Promise Alliance, and the Alliance for Excellent Education.

In Tennessee, 80 percent of high school freshman say in school and graduate as seniors. That’s better than the national average of 78.2 percent.

Nationally, 200,000 more students received high school diplomas than in 2006, a trend driven by big gains in African-American and Hispanic graduation rates.