Oct. 3, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lisa McKinney

‍lisa@prichardcommittee.org

(cell) 859-475-7202

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‍Kentucky Test Scores Show Slight Improvement

Community Accountability Necessary to Quicken the Pace

A statement from Brigitte Blom, President and CEO

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LEXINGTON, Ky -- In the new public school learning results data released today by the Kentucky Department of Education, Kentucky has seen improvement in four of the measures that the Prichard Committee most closely tracks. Compared to 2023, the new data release shows:

• A 2% increase in the kindergarten readiness of students entering school last fall
• A 1% increase in grade 3 students scoring proficient or above in reading
• A 1% increase in grade 8 mathematics proficiency
• A 1% increase in the four-year high school graduation rate

There was no progress on two other priority measures:

• No increase in grade 3 mathematics proficiency
• A 3% decline in grade 8 reading proficiency

Even the measures that have improved remain far from Kentucky’s long-term goals. For example, only 47% of 2024 third-grade students were proficient or above in reading. If we continue improving at a pace of 1% each year, it could take 53 years to get all Kentucky students to the proficient level in that foundational subject.The results released today also confirm the urgency of Kentucky’s work to ensure that students of all backgrounds thrive in our schools:

• Even as grade 3 reading proficiency rose overall, it declined for English learners and for students with disabilities and showed no improvement for economically disadvantaged students and Hispanic or Latino students.  
• Grade 8 math results also rose overall, but showed no improvement for African American, Hispanic or Latino students and English learners. In slightly better news, economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities did see grade 8 mathematics improvement that was a bit stronger than that of their classmates.
• The other indicators provide similar evidence that we have not yet moved beyond our historic failures in closing achievement gaps.

The Prichard Committee will be doing further analysis on postsecondary readiness. It is difficult to compare this year’s 81% readiness rate directly to last year’s 79% rate, because this is the first year that readiness includes students who have been successful in work-based learning. While including that data going forward is beneficial, our analysis will need to consider how it affects year-to-year comparisons. We are also concerned to see that the percent of students reaching ACT benchmarks has declined and look forward to studying those patterns in more depth. If graduation rates remain steady or increase while postsecondary readiness measures decrease, that raises questions about how meaningful Kentucky’s high school diplomas are for preparing students for post-graduation life.

In response to today’s new data, the Prichard Committee urges Kentuckians in every community to review the results and develop new local efforts to ensure that our public schools offer all learners the full opportunities and supports they need to flourish. As a starting point, communities can work together on active family and community engagement, expanded and enriched learning times, integrated supports, and collaborative leadership and practices to support high-quality teaching.

The Prichard Committee also urges stronger state-level policy efforts and financial investments in our public schools. The new LETRS (Read to Succeed) program is off to a promising start, and added funding for kindergarten and school transportation are important starting points, but we need to do more as a commonwealth. Kentucky must deepen our efforts on teaching quality, working conditions, and shortages, and we must strengthen state SEEK funding, including meeting full transportation costs. Now is the time to invest appropriately in public education and ensure public dollars are not being diverted from the public schools that educate the vast majority of Kentucky students.

Overall, Kentucky’s future demands renewed and strengthened commitment to public schools that can equip each and every graduate has the durable skills and the depth of knowledge to succeed as adult learners, as workforce participants, and as contributors to our communities. It is every community members’ responsibility to help build a Big, Bold Future for the commonwealth with education at its core. Let’s get to work.

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This morning, the Kentucky Department of Education released important Kentucky State Assessment (KSA) results and other indicators that matter for our public schools. As an added way to see some of the major patterns in that data, the Prichard Committee has created a 2023-24 Snapshot approach to statewide elementary school, middle school, and high school data and showing:

• The statewide percent of students who scored proficient or distinguished in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing on the 2023 KSA
• Results for all students, for students who are and are not identified as English learners, for students with and without identified disabilities, for students with and without economic disadvantage, for students in seven groups by race and ethnicity, and for female and male students
• A single page display for elementary school results and for middle school results
• A two page display for high school results, with one page for KSA and another for ACT results, graduation rate, and postsecondary readiness rate

Unsurprisingly, the results shows that we have important work ahead to reach 100% proficiency and readiness, and they continue to show differences in how well we are serving students with different backgrounds and needs. For example, here’s a quick look at elementary school reading results, combining grades 3,4, and 5.

