[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT I'M RENEE SHAW THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: CHALLENGES FACING KENTUCKY SCHOOLS.

TONIGHT WE'LL TALK ABOUT TEACHER SHORTAGES, TEACHER PAY, THE DEBATE OVER SCHOOL CHOICE AND NEWLY RELEASED GUIDANCE FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ABOUT NEW LAWS AFFECTING SCHOOLS.

IN PARTICULAR, SB150 WHICH INVOLVES TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES AND OTHERS WE HAVE IN OUR STUDIO BRIGITTE BLOM PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE BRING CHARRED COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TIPTON, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

RHONDA CALDWELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

ANDREW VANDIVER, PRESIDENT OF EDCHOICE KENTUCKY.

ERIC KENNEDY, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AT THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TINA BOJANOWSKI, AN EDUCATOR WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT, SEND AN E-MAIL... OR USE THE WEB FORM.

OR YOU MAY GIVE US A CALL AT... >> WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GREFTS HERE IN LEXINGTON AND REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO.

AMBITIOUS AGENDA BUT I WANT TO START WITH THE GUIDANCE RELEASED TODAY BY THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND I WILL GO TO YOU FIRST, ERIC ERIC, THE, ERIC KENNEDY, THE SBA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING MODEL POLICY.

LET'S START WITH SENATE BILL 5 THAT DEALS WITH MATERIAL THAT DEEMED HARMFUL TO MINORS.

REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THAT IS NECESSARILY AND WHAT MODEL POLICIES ARE YOU GOING TO BE GIVING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

>> CERTAINLY, RENEE THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON AND DISCUSSING CHALLENGES ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK SENATE BILL 5 WAS ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF BILLS THAT PASSED THIS SESSION HAT HAD AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE WHICH MEANS IT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

THE GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHICH I'M WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION NOT THE DEPARTMENT, THE GUIDANCE FOCUSED ON JUST THOSE BILLS.

THERE ARE OTHERS LEFT TO COME BUT THE OTHERS ONES THAT HAD AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE ARE IN EFFECT.

SENATE BILL 5 REQUIRES EVERY SCHOOL BOARD IN 171 DISTRICTS TO ADOPT A POLICY FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO APPEAL ANYTHING THAT THEY THINK IS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN.

THAT IS A SPECIFICALLY DEFINED TERM IN THAT BILL.

AND IT IS THINGS SUCH AS ANYTHING THAT THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN FEELS COULD BE I PEELED TO THE INTEREST, A LOT OF THINGS DEALING WITH HUMAN SEXUALITY CONCERNS AND IT IS NOT JUST CURRICULUM BUT BOOKS, MATERIALS IN THE SCHOOL, PROGRAMS LIKE A GUEST SPEAKER EVENTS, A FIELD TRIP POSSIBLY TO AN ART MUSEUM THAT MIGHT SEE SOMETHING THAT THE ART MUSEUM THAT A PARENT THINKS MIGHT BE IN THE DEFINITION OF HARMFUL TO CHILDREN.

SO THE POLICY THE BILL REQUIRES LOCAL BOARDS TO ACOULDN'T A POLICY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO TO HELP LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS WE HELP THEM CRAFT POLICIES.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO CRAFT SORT OF AN APPEAL PROCESS THAT MEETS ALL THE PARAMETERS OF SENATE BILL 5.

IT IS SIMILAR TO A LOT OF APPEAL POLICIES IN PLACE AND SOME HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES BUT THERE ARE SPECIFIC STEPS THAT ARE PART OF WHAT IS REQUIRED NOW.

AND SO THE BILL ACTUALLY REQUIRED THE DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A MODEL POLICY BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THEY DON'T TYPICALLY DO THAT.

MOSTLY THE LOCAL BOARDS OFTEN DO THIS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND THEY WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH.

WE HAVE HAD ONE POLICY THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT'S AS WELL AS OURS THAT EVERYONE WILL PUSH OUT TO DISTRICTS, LOCAL BOARDS COULD NOT HAVE TO USE THAT EXACT POLICY THEY CAN CREATE THEIR OWN.

BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAME OUT TODAY THAT ALL 171 BOARDS WILL BE LOOKING AT SOON.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI IS THE GUIDANCE CLEARER THAN THE LAW?

DOES IT PROVIDE THE GAPS AS IT NEEDS TO?

BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT'S CONFUSING IN SOME WAY?

>> I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT THE GUIDANCE IS AS CONFUSING AS THE LAW IN THAT WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE WHAT IS PAT AT THE PRESENT TIMELY OFFENSIVE?

I MEAN IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE.

SO IT DOESN'T CLARIFY WHAT WOULD BE PATENTLY OFFENSIVE.

SO IT DOES GO BACK AND REFERENCE THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MODEL POLICY, BUT YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS IN OTHER STATES ARE THAT CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH LIKE INTERESTS ARE BEING BANNED AND WE DON'T WANT BOOKS ABOUT YOU KNOW, TWO PENGUINS TO BE PULLED OFF THE SHELVES.

NO, I DON'T THINK THE GUIDANCE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FURTHER THAN WHAT THE BILL DID.

>> AS YOU COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS SETUP IN THE MESSAGE THAT HE SENT OUT TODAY ABOUT THIS GANS BEING RELEASED THAT IT SAYS MANY PIECES OF THIS LEGISLATION PARTICULARLY SENATE SB5, AND SB150, LEAVE LOTS OF UNKNOWNS HOW THE LAWS WILL BE ENACTED IN WILL SCHOOLS.

WE AT KED DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ANSWER DIRECTLY DEFINITIVELY MANY OF THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE LAWS AND SEEK YOUR COUNSEL IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

CAN YOU RESPOND TO THE COMMISSIONER'S RESPONSE?

>> WELL, RENEE, I AM IN A BIT OF A DISADVANTAGE I HAVE NOT SEEN THE GUIDANCE YET.

YOU SAID IT CAME OUT MIDAFTERNOON I WAS AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER WORKING ON MY FARM.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE GUIDANCE FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

BUT I WILL PROBABLY TOMORROW LOOK AT THAT GUIDANCE AND I WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

THAT ONE THING THAT I'VE TALKED TO I'VE NOT HEARD ANY ISSUE WITH THE DISTRICTS I REPRESENT.

ONE OF THE DISTRICTS TOLD ME THEY GOT THEIR POLICY IN PLACE.

THEY ARE READY TO GO.

I READ AN ARTICLE LAST WEEK, I FORGET IF IT WAS THE HERALD OR THE COURIER AND THEY WERE QUOTING JIM FLYNN WITH THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE COMMENT WAS SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THIS WILL BE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION.

I DON'T SEE THIS BEING A DIFFICULT TRANSITION.

I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THE WAY THE LAW WAS INTENDED TO GIVE THE FINAL SAY TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD.

AND IT'S GOING TO ALLOW PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INPUT AND SAY IN SOME OF THESE QUESTION ITEMS.

I'VE TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF TO READ, GET MY HANDS ON AND READ SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT WERE LISTED THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING IN THE HOUSE.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PARENTS MIGHT CONSIDER THOSE OBJECTIONABLE ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THE CHILD.

THIS IS GOING TO GIVE THE POWER BACK TO THE PARENT AND IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT RESOLUTION PROCESS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE STATE-WIDE.

>> SO MS. CALDWELL, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT FROM THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WE HEARD CHAIRMAN TIPTON TALK ABOUT THIS COULD BE A SEAMLESS OR EASY TRANSITION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM ADMINISTRATORS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AT THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE AT KASA WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS IS AROUND THE FACT THAT MOST OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PARENTAL INPUT.

ERIC HAS ALREADY REFERRED TO THE POLICIES THAT ARE DEVELOPED BY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

AND IT'S EVERYDAY OPERATIONS.

SO I BELIEVE SEAMLESS WILL BE THE OUTCOME AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SB150.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GO LINE BY-LINE THROUGH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ORGANS POINTS.

BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SECTION ONE, CREATES CONFUSION ABOUT THIS IS WHAT COMES FROM THE KDE, IT CREATES STUDENT PRIVACY, THE SCHOOLTHAL SHALL NOT ADOPT POLICIES WITH KEEPING STUDENT INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL FROM PARENTS AND DISTRICTS ARE REMINDED UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT, THE DEFINITION OF A PARENT IN SB150 IS NOT THE SAME AS THE DEFINITION OF PARENT IN FER PA. AND TO THE EXTENT THERE'S CONFLICT BETWEEN SB150 AND FER PA DISTRICTS SHOULD COMMON BY WITH FER PA. WRITE THAT DOWN FOR US Mr. KENNEDY.

