Defining school success through accountability and continued, cooperative improvement is the theme of regional Town Hall style meetings being conducted by Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt.
Pruitt, along with other leaders from the Kentucky Department of Education, will be in Corbin on Monday, April 11, to hear feedback from concerned students, parents, and educators in southeastern Kentucky counties. The meeting will be conducted beginning at 6:30pm at the Corbin Center, located behind Applebee’s and Speedway, on the Cumberland Falls highway in Corbin.
The ideas and suggestions collected at the meetings will be used by the Department to inform the development of a new and more effective accountability system, something Pruitt has listed among his priorities since the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) hired him last fall.
“It is my goal to collaborate with legislators, educators, students and the public to produce a system that is fair, reliable, valid and easier to understand than what we have now,” Pruitt said.
The work also is being driven by Congress’ recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, now known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA shifts much of the oversight and responsibility for schools from the federal government to the state – including how accountability is determined and how to define and improve low performing schools.
“The new federal law gives us an incredible opportunity here in Kentucky to bring all shareholders to the table to create a system that not only holds schools and districts accountable for students’ education, but also celebrates good things happening in our schools,” said Pruitt.
“The Town Hall Meetings are critical to this effort, and I hope parents, community members, teachers, students, legislators, business owners and concerned citizens will come to these meetings ready to share their thoughts and ideas,” he added. “Together we will create a new system that will ensure we do the very best for all our kids and provide them with a well-rounded education that will prepare them to be successful, productive citizens of the Commonwealth.”
Additionally, those who are unable to attend the meetings, will still have the opportunity to submit their
suggestions and comments through a special e-mail account that has been setup, KyEdListens@education.ky.gov.