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If we engage this data with candor and concern, it can strengthen our work to ensure that all Kentucky learners are welcome, respected, and empowered in our public schools.

As communities and as a commonwealth, we need public schools to equip every student in our rising generation to play a full role in Kentucky’s Big Bold Future.

Please do take a look at the new Snapshot data for each level.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 20, 2024

Contact: Lisa McKinney

(cell) 859-475-7202

lisa@prichardcommittee.org

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The Prichard Committee releases analysis of ‘school choice’ Amendment 2

Committee issues statement of opposition to the amendment

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(LEXINGTON, Ky) --The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence today released an analysis of Amendment 2, a proposed amendment to Kentucky’s Constitution that would allow the allocation of public funds to school choice options beyond traditional public schools. The analysis, which outlines the potential financial and education outcomes of the amendment, found that funding private K12 educational institutions is not an appropriate or effective use of public funds.  

Amendment 2 will appear on ballots in November.  

“An amendment to Kentucky’s constitution that opens the door to private school choice with public dollars is likely to have significantly negative consequences for Kentucky’s long-standing march to improve education outcomes,” said Prichard Committee President/CEO Brigitte Blom. “Diverting public dollars to private school choice options creates the conditions for an unregulated market with no accountability to the taxpayers who fund it, and no durable research that warrants such an investment.”

The amendment's passage would allow the legislature to direct public funds to support private schools (including parochial schools), homeschooling, and charter schools through various financial mechanisms like vouchers, tax credits and education savings accounts.

Diverting funds to private schools is shown to spread scarce resources across more providers, thereby reducing overall access and improvement to quality in education, especially in areas where there is population decline. This will certainly be true in rural areas of the state and could likely be true for the state as a whole with population decline forecasted in the years to come.  

Additionally, Amendment 2 would open the door to the state investing in education options that create barriers for accountability. Public schools are held to accountability standards of which private and parochial schools, as well as homeschools, are currently exempt.    

Research shows that in states with high participation in school choice programs, a significant portion of funds frequently benefit wealthier families, leaving low- and middle-income families with less funding for the public schools these families rely on. Ensuring public funds stay within the public education system supports a fair distribution of resources to help ensure better outcomes for all students, the analysis found.  

Additionally, public schools are required to serve all students, including those with disabilities and the need for additional support. Many private schools are not required to guarantee the same level of support for students with learning differences, and the requirement to serve all children falls back to the public system, with fewer resources.

“Investing state dollars in what works is critical, and even more so in a state like Kentucky where we've risen from the bottom of the national rankings since the 1990s to roughly the middle today,” said Blom. “While there is clearly more work to be done to continue to improve education outcomes - and parents can and must demand that improvement - now is not the time to spend shared public dollars on strategies with no durable outcomes at best - and negative outcomes at worst.”  

Read the Prichard Committee’s full analysis here.  

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July 30, 2024

‍FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa McKinney
lisa@prichardcommittee.org
(cell) 859-475-7202

Kentucky schools find innovative ways to prepare students for evolving economy  

LEXINGTON, Ky --The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence today released a series of stories spotlighting schools across Kentucky using innovative strategies to teach durable skills—such as communication, teamwork and collaboration—in their classrooms. These stories highlight a larger effort in the commonwealth to ensure that schools are preparing students to succeed in the workforce and meet the evolving needs of employers.  

“It is important to elevate the work Kentucky educators are doing to make sure students are gaining the skills they need to pursue their dreams and live a big, bold life,” said Prichard Committee President/CEO Brigitte Blom. “We must make certain that high school diplomas are meaningful and relevant to the world we live in. I hope these stories serve as an example of what can be achieved when educators, the business community and families come together to design programs and curricula that set students up for success.” 

The stories highlight seven counties: Allen, Boone, Carter, Floyd, Rowan, Shelby and Warren. 

Among the examples of students across Kentucky working toward more meaningful diplomas are the fourth graders of McBrayer Elementary in Rowan County. These students are making their mark on the rich tradition of storytelling in Appalachia, while developing both durable and technical skills, by sharing what it is like to be a kid in Eastern Kentucky today through their Adventures of Fourth Grade podcast. The students take turns writing, producing and presenting the monthly podcast, with a little help from the districts’ digital learning coach. Through the process, the students are learning research skills, collaboration, media literacy, technology and storytelling—all while sending a finished project out into the world.  