>> ACTUALLY, THE CRUX OF WHAT YOU EXPLAINED WHICH IS COMING FROM KDE IN THE GUIDANCE ALSO IS NOT NEW.

WHAT THAT MEANS FER PA IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT I BELIEVE WAS PASSED IN 1974 SO IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONGTIME.

ALL DISTRICT LEADERS ARE WELL AWARE OF IT.

IT GIVES PARENTS AND FAMILIES CERTAIN RIGHTS UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

AN ANNUAL NOTICE HAS TO GO OUT TO ALL PARENTS EVERY YEAR IN EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT THE FER PA RIGHTS ARE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE USED TO.

THEY ARE EXPLAINING NOW THERE ARE PRIVACY RIGHTS IN A NEW STATE STATUTE THAT MAY OVERLAP SOMETIMES COULD POSSIBLY CONFLICT, SOMETIMES THEY COULD GO ALONG WITH WHAT WE SEE IN FER PA THAT WILL BE A COMMON ISSUE BETWEEN A FEDERAL LAW AND A STATE LAW AND TRYING TO DETERMINE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IF THEY SAY THE SAME THING.

>> AND WHICH ONE AFLIES?

>> IN THE SENSE THEY BOTH WILL APPLY.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A STATE LAW AND A FEDERAL LAW NO MATTER WHAT THE SUBJECT MATTER IS AND THEY BOTH APPLY WHERE THERE IS A DIRECT CONFLICT, ALMOST ALWAYS THE FEDERAL LAW IS SUPREME OVER STATE LAW WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

>> THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT MENTIONS DEPENDENT, EXCEPTIONS EXIST FOR STUDENTS CONSIDERED DEPENDENT AS DEFINED IN SECTION 152 IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

>> IT'S LOOKING INTO AGE AND OFTEN WE NEED TO REMIND SOMETIMES PARENTS AND IN THE COMMUNITY A LOT OF PRIVACY RIGHTS EXIST.

WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS AT KSBA RECENTLY AND UNDER FER PA PARENTS HAVE MOST OF THE RIGHTS TO ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RECORDS UNTIL THE STUDENT TURNS 18.

AND THEN BECOMES AN ADULT.

THEN ALL OF THOSE RIGHTS TO ACCESS THE STUDENTS RECORDS GO TO THE STUDENT WHO IS NOW AN ADULT TO ACCESS THEIR OWN RECORDS.

THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE CONFLICT.

>> SB150 DID NOT MAKE THAT DISTINCTION?

>> YOU COULD HAVE CASES WHERE THE STATE LAW GIVES A PARENT CERTAIN RIGHTS TO ACCESS CERTAIN RECORDS THAT THE UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW, WE ARE ALL USED TO THINKING ALL OF THOSE RIGHTS HAVE MOVED TO JUST THE STUDENT.

AND SO THAT COULD BE A REAL TRAINING POINT.

LEGAL TRAINING, LEGAL INFORMATION, HELPING DISTRICT LEADERS WHETHER THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND PARENTS UNDERSTAND THIS.

ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES FACING EDUCATION AFTER THE END OF EVERY SESSION IS GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE CHANGED LAWS AND GETTING GOOD GUIDANCE TOGETHER AND GETTING EVERYONE AWARE OF IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO COMMENT?

I KNOW YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE GUIDANCE BUT I READ THE CRUX OF WHAT THAT PROVISION APPLIES TO SECTION ONE OF SB150.

FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY AGAIN I HAVE NOT READ THE GUIDANCE.

BUT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON WHEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS PASSED, THAT ISSUES RISE AND QUESTIONS COME UP AFTER THE FACT AFTER THE SESSION IS OVER WITH.

THAT IS VERY COMMON.

IT HAPPENS QUITE A BIT.

AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES IF THERE ARE CONCERNS, I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT THOSE CONCERNS AND TRY TO WORK THOSE OUT AND ADDRESS IT IN THE 2024 SESSION.

>> THERE IS A QUESTION WHY DIDN'T THE ASSEMBLY DO THAT DURING THE 30-DAY SESSION THEY HAD IT WAS LEGISLATION THAT OCCUPIED A LOT OF TIME.

WHY WEREN'T THE WRINKLES WORKED OUT?

