Tagged: Bluegrass Institute

A report by the Bluegrass Institute showed the achievement gaps in Jefferson County Public Schools along lines of race are actually wider in the East End of Louisville.

The conservative think tank unveiled some troubling numbers last month and organizations supportive of charter schools, such as the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), argue the report underscores the student-assignment plan has failed African-American students.

JCPS officials have said they are aware of the problem and are committed to changing the numbers, but impatience is growing as three seats open on the school board this year.

I spoke with WFPL’s education reporter Devin Katayama and former Louisville Metro Councilman Dr. Deonte Hollowell, who is a BAEO member, about the report’s ramifications on the education debate.

The Bluegrass Institute has released a report showing the largest achievement gaps in Jefferson County Public Schools occur in classrooms in the eastern part of the county.

The policy group created the report for the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), which is urging lawmakers to approve charter schools. Charters were rejected by the General Assembly this past legislative session, but some believe the issue made progress.

“Let’s bring somebody into this state that has a proven record that will make a difference with our children,” said Pastor Jerry Stephenson, Louisville's BAEO coordinator. The current education system isn’t working and the despair of the education system can be seen in the violence in certain West Louisville neighborhoods, he said.

The watchdog group Bluegrass Institute has released a report blaming Kentucky’s lawmakers for various issues with the state’s pension systems.

Bloomberg has ranked Kentucky's state pensions among the worst-funded in the country. And the Bluegrass Institute puts the blame on the General Assembly.

Groups that support so-called right to work laws are looking to pass such a measure in Kentucky.

Right to work laws prohibit the mandatory payment of union dues. Indiana passed such a law last year, and some of the same groups that lobbied for it are now focusing on the commonwealth.