Education

A new state program will advise young entrepreneurs on how they can turn a bright idea into a business plan. In June, 50 high school students will learn more about innovation and creative thinking at Georgetown College.

Liz Knapp, of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, said she believes some of the ideas will later morph into profit-making products.

Changing the high school dropout age from 16 to 18 is a legislative priority once again for the Kentucky Board of Education. During the board's regular meeting Wednesday, board members approved a legislative agenda for the upcoming session that starts in January.

Previous attempts to change the dropout age have been unsuccessful because of questions about how alternative education programs to help at-risk students would be funded.

The Indiana Board of Education has approved changes to Indiana's teacher licensing requirements despite arguments from opponents that the new rules could hurt the quality of classroom instruction.

The board voted in favor of the rules changes supported by outgoing Republican state schools superintendent Tony Bennett. Incoming superintendent Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, had asked the board to delay action until after she takes office next month.

The longtime spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education is retiring.

Members of the Board of Education gave Lisa Gross a standing ovation Wednesday at their meeting in Frankfort.

Board chairman David Karem said Gross, whose title is director of the division of communications, has been with the department for 27 years.

Her last day will be Dec. 19.

Karem praised Gross for her years of helping the board of education get its message out to the public.

A replacement was not announced.