>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE HOUSE NOBODY BROUGHT THAT ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION.

IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP AT ALL.

THIS LEGISLATION THE SECTION YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL SENATE BILL 150 DRAFTED IN THE SENATE.

OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.

I WAS NOT PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS BACK AND FORTH ON THAT.

I WOULD HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEY WILL ADDRESS THOSE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI IS THAT A CONCERN THAT YOU HAD AND DID YOU BRING IT FORTH?

>> NO, I DID NOT HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE FER PA.

BUT WHATDY WANT TO BRING TO ATTENTION WAS SOMETHING IN THE KDE GUIDANCE WHERE IT SAYS SMALL BILL IS IN CONFLICT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 6TH CIRCUIT THAT SAYS GENDER NOT CONFORMSY DEFINED IN SMITH VERSUS SALEM IS A FAILURE TO ACT OR IDENTIFY WITH HIS OR HER GENDER.

SEX STEREOTYPING, IS IMPERMISSIBLE DISCRIMINATION.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A CONFLICT BETWEEN WHAT THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ALREADY RULED THAT IS APPLIES TO KENTUCKY.

AND THEN ALSO I WANT TO BRING TO ATTENTION A VERY RECENT RULING OF THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS THAT STATED THAT A TEACHER WHO WAS FIRED FOR REFUSING TO USE TRANS STUDENT PRONOUNCE THE COURT FOUND FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IT SAID THAT THE ACCOMMODATION WAS AN UNDUE BURDEN FOR THE SCHOOL'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY HARMING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IS HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND THEN WHAT ALSO COMPLICATES THE MATTER FOR THE BILL'S SPONSOR IS THAT THIS BILL DIDN'T HAVE A SEVERALLABILITY CLAUSE SO IF ONE PART OF THE BILL IS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE ENTIRE BILL WOULD BE OUT OF ORDER.

>> CHAIRMAN TIPTON DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT?

THERE IS NO SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND THERE WAS A MOTION I BELIEVE MADE BY A HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CONTENT MATERIALS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THIS KIND OF OMNIBUS MEASURE THAT IT ADDRESSED DIFFERENT PARTS.

PARENTAL RIGHTS AND SUCH-AND-SUCH THAT THAT NEEDED TO BE DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

BUT IT WAS COMBINED.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?

>> OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A MOTION THAT WAS MADE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

IT DID NOT PASS.

THERE WAS A TITLE AMENDMENT TO THE LEGISLATION AND THE TITLE AMENDMENT WAS THAT IT IS AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN.

ORIGINALLY WAS AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT TITLE WAS BROADENED.

AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE ACTS.

WE MAKE LAWS.

PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THOSE DECISIONS.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

VERY, VERY COMMON.

THE COHORT ALSO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ON THIS.

REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI MENTIONED THINGS FROM TWO CIRCUITS.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THESE ISSUES WINDUP AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT FOR A DECISION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME DOES THAT LEAVE IT IN FLUX FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DECIDE WHAT DO THEY DO?

DO THEY GO WITH THE GUIDANCE AND WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE COURTS THEN THEY WILL READJUST ONCE THAT DECISION IS MADE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I THINK THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT ON THIS ISSUE OF THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN NOW FOR YEARS.

IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IN FEDERAL COURTS, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PROBABLY EVERY CIRCUIT.

SEVERAL DECISIONS DEALING WITH RIGHTS ESPECIALLY IN THE WORKPLACE OF ADULTS NOT NECESSARILY STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE WAY TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN IN A STATE FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN TERMS OF US GIVING GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL LEADERS.

IT HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN LITIGATION AND CHANGING SOMETIMES RAPIDLY WITH NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS COMING ON-LINE OR BEING RESENDED.

THAT IS NOTHING NEW ON THE SITUATION.

MOVING FORWARD YOU WILL TRY TO IMPLEMENT EVERY LAW THAT IS IN EFFECT.

SO YOU WILL TRY TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE LAWS THAT BECOME EFFECTIVE AND UNLESS THERE IS A CONFLICT WITH A FEDERAL LAW OR A NEW INTERPRETATION FROM A COURT THAT IS BINDING COMES OUT.

AND ALWAYS RESPONDING TO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHETHER IT IS A COURT ORDER, A MANDATE FROM A COURT OR A NEW INTERPRETATION IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY BEEN USED TO DOING ON THIS ISSUE AND LOTS OF EDUCATION ISSUES.