Project-based learning, which teaches real-world skills by doing, is being integrated into more and more Kentucky schools alongside traditional classroom instruction. This approach is part of a larger effort to make students’ experiences in school more relevant to the life and work skills they will need upon graduation. ‍ 

Project-based learning has also provided an opportunity for community members to become more engaged in the schools by providing projects, guidance and feedback.   

“I think a benefit of having community involvement is that the community is becoming aware of the deeper learning kinds of experiences that we are working on to give our students,” said Prichard Committee Member Edna Schack, who acts as a community liaison for Rowan County Schools. “It's not the school that I went to, and it's not the school that my kids went to 15, 20 years ago. It's important that the community see that students are learning, not just from paper and pencil, not just at the computer screen, but they're learning from their experiences and some of those experiences are happening in the community.”  

The spotlight stories and accompanying videos are available on the Prichard Committee website.  

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Increasing the reach of advanced coursework work will help close achievement gaps

LEXINGTON, Ky -- Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence President & CEO Brigitte Blom, AdvanceKentucky Executive Director Anthony Mires, and Executive Director of the Western Kentucky University Center for Gifted Studies Dr. Julia Roberts testified to the Interim Joint Committee on Education today about increasing access to advanced coursework for Kentucky students.  

Their testimony included proposing automatic enrollment into Advanced Placement, or AP, and advanced courses for students who meet eligibility requirements based on measurable state standards and other factors. Currently, students must opt in to take these classes; under an automatic enrollment system, they would have to opt out. Automatic enrollment helps expand the reach of advanced coursework classes and grow the number of traditionally underrepresented students taking advanced coursework.

“Participating in advanced coursework has been shown to increase high school graduation and college enrollment rates,” said Blom. “Automatic enrollment and incentives for advanced students and teachers will put more Kentucky students on the path to a successful life post-graduation.”

Students who do not qualify for automatic enrollment can still enroll in advanced coursework if they choose to do so.  

Between 2018 and 2022, the number of Kentucky students enrolled in AP courses declined across all student groups.  

“Often, parents and students don’t understand the value proposition these courses offer,” said Mires. “We have to take a more active approach to go out and find these students, especially when we look at this broad middle group of students who could be participating in these classes but are not.”

Disparities persist in which students participate in both AP and Dual Credit programs. In the 2021-22 school year, districts with high percentages - 75% or more - of students from low-income backgrounds had only 5% of students enrolled in AP courses. Districts with less than 50% of students from low-income backgrounds experienced a significantly smaller decline in AP enrollment.

“Kentucky has many students ready to learn at advanced levels,” said Roberts. “Many of them have few, if any, opportunities in their schools to learn at advanced levels. All students are not ready to learn on the same level. Some need advanced coursework to stay motivated and reach their potential.”

Other solutions presented to expand access to advanced coursework courses included:

• Online and reciprocal agreements: The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) would offer AP courses online or through agreements between school districts to ensure access for all students.

• Communicating the importance of advanced coursework: Schools would inform parents about the benefits of AP and advance coursework for eligible students.

• Implementing and incentive program for students and teachers: Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Advanced Kentucky with support from KDE, would expand a program with monetary incentives for AP students and teachers based on increased AP exam passage rates.

• Annual reporting: KDE would report progress and outcomes to the Interim Joint Education Committee annually.

For more information on advanced coursework, visit https://www.prichardcommittee.org/toolkits.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Greater Owensboro was selected as the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence’s inaugural Groundswell Community Action awardee. The award recognizes Kentucky communities that have designed innovative solutions for improving schools, early care centers, and education outcomes at the local level through community engagement.

“Owensboro exemplifies what can happen when community members join together to use local assets to meet local needs, without waiting on state or federal intervention,” said Prichard Committee President Brigitte Blom. “This award recognizes the power of building a groundswell of community support for enacting meaningful change in our own backyards.”

