Education
Warnings ignored, says sex abuse lawsuit filed by former University of Kentucky swimmers
The first red flag was raised as soon as Lars Jorgensen was hired. On June 20, 2012, within hours of news breaking that Jorgensen had joined the University of Kentucky swimming program as an associate head coach, a former assistant coach at the University of Toledo messaged Kentucky head coach Gary Conelly and athletic director […]
Kentucky Republicans and Democrats prepare to face off on ‘school choice’ amendment
FRANKFORT — As the dust settled on the General Assembly’s 2024 session, Republican and Democratic lawmakers began gearing up for a fierce fight on a constitutional amendment to allow public dollars to go to private schools. The amendment will be on the ballot this November.? Putting the question to voters had been a GOP priority […]
Open records loopholes die in Kentucky Senate. Attempt to revive anti-DEI bill also fails.
FRANKFORT — A controversial rewriting of the Kentucky Open Records Act died in the Senate as the 2024 regular session ended Monday, but Republican leaders said lawmakers will revisit the issue during the interim before next year’s session. An attempt to revive Republican legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education also failed […]
Senate confirms Robbie Fletcher as next Kentucky education commissioner
FRANKFORT —?The Kentucky Senate has confirmed the next commissioner of education after giving him a warm reception in the Senate Education Committee last week.? Robbie Fletcher, who is now the superintendent of Lawrence County Schools in Eastern Kentucky, was confirmed to become Kentucky’s top education official in a vote of 36-1 on Monday. He is […]
Fletcher tells lawmakers he wants to serve all Kentucky kids, avoid politics as ed commissioner
FRANKFORT — Robbie Fletcher, awaiting confirmation as Kentucky’s next education commissioner, told a Senate committee Friday that schools should be dedicated to serving all children and that he values strong teams and relationships.? Fletcher told the Senate Education Committee about his experience as an educator in his native Eastern Kentucky and his commitment to his […]
Billionaire TikTok investor, charter school advocate puts $8 million into Paul affiliated PAC
Jeff Yass, the Pennsylvania billionaire and major investor in the parent company of TikTok, contributed $8 million last month to a super PAC affiliated with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. The super PAC is called Protect Freedom PAC, and a report it filed with the FEC on Wednesday says Yass gave the $8 million […]
Beshear lets school ‘guardians’ bill become law without his signature
Kentucky school districts will have the option of employing armed “guardians” to fill vacant law enforcement positions on campuses under a bill that became law Tuesday without Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature.? Senate Bill 2 is a Republican-backed measure that built upon a bipartisan school safety law that was passed in 2019 after a shooting at […]
Some states are cutting higher ed in rural areas. What if Kentucky tried the opposite?
HAZARD — Haley Autumn Dawn Ann Crank thinks she might like to become a teacher. There’s a shortage of teachers in this corner of Kentucky, and Crank, who has eight siblings, gets kids. “I just fit in with them,” Crank said during a shift one February day at the Big Blue Smokehouse, where she works […]
No money to build new nursing school raises old question: ‘When will it be Kentucky State’s time?’
FRANKFORT — Kentucky State University requested $50 million this year to build a nursing school for its growing class of future health care providers. The legislature ultimately rejected the request, even though Kentucky enjoys a record-high revenue surplus and suffers from a shortage of nurses. “The real tragedy is that we had the money to […]
Health and Human Services increases loan forgiveness for OBs, midwives who practice in rural areas
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday a $25,000 increase in loan forgiveness available to primary care providers in designated underserved areas. That means qualifying individuals are eligible for up to $75,000 in forgiveness if they commit to two full-time years of service. The amount is available to medical and osteopathic doctors, […]
McConnell praises his ‘favorite freshman’ Sen. Katie Britt speaking in Louisville
LOUISVILLE —?U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell introduced his “favorite freshman” senator to a crowd at his alma mater Tuesday.? U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, a first-term Republican from Alabama, delivered a lecture as part of the McConnell Center’s Distinguished Speaker Series at the University of Louisville. She spoke about lessons she’s learned from the past […]
Senate resolution filed to confirm Robbie Fletcher as Kentucky education commissioner?
FRANKFORT?—?When Kentucky senators return to Frankfort next month for the two final days of the legislative session, they will have to decide whether to confirm the Kentucky Board of Education’s selection for education commissioner.? The board announced its choice of Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Robbie Fletcher in a meeting last week. If approved by the […]