The State Department of Education is proposing new legislation to help Kentucky's two largest school districts address achievement gaps. The issue was discussed Monday during a state legislative committee meeting.
The Louisville and Lexington school districts have the greatest percentage of students of color compared to other Kentucky counties. In addressing members of the interim education committee, State Department of Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said a new bill would allow for a 'priority school' type designation. He says this would give local and state officials the ability to intervene sooner. "Go in and do a diagnostic review, look at the curriculum, look at the response to intervention, instruction, support, professional development," said Holliday.
House Education Committee Co-Chair Derrick Graham believes this legislation would give local school boards and superintendents more leeway in addressing achievement gaps. "This would apply to maybe Christian County and to other districts that have a large African American, or Hispanic, or kids of color within those districts, as well as the issue of the gap in the poverty areas too, which would include eastern Kentucky as well," said Graham.
Holliday's reference to the achievement gap issue came as he was offering a report on academic readiness within public education.?