Greater Owensboro received this honor with more than 350 education stakeholders from across Kentucky gathered at the Owensboro Convention Center June 10-12 for the Prichard Committee’s Groundswell Summit and Annual Meeting. Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson and President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Candance Castlen Brake welcomed conference attendees.

“Owensboro has a long history of community collaboration aimed at finding solutions to the problems that face our residents,” said Prichard Committee Member Clay Ford, an Owensboro native. “You can see that in the way we’ve come together to build infrastructure, develop our riverfront, care for our community’s children, beautify the city and more.”

The Summit featured a panel highlighting Owensboro’s local work entitled Owensboro's Can-Do Spirit: A Committed Local Coalition's Efforts to Elevate Early Care and Education. The panelists were part of the Greater Owensboro Partnership for Early Development (GOPED), a coalition of local citizens who mobilized the community to increase access to and quality of early care and education in the city.

The Prichard Committee received a multi-year grant from the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, which provided resources to help develop a plan for a high-quality early childhood ecosystem in Greater Owensboro. Using this partnership, GOPED has worked to harness the evidence-based power of high-quality early care and education to bolster kindergarten readiness and improve third grade reading proficiency.

“The Groundswell Summit is an opportunity for education champions from all corners of Kentucky to come together to share what they are doing in their own communities to enhance education outcomes,” said Blom. “Owensboro was the ideal setting to find inspiration.”

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As part of its commitment to showcasing the transformative power of education, the Prichard Committee has released a series of videos titled "Education Is." This series highlights the importance of the work being done around education in the state and the impact that education has on lives across Kentucky. These videos demonstrate how education has enhanced the lives of Kentuckians. Watch them here.

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Hear the stories of how education is building a path to a larger life for Kentuckians.

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Prichard Committee member Bill Wilson shares his story about the impact education has had on his life and his life’s work in education. 

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April Draine, a Commonwealth Institute of Parent Leadership fellow, shares her story about the impact education had on her life.

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Hear straight from the reason we are doing this work – the students!

More than 350 education and community stakeholders in attendance

LEXINGTON, Ky. — More than 350 education stakeholders from across Kentucky gathered in Owensboro June 10-12 for The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence’s Groundswell Summit and Annual Meeting.  

“The Groundswell Summit is an opportunity for education champions from all corners of Kentucky to come together to share what they are doing in their own communities to enhance education outcomes and school experiences for students,” said Prichard Committee President/CEO Brigitte Blom. “We know that some of the most effective work happens at the hyperlocal level, and we can all take ideas from each other and adjust them to meet our own community’s needs.”

The three-day summit, held at the Owensboro Convention Center, featured tours of innovative local schools and programs; the Great Schools Showcase; and sessions on addressing chronic absenteeism, creating welcoming schools, designing high-quality early childhood ecosystems and more.

National keynote speakers Dan Wuori and Seth Kaplan were in attendance to share their insights on early childhood education and hyperlocal community engagement. Additionally, the Summit featured a legislative panel with Rep. Scott Lewis, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong and Rep. DJ Johnson, highlighting bipartisan support for improving education outcomes in Kentucky. Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson and President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Candance Castlen Brake welcomed conference attendees.

The Summit also included an award ceremony recognizing outstanding schools and educators across the commonwealth. The committee honored Ruth Lynch with the Beverly Nickell Raimondo Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership toward improving student achievement among Kentucky students. Lynch has championed student achievement by diligently trying to recruit more teachers of color to return and work within her local public school system in Christian County.  

Additionally, the Prichard Committee recognized:

• 29 new Family Friendly Schools and Early Care Centers that have shown exceptional dedication to creating a welcoming, supportive and inclusive school environment for students and families

• 33 Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership Fellows, who have displayed a deep dedication and commitment to improving education in their communities

• Seven Groundswell Action Awards honorees, who are working in their communities to improve education outcomes

• Greater Owensboro was honored as the inaugural Groundswell Community for their efforts supporting a deeply engaged community that works together on solutions to improve outcomes

The 2024 Groundswell Summit and Annual Meeting was sponsored by Owensboro Health. The next Groundswell Summit will take place in June 2025.  

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LEXINGTON, Ky -- The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has awarded 29 Kentucky schools and early care centers with a Family Friendly Schools Certification this spring.  "Schools that earn this certification have demonstrated their commitment to proactively engaging families in their student’s education," said Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. “These schools have been innovative and energetic in their efforts to make families a valued part of their school’s team, which enriches the learning experience for students. We’re excited they’ve chosen to pursue this certification to demonstrate their dedication to their students and community.”  