>> Dr. CALDWELL IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WANTED WHETHER THAT IS SB5 OR SB150 WERE YOU HEARING A CALL FOR THESE TYPES OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO BECOME LAW?

>> NO.

THE CONVERSATION AMONG SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IS ONE OF THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKING CARE OF FOR A LONGTIME.

POLICIES, PROCEDURES, GUIDE US CURRENTLY.

AND FOR MANY IT IS A DISTRACTION IN TERMS OF WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE TAKING PLACE AND THAT RIGHT NOW SOCIETY IS IN SUCH A FRAGILE PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES, AND THINGS LIKE THIS BECOME A DISTRACTION FROM THE HOME FRONT FROM THE SCHOOL FRONT.

AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY REALLY GIVE US WHAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF DIGGING OUR HEELS IN AND BEING FOCUSED ON THE BIGGER PROBLEM SUCH AS TEACHER SHORTAGES, EDUCATOR SHORTAGES WITH OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF.

SO MANY ISSUES AT HAND.

BUT WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION FOR A WHILE ON SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IS BEING ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF STAYING FOCUSED ON CHILDREN AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR DAILY NEEDS.

>> UNLESS REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI HAS MORE SHE CARES TO ADD ABOUT THE GUIDANCE FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WE'LL SEGUE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES Dr. CALDWELL MENTIONED.

REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI DO YOU HAVE FINAL WORD ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE ON?

>> I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE SENATE BILL 150 WAS THE MOST EXTREME ANTI-TRANS BILL IN THE NATION.

IT WAS THE WORST DON'T SAY GAY BILL THAN FLORIDA AND IT WAS A POLITICAL BILL AND IT WAS NOT JUST FOLLOWING WHAT Dr. CALDWELL SAID, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HELP PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE WILL PUT A PIN IN THAT FOR THE TIME BEING.

WE WILL REVISIT THIS DISCUSSION.

TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES WE SET OUT TO MAKE THE FOCUS OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION AND THAT INVOLVES EDUCATOR SHORTAGES ACROSS THE BOARD, TEACHER PAY, SCHOOL CHOICE.

YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES WHO YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YET ON THE SHOW SO FAR AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD A STAKE INTO THE ISSUE WE DISCUSSED.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL TAKE UP IN 2024 THAT IS A BUDGET YEAR.

SO THE CONVERSATION AND THE CHARGE YOU WILL LEAD Mr. VANDIVER WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL CHOICE IS A LONGTIME ADVOCATE AS AN OPTION FOR PARENTS.

>> ON THAT WE FINISHED TALKING ABOUT THE TRANSGENDER ISSUES THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL WE CAN BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AROUND SCHOOL CHOICE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL.

EDUCATIONAL CHOICE IS A LONGTIME COMING IN KENTUCKY IT'S BEEN WORKED ON FOR DECADES.

AND IN THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNT ACT LAST YEAR.

WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN EDUCATION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

20,000 NEW STUDENTS MOVED INTO NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT PUTS THE POPULATION UP TO 100,000 KIDS IN OUR STATE.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

AND I THINK WE LOOK AT THE PANEL WE ARE GOING TO AGREE YOU HAVE TO GET BEHIND PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE ARE REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON AND I DIFFER FROM THE FOLKS ON THE PANEL WE BELIEVE YOU SHOULD BE SUPPORTING NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY NEED A DIFFERENT LEARNING OPTION.

AND THE 100,000 KIDS CHOOSING NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS SOME OF THE FAMILIES CAN DO THAT WITHOUT ANY FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

MOST HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO MAKE THAT CHOICE AND TOO MANY ARE LEFT OUT ALTOGETHER.

>> I WANT TO GO TO YOU MS. BLOM, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE PARENTS ARE FLEEING THAT OPTION AND SEEKING ALTERNATIVES FOR THEIR CHILDREN?

>> PARENTS ARE IN FACT NOT FLEEING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE HAVE 4% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS ACCESSING PRIVATE OR HOME SCHOOLING OPTIONS.

SO WHILE THERE MIGHT BE LARGER NUMBERS IN SOME OF OUR URBAN AREAS STATE-WIDE WE ARE NOT SEEING THIS EXODUS FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST POINT.

