(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- At its regular meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations, had in-depth discussions and made decisions on a number of items.
The board heard lengthy presentations on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS), the Kentucky Core Content for Assessment and the Request for Proposals for the testing contract. Items discussed included additional testing to meet federal requirements, student accountability and efficiency in test administration. The board will continue its discussions at its retreat in May and at its June regular meeting.
The board agreed to approve the preschool per-child rates for the 2005-06 school year and a mid-year growth amount for districts that may experience rises in enrollment. Rates range from $2,150 to $4,086 per student. The board also agreed to discuss the issue of preschool rates with legislative leaders.
The board agreed to uphold the ruling of Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit in the nonresident contract dispute between the Breathitt County and Jackson Independent school districts. In December 2004, the commissioner had ruled on a specific number of students that could be included in calculations of average daily attendance for Jackson Independent. The district later appealed to the Kentucky Board of Education for a reassessment of that number.
The board also took the following actions:
- agreed to grant waivers of 703 KAR 5:020, which relates to grade configurations, to Bath and Meade Counties
- approved 2004-2005 local district tax rates levied
- approved district facility plans for Bath, Bell, Menifee, Muhlenberg, Pendleton and Perry Counties and Caverna, Covington and Harlan Independents
- approved district facility plan amendments for Larue, Meade and Warren Counties
- approved 2004-2005 local district working budgets
- approved changes to 702 KAR 6:100, Appeal procedures for school and community nutrition programs
- approved 702 KAR 7:065, Designation of Agent to Manage High School Interscholastic Athletics and revisions in Kentucky High School Athletic Association Constitution, Bylaws and Due Process Procedure
- approved the 2004 report, 2004 exceptions and 2006 plan required by 702 KAR 1:115, Annual in-service training of district board members
- agreed to send a letter requesting that the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) analyze CATS data to enhance its educational programs
Other presentations and review items included:
- an update on the Implementation Plan of the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Kentucky School for the Blind
- closing the special education achievement gap
- the annual report of the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC)
- a proposed change in regulation to allow assistance animals to travel on school buses with the oversight of local boards of education and superintendents
- a report on elementary and secondary legislation from the 2005 General Assembly session
The Kentucky Board of Education will hold its annual retreat on May 17 and 18 at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville. The next regular meeting of the board will be June 8 and 9 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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