The schools have worked to foster more effective partnerships with families and the broader community. As part of the certification process, a multidisciplinary team consisting of families, teachers, and administrators used a self-assessment tool to evaluate the school's family engagement performance. This team evaluated the school's practices, identified key areas for improvement, and integrated new practices designed to elevate its family-friendly rating.  

The Family Friendly Schools Certification is awarded by the Prichard Committee after applications are reviewed and scored by a working group of families, educators and community organizations. The group is focused on increasing open communication, learning opportunities and shared decision-making power across the Kentucky education system.  

“Schools and early care centers who apply for Family Friendly Schools Certification gain a deeper understanding about the importance of family-school partnerships, examine core beliefs about family-school partnerships and apply concrete strategies for increasing family engagement in their school,” said Blom.  

The Kentucky Department of Education includes the Family Friendly Schools Certification in its school report card as evidence of effective family engagement.  

“The Family Friendly Schools Certification highlights the exceptional work being done across Kentucky to build strong, collaborative relationships between schools and families,” said Clay Ford, Prichard Committee Board Chair.

For more details on the Family Friendly Schools Certification, visit prichardcommittee.org/familyengagement.  

2024 Spring Family Friendly Schools Certification Awardees

1. Reidland Elementary School*

2. North Washington Elementary Early Childhood Center*

3. North Washington Elementary and Middle School*

4. Washington County Elementary Early Childhood Center*

5. Washington County Elementary School*

6. Washington County High School*

7. Washington County Middle School*

8. Floyd County Early Childhood Center

9. Breckinridge Elementary School  

10. Campbell Ridge Elementary School  

11. Clearfield Elementary School  

12. Crossroads Elementary School  

13. Donald E. Cline Elementary  

14. East Bernstadt Independent  

15. Eastside Child Development Center

16. Grant’s Lick Elementary School

17. Greysbranch Elementary School

18. John W. Reiley Elementary School

19. Lansdowne Elementary School

20. Murray Elementary School

21. NKCAC (Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission) Head Start—Alexandria Center

22. NKCAC Head Start—Elsmere Center

23. NKCAC Head Start—Falmouth Center

24. NKCAC Head Start—Newport Center

25. NKCAC Head Start—Boone County Center

26. Picadome Elementary School

27. Tygart Creek Elementary School

28. Wurtland Middle School

29. Yates Elementary School

* Denotes Gold Certification

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April 18, 2024
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‍FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
‍For more information, contact:
Courtney Daniel, Chief of Communications and External Affairs
‍courtney@prichardcommittee.org

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Historic increase in education funding helps drive a ‘Big Bold Future’ for Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, Ky — As the 2024 legislative session closes in Kentucky, the Prichard Committee announced that the Big Bold Ask achieved 79% of its mission, adding $812 million annually in education funding.

In 2019, the Prichard Committee unveiled a six-year plan, also known as the Big Bold Ask, to add more than $1 billion to the state’s education budget in strategic areas where the investment would have the greatest impact on the state’s education and economic outcomes. The Big Bold Ask aimed to reverse trends in declining state investments into public education by bolstering the early childhood, public K-12 and higher education sectors.

“The funding ask was a key component of Prichard’s work to create a Big Bold Future for the commonwealth. Investment in education at all levels pays dividends in economic growth and a higher quality of life for communities across the state where every Kentuckian can thrive,” said Prichard Committee President and CEO Brigitte Blom. “We are grateful that the Legislature supports this vision and made great strides during the last five years in prioritizing education so we can build a Big Bold Future for all Kentuckians.”

To frame this work, Prichard identified 12 education and economic indicators that help compare Kentucky’s progress to other states, analyze trends over the years, see results for Kentuckians of varied backgrounds and ages, find cause for celebration and recognize areas of concern. Prichard is tracking progress and publishing these measures in a biannual Big Bold Future: National Rankings Report.

In the 2024 state general fund budget, investment in key elements of early childhood, public K-12 and higher education has increased by $812 million since 2020, which will bolster progress toward the Big Bold Future goals. See below for a breakdown on where Kentucky’s education dollars are being invested.

