Education
GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passes U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed?a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk. House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote,?210-205, is part of a barrage of […]
Citizen members of JCPS task force announced ahead of first meeting
Five citizens have been selected to join a legislative task force that will examine Jefferson County Public Schools’ governance.? The General Assembly passed House Concurrent Resolution 81 to create the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force during the last legislative session. The task force will review school districts with enrollment above 75,000 students. […]
Kentucky State University’s rebound, one year into president’s tenure
FRANKFORT —?A year into his presidency, Koffi Akakpo is optimistic that Kentucky State University will enroll significantly more students this fall. In a recent interview, Akakpo said Kentucky’s only historically black public university is on its way to overcoming problems that put KSU into crisis a few years ago. “We’re still working on it, but […]
Kentucky State University receives $7 million grant for agriculture research network
FRANKFORT —?Kentucky State University has been awarded a $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation for an agricultural research incubator that has partners across the state. With the dollars, KSU plans to establish a statewide research network that focuses on agriculture, climate change and access to fresh food called Driving AgTech Research and Education […]
‘Larger than life’ sociologist who broke down racial barriers at University of Kentucky dies at 88
Doris Y. Wilkinson, a University of Kentucky sociologist and part of its first class of Black undergraduates, died June 23. She was 88.? Wilkinson entered UK in 1954, the year a U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawed racial segregation in public education and the first year that Kentucky’s flagship public university accepted Black undergraduates. She had […]
Federal appeals court blocks Title IX guidance challenged by 20 states, including Kentucky
The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled against Biden administration guidance on how schools should protect students from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The court ruled Friday that the guidance from the U.S. Department of Education is invalid, upholding a lower court ruling. Kentucky is among the 20 states that […]
Parents go to federal court to save bus service to Louisville’s magnet schools
Two parents have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Jefferson County Public Schools’ plan to drop bus service to most magnet schools this fall, claiming it violates the rights of their children to continue education at schools they currently attend. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville Thursday, comes two months after the board […]
US judge in Kentucky blocks Biden Title IX rules, says ‘sex,’ ‘gender identity’ not the same thing
A federal judge has blocked new Title IX rules, including those aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in K-12 schools, and sided with Republican attorneys general in several states — including Kentucky.? Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Kentucky on Monday issued a ruling siding with Republican Attorney General […]
Controversial new rules for decision-making win final OK from University of Kentucky trustees
LEXINGTON —?University of Kentucky trustees gave final approval Friday to a new internal governance structure that faculty say strips them of power over academic decisions.? The Board of Trustees reviewed the new shared governance proposal, backed by President Eli Capilouto, during its Friday meeting, voting 19-1 in favor of the changes.? The lone nay vote […]
UK faculty’s role in decision-making expected to shrink when trustees vote Friday
Changes that faculty warn would end their decision-making power in academic matters are set to come before the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees Friday for a final vote. UK President Eli Capilouto, who says the changes are needed to streamline governance processes, has revised his controversial original proposal in response to feedback from students, […]
Trauma, poverty, COVID-19 causing high rates of chronic absenteeism in Kentucky?
The number of Kentucky youth who are chronically absent from school skyrocketed during the 2022-2023 school year.? The reasons for chronic absenteeism are interconnected and complicated — and the negative fallout potential is widespread, from mental health to the economy.? Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff and child welfare advocates point to the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Molina Healthcare donates site for West Louisville’s first new middle school in 90 years
A new middle school is planned for a long-vacant site in West Louisville where Passport Health, the state’s first Medicaid managed care company once hoped to build its corporate headquarters. The news was celebrated at a press conference Friday by a host of state and local officials and representatives of the predominantly Black area of […]