THE SECOND IS, CHOICES IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR A PARENT TO EXERCISE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

FROM A PUBLIC INVESTMENT STANDPOINT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR COLLECTION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS INTO EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC GOOD.

AND THE RESEARCH TO DATE DOES NOT SHOW THAT PRIVATE EDUCATION SHOWS A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO FOR PUBLIC DOLLARS TO THEN BE UTILIZED FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FROM A PUBLIC POLICY STANDPOINT OR FROM A RETURN ON INVESTMENT STANDPOINT.

IN ADDITION, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE DOLLARS WHEN STUDENTS USE PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE OUTCOMES.

IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WE HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL WHICH DRIVES HOPEFULLY OUR EDUCATION OUTCOMES IN AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY.

PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION IS EXEMPT FROM THAT.

SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF CONCERNS WITH MOVING FROM A PUBLIC MODEL INTO PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE UTILIZING TAX DOLLARS.

>> CHAIRMAN TIPTON BEFORE I GET TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI BECAUSE SHE HAS HER HAND RAISED TO SPEAK, I'M SURE YOU ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WHERE THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT WILL HAVE FORCE BEHIND IT COME 2024 BUT ALSO THERE ARE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THOSE WHO REPRESENT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THEIR COUNTIES AND DISTRICTS WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE FOR MOVING TOWARD A SCHOOL CHOICE MODEL AND PAYING FOR IT OUT OF THE EDUCATION PORTION OF THE STATE BUDGET?

>> WELL AS ANDREW MENTIONED, WITH THE CURRENT COURT DECISION REALISTICALLY THE ONLY WAY THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY CAN MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION IS THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE FILED AGAIN IN 2024 IT WAS HOUSE BILL 174 THIS YEAR.

AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT HAS A HIGHER STANDARD TO PASS BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SO WE WILL GAUGE THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE 2024 SESSION.

ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE, IS I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF LOOKING AT SCHOOL GROWTH AND SCHOOL LOSS.

AND FROM NOVEMBER OF 19 TO NOVEMBER OF 2022 WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN THE ADA NUMBERS OF 39,000.

ANDREW MENTIONED 20,000.

WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS AT?

SOME ARE BEING HOME SCHOOLED AND SOME MAYBE GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL SOME OF THEM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TELL ME THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE STUDENTS WOUND UP AT.

WE'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN NUMBERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THAT IS A REALITY THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO HAVE TO FACE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO ADJUST BUSINESS MODELS TO ADAPT TO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT YET THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN 2024 IS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

WHEN A STUDENT MISSES 18 DAYS OR MORE.

THE SUPERINTENDENT I TALKED TO HIM TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO THEY HAVE A LARGE POPULATION AT JCPS IS CHRONICALLY ABSENT.

TWO ISSUES THAT AFFECTS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS' FUNDING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A CHILD CANNOT LEARN IF THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES TO ADDRESS.

I MAY HAVE GOT OFF SCHOOL CHOICE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A BIG PUSH AND ULTIMATELY IF IT PASSES 0 OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IT WILL BE UP TO THE VOTERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY IN NOVEMBER OF 2024 TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO ALLOW THAT FINANCE THEY DO APPROVE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THEY WILL BE UP TO SUBSEQUENT GENERAL ASSEMBLIES TO MAKE THE DECISION HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT DECISION.

>> THAT IS A CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO GO BACK AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE VERSUS AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP.

I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO WEIGH-IN HERE.

GO AHEAD, MA'AM.

>> OK.

YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY ISSUES THAT MAKE ME NOT SUPPORT ANY SORT OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.

NUMBER ONE IS THE ABILITY FOR THE PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS TO DISCRIMINATE.

WE TRIED WITH HOUSE BILL 563 TO HAVE A CLAUSE THAT THEY COULD NOT DISCRIMINATE AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN.

AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IT'S NOT THE PARENTS THAT PICK THE SCHOOLS.

IT'S THE SCHOOLS THAT PICK THE CHILDREN.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR CHILD WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WHATEVER SCHOOL YOU WANT THEM TO GO.

IT IS THE SCHOOLS THAT SELECT THE CHILDREN AND EVEN IF THERE ARE VOUCHERS OR SORT OF SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT IF YOU MAKE A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL THAT THE SCHOOLS WON'T CHARGE MORE MONEY AND YOU WOULD MAYBE BE OUT OF THE MARKET.