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Early Childhood Education  

As the general fund budget stands, preschool funding has received no additional funding since 2020. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funding saw an increase of $47 million, or about 24% of what was requested in the Big Bold Ask.

Investment in high-quality early childhood education is critical for Kentucky’s economy to thrive today and in the future. The care provided by these programs also allows more parents to enter or remain in the workforce. According to a 2023 survey, 94% of Kentucky parents and 91% of Kentucky voters feel that Kentucky is not doing enough to increase child care access.

For more details on Early Childhood Funding in Kentucky, visit our blog.

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Public K-12 Education

All-day kindergarten was fully funded at levels requested in the Big Bold Ask. In another big bright spot, the Legislature passed and Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 695, the Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Project. The legislation will establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education using curriculum that aligns with state standards and national guidelines to improve kindergarten readiness.

School transportation funding also meets levels from the Big Bold Ask; however, it is worth noting that transportation costs have increased significantly in the five years since the Big Bold Ask was written.

Teaching quality efforts included funding for the Read to Succeed Initiative and for added stipends to teachers who earn National Board certification. There is no funding in the budget to rebuild funding for professional development, a key part of the teacher quality portion of Big Bold Ask. However, the Legislature passed House Bill 162, known as the Numeracy Counts Act, which provides for research-based approaches for improvements to K-3 mathematics instruction, teacher preparation, professional development and parent engagement.

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Higher Education

Public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System funding in the budget meets and exceeds the Ask, as do College Assistance Program grants. Kentucky’s college enrollment rate is on the rise, and this added investment will help more Kentucky students get the postsecondary credential they need to succeed in today’s economy.

The Legislature also addressed career and technical education needs with House Bill 499 that aims to provide a fairer allocation of funds between state and locally managed Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The bill was sent to the governor’s desk on Monday.

Additionally, they enacted postsecondary performance-based funding reforms via Senate Bill 191, which includes nontraditional age students in funding calculations to close the achievement gaps at the postsecondary level, adjusts funding percentages for public universities based on student success outcomes and more closely aligns credentialing with economic needs.

"We envision a Big Bold Future where every Kentuckian thrives, contributing to and benefiting from the state’s growing economy. This future is built on jobs that not only pay a family-sustaining wage but also offer opportunities to create wealth and success for generations.” Blom said. “Central to this vision is our commitment to an education system that starts strong with quality early childhood programs, continues with world-class K-12 schooling, and culminates in high-quality, marketable degrees and credentials. Together, these elements prepare Kentuckians not just to fill jobs, but to be the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. Let's keep pushing the boundaries to make this Big Bold Future a reality for all Kentuckians."

The next Big Bold Future report will be released in November this year.

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The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence is an independent, nonpartisan, citizen-led organization working to improve education in Kentucky – early childhood through postsecondary.

With the 2024 legislative session behind us, we are taking stock of what was accomplished in this session and how far we still must go to improve education and economic outcomes for Kentuckians.

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Kentucky’s continued decline in education and quality of life outcomes is cause for concern. In just the last decade Kentucky has fallen to:

• 41st in the nation in the number of children living in poverty - up from 39th in 2020,
• 29th in the nation in fourth-grade reading — a fall from 22nd in 2019 and a high of 8th in the nation in 2015,
• 28th in the nation in eighth-grade reading — a drop from 25th in 2019 and a peak at 12th in 2011,
• 34th in the nation in fourth-grade math — a fall from 30th in 2019 and 21st in 2015,
• 41st in the nation in eighth-grade math — down from 36th in 2019 after reaching 33rd in the nation in 2011.
• 41st in the nation in postsecondary enrollment - a fall from 40th in 2020.

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Despite Kentucky’s downward turn in education outcomes, the Prichard Committee celebrates the steps taken by the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly to return Kentucky to a place where education outcomes can improve.The following successful pieces of legislation can move the needle in providing a Big Bold Future for all Kentuckians:

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‍Numeracy Counts Act - HB 162  Chairman James Tipton (R-53) filed HB 162 to provide for research-based approaches for improvements to K-3 mathematics instruction, teacher preparation, professional development, and parent engagement. The bill aims to reprioritize math education in Kentucky by providing quality education and support for student success to improve math proficiency in Kentucky.

