Education experts, Kentucky Legislature discuss expanding access to advanced coursework

Nov. 20, 2024

Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee

(cell) 859-475-7202

lisa@prichardcommittee.org

New Report Shows Impact of Family Engagement in Kentucky Schools  

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LEXINGTON, Ky -- When schools implement intentional strategies to create a culture of family engagement, families’ knowledge of the education system improves and teachers’ job satisfaction improves. Further, with support and encouragement, families feel prepared to partner with schools and help them develop authentic family engagement activities. These are among the key findings in a recent report released by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and conducted by the Center for Policy, Research, and Evaluation at the NYU Metro Center.

“These initial findings validate the strength of the family engagement work happening in schools across Kentucky,” said Brigitte Blom, President & CEO of the Prichard Committee. “When schools and families partner, student outcomes improve; it’s that simple. We’re excited by the research findings that show small, intentional steps to engage families can have big, positive impacts.”

The Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools Research and Evaluation Findings 2020-2023 provides an overview of findings from the 5-year startup of the Prichard Committee’s Collaborative for Families and Schools, which benefitted from funding for Statewide Family Engagement Centers through a US Department of Education grant. The work resulted in the development of the Family Friendly Schools Certification process and built upon the proven 26-year legacy of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. In addition, the Prichard Committee worked deeply with four regional partners: Learning Grove, Partners for Rural Impact, The National Center for Families Learning, and Daviess County Public Schools. The work is anchored in the Dual Capacity-Building Framework, which is the widely accepted research-based framework for building effective partnerships.

"Rather than focusing on scaling up a specific family engagement program, the Kentucky Collaborative supported schools and communities statewide to combine evidence-based practices with local wisdom, leadership, and relationships. This approach was not only more effective, but also more sustainable," said Dr. Joanna Geller, NYU’s director of policy, research, and evaluation and the study’s principal investigator.

Findings include:

For teachers, the most improved family engagement actions included:  

• Increase in school outreach to families

• Teachers sending communications about what children learn in class  

• Schools encouraging parents to reach out to other parents

• Staff applying knowledge of parents’ various cultural backgrounds when collaborating with them

• Schools becoming more linguistically responsive  

Families reported an increase in the following actions:

• Ever attending family events (+25%) and volunteering (+22%)  

• Believing teachers regularly communicate about how to help their children learn and encourage parent feedback (each +12% change in strongly agreeing)

• Perceiving stronger climate for family leadership in all areas (+10-11% change in strongly agreeing)

• Knowing special programs available at the school to help their child (+10% change in strongly agreeing)

In addition, educators who participated in training were almost twice as likely to report a great deal of confidence with family engagement, and participating in training appears to have increased their satisfaction with their job.

“When districts prioritize family partnerships and schools create authentic spaces for connection, the ripple effect is powerful,” said Brooke Gill, vice president and director of the Prichard Committee’s Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools. “These findings should be used across the state to encourage more schools to create time and space for families and educators to build authentic connections.”  

The report also found some important differences in how families are supported broadly. Namely, families of color and with less affluence reported less outreach to them by schools and a less welcoming environment for families. As Kentucky schools continue to support effective family engagement, reflecting on and implementing strategies that engage all families through a strengths-based lens will be important.  

“While this initial report shows important leading indicators that family engagement efforts have a positive effect, in the years ahead, we are eager to show the direct impact effective family engagement can have on outcomes for all students as we work to expand Family Friendly Schools Certification and Fellows of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership,” said Blom.

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Nov. 19, 2024

Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee

(cell) 859-475-7202

lisa@prichardcommittee.org

New Survey Reveals Kentucky Families’ Perceptions of Education Opportunities

Parents report strong satisfaction with mental health services while identifying need for expanded learning opportunities and deeper family engagement

LEXINGTON, Ky -- The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence released findings from a new study examining how Kentucky parents view educational opportunities in their communities. "The State of Educational Opportunity in Kentucky" captures the experiences of more than 400 parents and guardians of school-aged children in the commonwealth, providing valuable insights into how families identify both the strengths of our public education system, as well as areas for improvement.

