Education
The kids aren’t alright: Don’t throw that catch-up plan in the dustbin just yet
Kentucky inaugurates a governor next week. He’s the same guy who has served in that office for the last four years, so it might seem silly to indulge in pomp and circumstance when nothing is changing. But as Americans learned the hard way after 2020, having an election end peacefully — having voters who supported […]
Feeny named president of Lexington’s BCTC
Greg J. Feeney has been named the president and CEO of Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington.? Feeney, who has been serving as interim president since July, is the former provost and a? 25-year employee of BCTC, a press release said. As provost, he was chief academic officer, chief student affairs officer and oversaw […]
Kentucky Board of Education names firm for education commissioner search
The Kentucky Board of Education has selected McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, as the firm to conduct the search for the Commonwealth’s next commissioner of education.? The board met with representatives of the search firm during its Thursday meeting. However, the selection was made during a Nov. 28 meeting, though the vendor’s name was not public […]
Kentucky’s worsening teacher shortage requires an ‘across the pipeline’ approach, officials say
As more new teachers leave the profession, Kentucky’s teacher shortage is worsening, according to a report to the General Assembly which convenes Jan. 2.?? The Office of Education Accountability (OEA) recently reported that ramifications of personnel shortages in Kentucky schools are growing. State officials and educators say addressing the shortage means supporting teachers “across the […]
Kentucky high school graduates are leaving college financial aid unclaimed. Find out about FAFSA changes.
College financial aid applicants can expect the release of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, on Dec. 31, according to an announcement last month by the U.S. Department of Education. In Kentucky, two higher education organizations are partnering to get out information on the changes for the 2024-25 school year. Changes […]
Study: Building a new public university in Southeastern Kentucky ‘problematic’
Building a new four-year public university in Southeastern Kentucky would be “prohibitively expensive and its long-term viability (especially in terms of enrollment) would be uncertain,” says a study by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) that was ordered earlier this year by the Kentucky General Assembly.? Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, sought the wide-ranging study. […]
Beshear calls on legislature to add exceptions to Kentucky abortion ban, fund teacher raises
FRANKFORT — The day after winning a second term, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear spoke of several changes he would like to see from the General Assembly? — including educator raises and exceptions to Kentucky’s abortion law in cases of rape and incest.? Beshear, flanked by First Lady Britainy Beshear, Lt. Gov Jacqueline Coleman and First […]
Borrowers weigh personal, professional options as student loan payments resume
Justin Brown, a father of a 2-year-old who lives with his wife in the St. Louis, Missouri area, has $20,000 in student loan debt. Before the pause on loan payments at the start of the pandemic in 2020, he paid $300 a month. But now that Brown has a family, his financial responsibilities have grown […]
Student absenteeism up as Kentucky schools recover from some hard years
Kentucky’s new School Report Card shows the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic on student learning. Interim Education Commissioner Robin Fields Kinney told reporters Tuesday that “a multi-year recovery period” will likely be needed “before school performance really gets back” to pre-pandemic levels. Kinney and other state education officials briefed reporters on newly released assessment […]
After five debates, Beshear and Cameron call on each other to answer questions directly
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron pressured each other to clarify their views in their fifth and final debate ahead of the November election.? Tuesday’s debate, hosted by WKYT of Lexington and moderated by Bill Byrant, covered a range of issues between the candidates, including school vouchers, abortion, the government’s […]
Ryan Quarles contract, salary as KCTCS president confirmed
The new president of Kentucky’s largest provider of postsecondary education will earn $380,000 annually, according to his contract, which the Lantern received Thursday through an open records request. Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is a former state lawmaker who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor this year.? He was appointed president of the Kentucky […]
Kentucky’s high school class of 2023 slightly improves average ACT score
Kentucky students in the class of 2023 improved the state’s overall average ACT score by 0.1, the Kentucky Department of Education announced Wednesday.? A department news release said Kentucky students achieved an ?average composite score of 18.7 on the college entrance exam. The average composite score in 2022 was 18.6. This year, 54 students across […]