Kentucky Board of Education Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month: Highlights from February Meeting

During its meeting on February 5-6, the Kentucky Board of Education celebrated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. This event aims to highlight how CTE prepares students for their careers and further education.

In Kentucky, there are over 135 career pathways in 13 different CTE programs. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) works with local districts to offer tailored pathways and operates 50 area technology centers for 115 school districts.

Associate Commissioner Beth Hargis emphasized the importance of CTE in education. “We’re all preparing students to enter the workforce,” she noted.

KDE plans to showcase various CTE programs at the third annual CTE Showcase during the Kentucky School Boards Association conference on February 21. This year’s event will feature 24 schools from across the state.

After the meeting, board members enjoyed lunch prepared by students from the Jessamine Career and Technology Center.

KDE also announced a partnership with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell for Agriculture Education Week, which will take place from March 17-21. This initiative aims to provide engaging lessons about agriculture and connect students with real-world issues related to food, sustainability, and nutrition.

Commissioner Robbie Fletcher shared that students in K-2 will learn about pollination, while grades 3-5 will focus on erosion. These topics align with Kentucky’s science standards, integrating reading, writing, and math skills.

For details on Agriculture Education Week and its resources, visit the All in for Ag Education Week website.

KDE representatives are also gathering feedback on assessment and accountability. During a series of town halls, they seek input from stakeholders about creating a more meaningful learning environment that encourages local innovation and collaboration.

Fletcher highlighted the importance of local flexibility in the new assessment framework, emphasizing the need for a system that meets the diverse needs of students. Discussions included potential changes to interim assessments for grades 3-10, aiming for an opt-in approach to accommodate districts’ specific needs.

Upcoming town halls will continue to address these topics, with events planned for February 12 and 27.

In terms of funding, KDE updated the board on a $14.7 million shortfall in the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding program for the 2024-2025 school year. This program distributes crucial state funds to 171 school districts based on various needs.

KDE’s Chay Ritter explained the complexities involved in estimating funding needs for future years, which includes numerous variables like student growth and special needs populations. This year’s estimate also anticipates an additional $26.1 million in shortfall.

The discussion then shifted to the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Montgomery from Eminence Independent School District. Montgomery expressed her gratitude for the honor and shared her journey from a challenging childhood to using project-based learning in her classroom. Her innovative approach encourages students to connect personally with topics, realizing their impact on the community.

Montgomery is on a six-month sabbatical with KDE, where she aims to promote excellence and support the teaching community across the state. She plans to visit multiple schools to learn from fellow educators throughout the year.

Lastly, the Commonwealth Education Continuum introduced a new platform, Futuriti.org. The site serves as a resource for career and education information, featuring job descriptions, wage information for over 700 careers, and details on educational institutions in Kentucky.

In other business, the board approved several waiver requests from various school districts related to planning and property acquisition. They also discussed the biennium budget-making process and provided updates on the current legislative session.