Tabitha Berger

This document from the Kentucky Department of Education provides a list of recommended K-12 high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) for science, effective March 2026. It aims to assist educators and districts in selecting materials aligned with the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Science. The recommendations are based on reviews from EdReports.org for green-rated resources, signifying strong alignment. While providing a Tier 1 list of core comprehensive resources, the document emphasizes that local districts retain authority to make final curriculum and material selections based on their specific needs and instructional vision.

This evaluation report summarizes the statewide aggregate results for the Kentucky 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program during the 2024 Annual Performance Report (APR) year, covering summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 school year. It details program attendance, student demographics, academic outcomes (including KSA performance, GPA, and K-3 reading initiative results), and behavioral outcomes such as school day attendance rates and in-school suspensions. The report also covers self-reported benefits by students, improvements in engagement in learning as reported by teachers and staff, and outlines various program characteristics and activity types offered to students and families.

The virtual meeting provided updates on several key technology and legislative topics. Data System Updates covered the closure of the School Report Card Suite data collection, the upcoming Infinite Campus Server Migration scheduled for December 19-21, the requirement for districts to audit and remove unnecessary vendor access accounts, and promotion of the Interchange event resources. Discussions emphasized cleanup efforts regarding Social Security Numbers using the SSN Removal Tool to mitigate cyber risks. The agenda also detailed anticipated 2026 Legislative Topics, including the KETS Additional Budget Request (ABR), potential legislation for Kentucky Wired, funding for replacing the KEPS teacher placement system with a cloud-based solution, development of a Pre-K Data System, and legislation concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an emphasis on protecting minors. Updates were also provided on the 2025 KY K-12 Digital Readiness Report. Furthermore, the status of the KY K-12 Network Components Request for Proposal (RFP) was shared, noting that 70 to 80% of current spending is E-rate eligible. A detailed update on the CUES (Connected User Experience System) implementation noted that 95 districts are engaged, with 56 live with provisioning, aiming for full Active Directory decommissioning by June 30, 2027. The GoGuardian Implementation Update stressed that districts should migrate to version 1.19.2 or later for performance improvements. Finally, updates included the presentation of the 2025 Computer Science (CS) Annual Report, noting high middle school enrollment but low female/minority participation, and a follow-up on the December KY Board of Education meeting regarding the recertification of computer science academic standards and a discussion on cybersecurity, emphasizing user training against phishing attacks.

This document assesses Kentucky's K-12 digital readiness, outlining the current state and future direction for a robust digital ecosystem. It details advancements in internet access, student and staff device provision, and the development of digital skills among learners (digital literacy, collaboration, citizenship, design). The report also emphasizes digitally empowering educators and school leaders, while addressing technology trends, online assessments, cybersecurity, and the integration of online/virtual learning and artificial intelligence.

The agenda for the January 2026 meeting included several key technology updates and planning items. Discussions covered the preparation for the KY K-12 Network Components RFP, an update on KY K-12 Data Systems, and implementation progress for GoGuardian in districts. Legislative topics involved updates regarding KETS additional budget requests for the January 2026 session, specifically concerning KYWired and the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) in relation to internet services (referencing 26RS SB 64 and 26RS HB 314), and other related EdTech legislation. Furthermore, the Office of Educational Technology (OET) provided information on Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources presented to Superintendents on January 13. A project update was provided for the KY K-12 CUES Identity Management System, detailing the transition from Microsoft Active Directory (AD) to Rapid Identity, system integrations, and the planned switch from Microsoft IP services to Volta/InfoBlox IP services. The meeting also referenced the upcoming KY Board of Education meeting in February and included a follow-up on Top 5 feedback and other general discussion topics. The summary also included highlights from the previous virtual meeting in December 2025.