Education

Graduation day is almost here for thousands of area students and we're taking a look at unique ways students are earning their diplomas.

Seventeen-year-old Darianne Hudson withdrew from Louisville’s Ballard High School a year ago and she enrolled in Jefferson County High School’s online program.

WFPL gave Hudson a recorder, which she’s carried around for the past several weeks.

Families are being encouraged to take advantage of the Louisville’s 8th annual Kindergarten Countdown program this summer, which will include more ways the region’s youngest incoming students can prepare themselves for school.

Kindergarten Countdown is a way to get parents and students comfortable and thinking about school early. According to screeners, around one-third of Jefferson County Public Schools students are school-ready when they enter kindergarten.

Jefferson County Public Schools officials enter negotiations with the teachers union Monday to reconsider contract language that hasn’t been changed since 2005. With the backdrop being  criticism from state education officials and school reform advocates, many eyes will be watching closely.

Here's a primer on what issues will be negotiated and how the process works.

The Situation

The University of Louisville will close its window Friday for eligible staff and faculty to accept a buyout offer that’s expected to save more  than$2.75 million dollars next year.

The final number that will accept what’s being called the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program will not be known until late next week at the earliest, said Sam Connally, U of L’s vice president of human resources.