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‍Career and Technical Education – HB 499 Representative Bobby McCool (R – 97) filed HB 499 to provide a fairer allocation of funds between state and locally managed Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, ensuring equitable support across the board. The bill ensures every student, no matter their location, benefits from equal access to high-quality education resources and prioritizes performance-based funding.Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Project – HB 695  Representative Kevin Jackson (R-20) filed HB 695 to establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The pilot will use a curriculum that aligns with state standards and national guidelines to improve kindergarten readiness in the commonwealth.‍

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Postsecondary Performance Based Funding Reforms – SB 191 Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens (R-09) filed SB 191 to include nontraditional age students to close the achievement gaps at the postsecondary level, adjust funding percentages for public universities based on student success outcomes, and more closely align credentialing with economic needs.

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While much work remains in the mission to return Kentucky to a place where education and quality of life outcomes are improving, The Prichard Committee applauds these positive steps forward championed by state leaders in Frankfort in the 2024 session.

As the dust settles on the 2024 Kentucky legislative session, there is a significant measure of good progress on the early childhood front, some sobering data that gives us pause, and some critical unknowns.

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First, the good news – millions of dollars have been earmarked for early care and education in Kentucky for the FY 2025 and FY 2026 biennium.

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State Funding for Early Childhood

The General Assembly has appropriated $112.45 million for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), the Employee Child Care Assistance Program (ECCAP) and early childhood scholarships, a substantial increase from the $21.2 million in the previous biennium.

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The state budget also included $45.11 million in Kentucky tobacco settlement dollars for the Early Childhood Advisory Council and regional collaboratives, home visitation, and maternal and child health services.

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In December 2023, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) announced the disbursement of an additional $50 million in sustainability funding to child care providers to support operational needs, such as employee pay raises and facility updates.

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Federal Funds for Early Childhood

The $27.25 million in federal funds consists of $14.4 million in additional FY 2024 Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) dollars appropriated by the federal government in March 2024, and $13.35 million in what we believe to be existing federal funds that the state General Assembly has directed the executive branch to allocate towards CCAP initiatives in the just-enacted state budget.

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Granted, the early childhood sector was buoyed by the infusion of unprecedented federal pandemic era funding the last few years, which gave us a glimpse into what a thriving early care and education ecosystem in Kentucky might look like when appropriately resourced. However, this shot in the already limp arms of the early care and education sector proved to be a double-edged sword, because it also put on the back burner the sense of urgency for state action that the pre-pandemic child care crisis warranted.

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Realities and Critical Unknowns

While we applaud the historic state investment in the early care and education sector, there are some sobering realities we must also acknowledge. The state budget does not provide for the maintenance of services to families at 85% of the state median income (SMI), which can potentially disenfranchise 16,000 children from child care services when eligibility reverts to 160% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The federal Administration for Families and Children’s Office of Child Care now requires states to limit the copayment of families to no more than 7% of their household income and to reimburse child care providers based on enrollment versus attendance. It is yet unclear what proportion of the cost of implementing these new rules would be covered by the additional $14.4 million in CCDBG funds that Kentucky is receiving.

The additional $50 million in emergency funding for CCAP that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services provided in December 2023 is set to be exhausted by September 2024. Already, parents and child care providers have had to make gut-wrenching choices.  For providers, tuition hikes, walking back much needed pay raises for early childhood employees, and closing classrooms or an entire early childhood center or family child care home have already become reality.  For child care employees, the desire to stay in this line of work and invest in young children is eclipsed by the basic need to provide for their own families by moving to higher paying jobs. At the heart of this conundrum are the working families with young children who must face the prospect of pulling their children out of safe and nurturing child care settings, and then either quitting work or school to stay home, or leaving their children in situations they are not comfortable with because they need the health insurance. None of these choices are beneficial to families and our local and state economies.

It is imperative that we arrive at a clear picture of the fiscal realities facing the early care and education sector over the next two years.  We need to be able to brace our communities for the potential impact of diminished access to safe, affordable early care and education on our workforce, business and industry, and our overall economy. And we need to continue to advocate for our families and the child care providers who have subsidized through their meager compensation and profit margins the vital service of caring for our youngest learners.