(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 agreed to accept revisions to the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) related to the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) for the system. Those revisions, which will apply to the 2006-07 school year, include maintaining portfolios, working toward a plan to track student progress and moving some tests from the current grades tested to others.
The board also agreed to accept revisions to assessment regulations to align deadlines to coincide with earlier release of scores and to incorporate federal flexibility.
Minimum nutrition standards for foods and beverages available on public school campuses during the school day generated much discussion, as the board began the process that will lead to the amendment of a regulation. The amendment will be in response to SB 172, which was passed in the 2005 General Assembly and directs the board to develop those standards.
The board heard presentations and had discussions on the following items:
- closing the achievement gap and a proposed plan to address the gap between students with disabilities and those without
- board priorities and budget issues
- the Refocusing Secondary Education initiative
- implementation of the Kentucky Secondary GED program
- Title IX deficiencies
- the district scholastic audit process
The board also took the following actions:
- approved the certification of specific non-public schools
- approved changes to the voluntary process for recognizing nonpublic preschool and kindergarten programs
- approved the appointment of Rhonda Boyd, a teacher at Georgetown Middle in Scott County, to the State Textbook Commission
- approved district facility plans for Butler, Bourbon, Calloway, Owsley, Powell, Russell and Whitley Counties and East Bernstadt and Ludlow Independents
- approved district facility plan amendments for Jefferson County and Bardstown Independent
- certified the eligibility of school districts to participate in the Urgent Needs School Trust Fund to the School Facilities Construction Commission
- approved the Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) unmet need for school districts
- gave final approval to 702 KAR 5:080, the regulation outlining bus drivers' qualifications, responsibilities and training
- approved the appointment of Dr. Steve Parker of Lexington as an at-large member of the Kentucky High School Athletics Association's Board of Control
The next regular meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education will be August 3 and 4 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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