by Nick Storm , @NickStorm_cn2 – Elaine Chao, the former Labor Secretary under President George W. Bush, will be President-elect Donald Trump’s choice selection to lead the Department of Transportation, according to multiple national news outlets. Both The New York Times and Politico, among other outlets, are reporting that Chao will be formally announced as Trump selection on Tuesday. Chao is the wife…
WASHINGTON DC (AP) –States will have more time to identify failing schools under new Obama administration rules finalized Monday. The rules provide a broad framework for states as they design new accountability systems to improve schools and narrow student achievement gaps. It’s a key part of the bipartisan education law passed almost one year ago…
By John Gregory | KET – There seems to be unanimous agreement in Frankfort that the commonwealth’s outdated tax codes need to be reformed. But good luck finding a consensus on what that overhaul should mean for individual and corporate taxpayers as well as for a state with mounting education, infrastructure, and public pension expenses. Ahead…
by Tom Loftus , @TomLoftus_CJ – Pegasus Institute was created by Jordan Harris and Josh Crawford, focusing on state policies in Kentucky and to “improve lives of all Kentuckians.” Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. – There’s a new kid on Kentucky’s expanding block of nonprofit groups that believe state and local government policy ought to be guided more by conservative “free…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education says colleges and universities have conferred a record number of degrees and credentials. A statement from the agency says there were 65,829 degrees and credentials obtained during the 2015-16 school year, which is a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year. Council President Bob King said Kentucky’s higher…
by Kirsten Clark , @kirstenlmclark – Community members pressed Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt for clear answers Monday about how the state and Jefferson County Public Schools plan to ensure equity is at the forefront of education reform efforts in the age of the new Every Student Succeeds Act. “Our children are failing,” Louisville Urban League President…
by Nick Storm, @NickStorm_cn2 – Without much fanfare, the Senate Republican caucus re-elected their leadership team on Monday. The entire team of leaders includes Senate President Robert Stivers, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, Majority Caucus Chair Dan Seum and Majority Whip Jimmy Higdon. All were unopposed in this round of leadership elections.…
By WYMT – ATLANTA, Ga. (WYMT) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized federal funds to help Kentucky with the costs of recent forest fires in Harlan, Knox, Letcher, and Pike counties. This authorization makes FEMA grant funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the…
BY CHERYL TRUMAN, ctruman@herald-leader.com – What do we make in Kentucky? Toyota Camrys and Chevrolet Corvettes, for sure — in Georgetown and Bowling Green. JIF peanut butter is made by Smucker’s in Lexington (and emits a savory roasting peanut aroma for passers-by). Post-It Notes are made by 3M in Cynthiana, Hot Pockets by Nestle in Mount Sterling,…
by Mike James The Daily Independent – WASHINGTON D.C. — A new study rates Kentucky’s educational accountability system highly for its encouragement of high schools that nurture high achieving students. The study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute notes Kentucky’s system gives additional credit to students for high achievement. The system measures student growth by taking into…