The Next Louisville: Public Education

African American Ministers Call for JCPS-JCTA Contract Negotiations to be Done Publicly

Joseph Lord — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:14:21 +0000

About two dozen African American pastors on Tuesday called for Jefferson County Public Schools and the Jefferson County Teachers to open ongoing contract negotiations to the public.

The pastors also called for the new contract to allow principals more leeway to dismiss underperforming teachers, students more access to teachers before and after school hours and for struggling students to be paired with more experienced teachers.

What is JCPS Doing to Improve Literacy?

Devin Katayama — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:49:04 +0000

Literacy is a gateway skill for the American dream, says Dr. Robert Cooter, dean of Bellarmine's School of Education.

Illiteracy impacts the economy. Children who can't read are less likely to go to college. It can effect their lifespan and it correlates with the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

After Technical Issues, Kentucky Education Officials Want ACT to Run Practice Tests

Devin Katayama — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Kentucky Department of Education officials say they want the ACT testing company to run practice tests in the fall to ensure there won’t be similar technical issues experienced this spring.

In May, the ACT and other testing companies nationwide experienced technical problems while thousands of students tried access their tests online. KDE officials say this needs to be addressed as more schools are pushing for online testing.

KDE'sTerry Holliday and JCPS' Donna Hargens Talk Failing Schools

Devin Katayama — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:22:12 +0000

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says if Jefferson County Public Schools turns around its lowest-achieving schools—called "priority schools"—it would help turn around all statewide education results.

JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens says that doesn’t go far enough, and she maintains committed to results for all students.

JCPS Recruiting 4-Year-Olds For Early Childhood Programming, Funding Still Uncertain

Devin Katayama — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:28:21 +0000

Jefferson County Public Schools is actively recruiting young children to enroll in the district’s Early Childhood Programs sooner, but many families have historically put off applying until late summer.

This year, the number of students the district can serve could also be affected by funding cuts at the federal level.

The Last Days of School, From a Louisville Teacher's Perspective

Devin Katayama and Brandon Girdley — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 11:11:05 +0000

The final week of school brings scenes of relief—a culmination of hard work—for Jefferson County Public Schools students and teachers.

To learn more about what those last days of a school year are like, WFPL gave a recorder to a teacher who describes the relationships that are harvested and earned.

Meet Cherie Edwards, who has taught at Johnson Traditional Middle School for 14 years.

Jefferson County Public Schools Will Be A 'District Of Innovation'

Devin Katayama — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:20:52 +0000

Jefferson County Public Schools is among the four school districts that were recommended and approved to become Kentucky’s first "Districts of Innovation."

Under state law, school districts can apply for exemption from certain Kentucky Department of Education regulations. These districts are called Districts of Innovation.

Sixteen school districts applied this year, but only four were recommended by the Kentucky Department of Education and then approved by the Kentucky Board of Education Wednesday.

What Kentucky Teachers Think Of Their Schools, Education Department Releases Survey Results

Devin Katayama — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:00:00 +0000

The Kentucky Department of Education has released results of the voluntary anonymous teacher survey—known as the TELL Survey—which was conducted this spring.

Nearly 90 percent of Kentucky teachers responded to the survey, which officials says is phenomenal. And over 90 percent of Kentucky schools are eligible to use the survey data to improve working conditions for teachers in schools. To be eligible a school needed at least half of its teachers to take the survey (and at least five teachers for smaller schools).

Kentucky Leads Most States in Responding to Teacher Working Conditions Survey

Devin Katayama — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:56:38 +0000

A voluntary survey of Kentucky teachers on the teaching conditions inside their schools got a large number of responses.

“Kentucky is phenomenal,” says Ann Maddock, senior advisor in external affairs for New Teacher Center, the organizations that helped administer the TELL (Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning Working Conditions) survey.

The anonymous online survey was open for a four-week period in March and the Kentucky Department of Education provided incentives—including raffle drawings with cash prizes—for teachers to complete the survey.

Jefferson County Teachers Association Ad Counters 'Kids First Louisville' Criticism

Devin Katayama — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:06:19 +0000

The Jefferson County Teachers Association has responded to radio ads attacking the union ahead of contract negotiations with ads of their own.

The group Kids First Louisville paid for the ads that claim the JCTA’s contract creates barriers to improving student success.