SO ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AND THE SCHOOLS PICK THE CHILDREN.

AS FAR AS CONSTITUTIONS, WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST CONSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE GRANDEST LUCK AT CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION IN THE LAST ELECTION OR TWO.

WE COULD BARELY PASS IN SESSION WE COULD BARELY PASS HOUSE BILL 563.

THERE WAS PUSHBACK FROM THE RURAL LEGISLATORS AND THE URBAN LEGISLATORS.

SO I REALLY I DON'T SEE -- THERE MAY BE A LOT OF ENERGY FOR IT IN THE MAJORITY CAUCUS, BUT I DON'T SEE IT ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

SO Mr. VANDIVER AND I MAY HAVE A STRONG DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THIS, BUT THESE SCHOOLS CAN DISCRIMINATE.

AND THEY CAN PICK THEIR STUDENTS.

AND IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR CHILD AND IT MIGHT NOT BE MY CHILD WITH AUTISM, IT MIGHT NOT BE MY CHILDREN WHO INFIELD MY CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW.

>> Mr. VANDIVER RESPOND TO REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI'S CONCERNS.

>> A LOT IS BROUGHT UP AMONG THE PANEL AND THIS IS NOT NEW.

SCHOOL CHOICE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.

AND I BROUGHT A MAP I USUALLY DON'T USES BUT THE -- AIDS.

WE ARE THE ONLY STATE IN THIS REGION WITHOUT A MEANINGFUL SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM AND OUR KIDS ARE NOT DOING BETTER.

THE TESTING DATA FROM LAST YEAR BARELY HALF OF OUR KIDS CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL BARELY A THIRD CAN DO MATH PROFICIENTLY.

THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK FOR EVERY FAMILY.

AND OUTCOMES, YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA, FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE OUTPERFORMING AND THEY HAVE MASSIVE SCHOOL CHOICE.

HALF THE KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL CHOICE, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER SOME FORM OF SCHOOL CHOICE OUR KIDS ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND OUR FAMILIES ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A GREAT CHOICE FOR FAMILIES AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY CHOICE AND YOU █SHOULD NOT SEE A CHILD STRUGGLE.

SPOONED TO THE CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATION THERE IS A LOT THAT IS A CATCH ALL TERM.

IN TERMS OF HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS WE JUST FINISHED TALKING ABOUT THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE AND LGBTQ STUDENTS.

AND THERE WAS A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE GAY, LEZ STUDENT EDUCATION NED WORK AND IF YOU LOOK INTO THE INDEX OF THAT SURVEY, IT SHOWS LOWER RATES OF BULLYING, VERBAL HARASSMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THIS IS SURVEYS FROM STUDENTS COMPARED TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS DO EVERYTHING PERFECT BUT THERE'S STEREOTYPING GOING ON WHEN THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION WE ARE UNWELCOMING.

IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE PARENTS AND THE PARENTS CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS THE SAFEST MOST APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR KIDS AND I TRUST PARENTS.

>> Dr. CALDWELL THERE IS A POINT ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT CUTTING IT.

THERE ARE LITERACY RATES ARE BEHIND.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LEARNING LOSS FROM COVID.

AND ACCORDING TO Mr. VANDIVER IT SEEMS WHEN IT COMES TO BULLYING AND THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS PERHAPS IT'S BETTER IN THE PRIVATE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.

MAKE THE ARGUMENT AGAINST WHAT HE JUST HAD TO OFFER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT OUR LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR GAVE US A LOT MORE SCHOOL CHOICE ACROSS THE STATE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE.

WITH WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE OPEN BOUNDARIES LAW.

ANY CHILD IN KENTUCKY CAN CHOOSE ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT THEY WANT TO HERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

AND SO WE'RE IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF THAT NEW LAW.

AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE WATCHING THAT SHAKEDOWN ALL OVER THE STATE FOR KIDS TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

ALSO, LET'S PUT OUR MINDS WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND COVID AND THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, OUR CHILDREN IN IT OUR FAMILIES IN IT, OUR EDUCATORS IN IT, EVERYONE CONNECTED, WE'RE LIKE ALL OF SOCIETY.

AND EVERYONE IS IN RECOVERY MODE.