"The overwhelming show of support for public education at the ballot box with the recent defeat of Amendment II presents a critical opportunity for Kentuckians to engage deeply in a conversation about ways to continue to improve our state's education outcomes," said Brigitte Blom, president & CEO of the Prichard Committee. "This survey is an important first step toward identifying what we are doing well and finding solutions for areas that need improvement."

Parents report higher satisfaction than most states in two key areas:

• Parents give Kentucky schools high marks for mental health support. Kentucky has the highest percentage of families in the nation who are very satisfied with how their school supports their child's mental health needs at 45%, compared to the national average of 37%.

• Kentucky families express strong confidence in college and career preparation, with parents across all income brackets reporting higher confidence in workforce preparedness than the national average. However, there is an 11- to 13-percentage point difference between families with low- and mid-high-incomes, suggesting lower-income families feel less confident about their child's preparation for success.

Parents report several areas where they face challenges accessing educational opportunities:

• Families report limited access to summer learning programs. Only 31% of Kentucky parents surveyed say their children participate in these programs, compared to the national average of 41%. More concerning, parents' responses reveal a 14-point gap between income groups: while 38% of students from mid-high-income families participate in summer programs, only 24% of students who come from low-income families do.

• Few parents report their children receive tutoring services. Only 14% of parents say their children receive tutoring, below the national average of 19%. Again, we see a significant income-based disparity in reported access, with a 12-point gap between students who come from low-income and mid-high-income families.

• Parents describe low levels of engagement with their schools. While parents report being aware of their school's academic performance, they indicate much less familiarity with school operations and governance. Only 20% of respondents say they have attended meetings held by parent organizations at their schools, 5 percentage points below the national average. Only 16% of parents say they are familiar with how school budget decisions are made, placing Kentucky near the bottom quarter of states nationally on these measures.

"Research consistently shows that extended learning opportunities, such as tutoring and summer programs, and strong family engagement are two critical components for student success," said Todd Baldwin, vice president and director of the Center for Best Practice and Innovation at the Prichard Committee. "Over the coming year, we'll be working to identify and elevate promising practices from Kentucky communities that are finding innovative ways to expand learning opportunities and strengthen family partnerships. We know these solutions exist in our communities - our goal is to help share these examples so other school-communities can learn from and build upon their success."

The Kentucky survey was part of "The State of Educational Opportunity in America: A survey of 20,000 Parents," produced by 50CAN and Edge Research, one of the largest studies of parent perceptions of education in the United States in the past decade. The Kentucky sample of 404 parents and guardians represents diverse backgrounds across geographic regions, income levels, and school types.

"A great school is one that sits at the center of an engaged and supportive community," said Blom. "When the school and community collaborate to leverage assets in support of expanded educational opportunity, students benefit, families express increased satisfaction, and educators can focus on high-quality instruction."

For more information about the survey or access to the full Kentucky report, visit the Prichard Committee website. For more information about the national survey, and to access the full data set, visit 50can.org.

About the Prichard Committee

We believe in the power and promise of public education – early childhood through college - to ensure Kentuckians’ economic and social well-being. We are a citizen-led, bipartisan, solutions-focused nonprofit, established in 1983 with a singular mission of realizing a path to a larger life for Kentuckians with education at the core.  

About 50CAN

50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now is a locally led, nationally supported nonprofit education advocacy organization committed to a high-quality education for all kids, regardless of their address.

About Edge Research

A woman-owned marketing research company and trusted partner, Edge Research tells data-driven stories that make our clients’ programs, products, and brands successful, because we believe in conducting purposeful and impactful work. Our goal is to blend wisdom, experience, creativity, and innovation to drive change. One of Edge’s key verticals is education, which ranges from early childhood development to K-12 and postsecondary education, to lifelong learning.

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Nov. 18, 2024

Contact: Lisa McKinney, Communications Director, The Prichard Committee

(cell) 859-475-7202

lisa@prichardcommittee.org

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More than 50 Kentucky Schools Certified as 'Family Friendly'

The Prichard Committee Honored Family Friendly Schools and Early Care Centers during Family Engagement in Education Week

LEXINGTON, Ky -- The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence kicked off Family Engagement in Education Week at the State Capitol on Monday by honoring the 54 Kentucky schools and early care centers that earned Family Friendly Schools Certification in 2024.  

