Education

Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Donna Hargens says she’ll use the recently announced decrease in JCPS graduation rates as a catalyst for increasing student achievement.

Hargens made her comments during an interview Thursday with the Courier-Journal. 

Summer is ending for students in Louisville and, according to reports, students return to class in the fall one month behind where they left off in the spring. The loss is even greater for low-income students.

To combat summer learning loss, JCPS has invested in two online programs previously offered only to low-performing students.

The programs will now be used to boost learning during the school year.

This fall's Jefferson County Board of Education election will have one of the largest candidate pools in  recent history after eight more candidates filed before Tuesday's deadline.

A total of 17 candidates have filed to run for three seats being vacated by JCPS board members this year. Five are vying in Steve Imhoff’s District 2, five in Larry Hujo’s District 7 and seven in Joe Hardesty’s District 4.

The candidates run the gamut from well known public figures to a concerned parent who wants to change the district’s student assignment plan.

During a meeting this morning of faculty and staff at Eastern Kentucky University, President Doug Whitlock announced his retirement.  

Despite rising college enrollment rates, a new study from Louisville’s IQS Research shows many students aren’t prepared for the transition to higher education.

The report released Tuesday shows while nearly every student intends on going to college, only two-thirds enroll within one year of graduating high school.

Of that group, only 42 percent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree within six years.