"Schools receiving this certification have shown a strong commitment to actively involving families in education," said Brigitte Blom, President and CEO of the Prichard Committee. "These schools have taken creative steps to make families essential partners in the educational experience. These relationships have long-term benefits for families, students, educators, and the community more broadly. We’re gratified these schools have pursued this certification as a reflection of their dedication to students and the whole community."

Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation at the event declaring Nov. 18-22 Family Engagement in Education Week in the commonwealth. The Prichard Committee will be holding educational events all week to help families, community members and schools learn how to build meaningful partnerships.  

The Family Friendly Certification process involves a multidisciplinary team of families, teachers and administrators using a self-assessment tool to evaluate the school's efforts toward increasing family engagement. This team evaluates the school's practices, identifies key areas for improvement, and integrates new practices designed to elevate its family-friendly rating.  

The 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.  

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 demonstrates how schools across the commonwealth are going above and beyond to ensure families are a welcome and active part of the school community,” said Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, Prichard Committee Board Chair. “Giving families the opportunity to partner with educators to have a voice in their child’s education and lend their support where needed, will make learning experiences more meaningful and attainable.”

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

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2024 Family Friendly Schools Certification Awardees  

• Campbell Ridge Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Crossroads Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• John W. Reiley Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Campbell County High School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Campbell County Middle School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Donald E. Cline Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Grant's Lick Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools  

• Tygart Creek Elementary School, Carter County Public Schools  

• Baker Intermediate School, Clark County Public Schools  

• Burns Elementary School, Daviess County Public Schools  

• Heritage Park High School, Daviess County Public Schools  

• Lincoln Elementary School, Dayton Independent Public Schools  

• East Bernstadt Independent School, East Bernstadt Independent Public Schools  

• Lansdowne Elementary School, Fayette County Public Schools  

• Picadome Elementary School, Fayette County Public Schools  

• Yates Elementary School, Fayette County Public Schools  

• Brenda Cowan Elementary School, Fayette County Public Schools  

• Breckinridge Elementary School, Fayette County Public Schools  

• School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Fayette County Public Schools  

• Growing Together Preschool, Inc., Fayette County  

• Floyd County Early Childhood, Floyd County Public Schools  

• May Valley Elementary School, Floyd County Public Schools  

• Second Street School, Frankfort Independent Public Schools  

• Frankfort High School, Frankfort Independent Public Schools  

• Greysbranch Elementary School, Greenup County Public Schools  

• Wurtland Middle School, Greenup County Public Schools  

• McKell Middle School, Greenup County Public Schools  

• Harlan Elementary School, Harlan Independent Public Schools  

• Niagara Elementary School, Henderson County Public Schools  

• Jackson Independent School, Jackson Independent Public Schools  

• Grace James Academy of Excellence, Jefferson County Public Schools  

• Jenkins Independent School, Jenkins Independent Public Schools  

• Eastside Child Development Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

• NKCAC Head Start- Elsmere Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission  

• NKCAC Head Start- Boone County Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

• NKCAC Head Start -Alexandria Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

• NKCAC Head Start- Newport Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission  

• NKCAC Head Start- Falmouth Center, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

• Calvert City Elementary School, Marshall County Public Schools  

• Reidland Elementary School, McCracken County Public Schools  

• Menifee Central School, Menifee County Public Schools

• Murray Elementary School, Murray Independent Public Schools  

• Rowan County Preschool Center, Rowan County Public Schools  

• Clearfield Elementary School, Rowan County Public Schools  

• Rowan County Senior High School, Rowan County Public Schools  

• Rodburn Elementary School, Rowan County Public Schools  

• Northside Early Childhood Center, Shelby County Public Schools  

• Shelby East Middle School, Shelby County Public Schools  

• Washington Co Elem Early Childhood, Washington County Public Schools  

• North Washington Elem Early Childhood, Washington County Public Schools  

• Washington County Elementary School, Washington County Public Schools

• North Washington Elementary and Middle School, Washington County Public Schools

• Washington County Middle School, Washington County Public Schools  

• Washington County High School, Washington County Public Schools

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