SO TESTING DATA, WHATEVER MEASURING STICK THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS PROBABLY NOT VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

WHEN I LISTENED TO ALL OF THE NOISE AROUND ME IN TERMS OF WHAT IS RIGHT WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR WHAT IS ONE MIGHT DEEM WRONG WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHAT I KNOW IS WHEN I LIFT THAT CURTAIN SO 0 TO SPEAK THERE IS A SCHOOL OF TEACHERS AT WORK WHO ARE LIFTING UP CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHO ARE INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.

AT ALL LEVELS FROM PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WE ARE MEETING EVERY SINGLE DAY SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING CHILDREN WHO ARE MOVING INTO ADULTHOOD.

AND SOLVING SOME OF OUR MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES HERE IN THE NATION.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE PUT DOWN THE STATISTICS, THAT WE SHAPE FOR THE CONVERSATION WE WANT, THAT EVERYTHING CHANGES AND WE FIND THAT I BELIEVE THE GALLOP POLL DATA I WOULD POINT TO THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING AND THEY ARE HAPPY IN SPITE OF DATA THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FROM A POST COVID PERSPECTIVE.

>> Mr. KENNEDY YOUR THOUGHTS HERE?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN THINK OF WHEN THIS COMES UP IS Mr. VANDIVER MAKES A GOOD POINT THAT SOME STATES 33 YEARS AGO WHEN WE EMBARKED ON MASSIVE EDUCATION REFORM WE THREW EVERYTHING OUT AND STARTED FROM SCRATCH WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND ALMOST THE SAME TIME SOME OTHER STATES TOOK IT THAT MOMENT OF THIS EDUCATION REFORM EFFORT TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE OF REFORMING INTO SCHOOL CHOICE.

SOME STATES THAT HAVE HAD A LOT OF SCHOOL CHOICE, VOUCHERS, SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN KENTUCKY AND SOME STATES THEY HAVE HAD SO MUCH SCHOOL CHOICE FOR THE SAME 33-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, ALMOST THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ARE IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ALL FORMS OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NATIONALLY IT'S 90-10.

90% STUDENTS ARE IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK THAT WHENEVER THIS ISSUE COMES UP AND IT WAS A GREAT OP-ED THAT MADE THE SAME POINT FROM A SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE THAT SAID EVEN IF AN AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED AND RATIFFED THE BY THE VOTERS AND IF THERE IS A DAY WITH MORE PUBLIC FUNDING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS YEARS FROM NOW IF IT IT HOLDS TRUE FOR US, MOST CHILDREN WILL BE ATTENDING SCHOOL BEING EDUCATED NURTURED AND CARED FOR IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE WANT TO FOCUS AS WELL ON WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE STATE BUDGET WE, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR OPERATIONS ARE IN COMPETITION WITH FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE STATE HAS TO SPEND AND INVEST.

IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RUN ANY KIND OF SCHOOL PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO GUARD AGAINST THE IDEA THAT BASED ON ANY SURVEY AT ANY MOMENT IN TIME IF ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE THE ONE ANSWER IS TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION THAT COULD CAUSE MORE COMPETITION FOR PRECIOUS DOLLARS THAT WE NEED FOR A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT THAT WE KNOW WE NEED.

ALL OF MY MEMBER ALSO TELL YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL SAY A LOT OF GREAT IS HAPPENING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN MANY WAYS.

>> I HAVE A POINT THAT I THINK MIGHT FIT WITH WHAT Mr. KENNEDY WAS TALKING B. I'M PRO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK WE HAVE GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE.

WE HAVE SOME THAT COULD DO BETTER.

IN TERMS OF SCHOOL CHOICE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE KIDS WHO CHOOSE WHEN YOU SEE SCHOOL CHOICE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE DOING BETTER AND WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

ACCOUNTABILITY LIES WITH THE PARENTS.

I PROMISE THIS WILL BROADEN OUT TO THE LARGER TOPIC ABOUT THE BROADER CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LEARNING LOSS DISCUSSED THAT WASN'T JUST A RESULT OF COVID IT WAS A RESULT OF SCHOOLS THAT LOCKED DOWN AND DIDN'T OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR A YEAR.

IF EVERY CHILD WITHIN JCPS TO HAVE A CHOICE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE KEPT THE SCHOOLS CLOSED AND NOT IN-PERSON LEARNING AND IMAGINE HOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

LITERACY, THERE'S BEEN MASSIVE RESISTANCE FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND TRENCH BUREAUCRACIES TO HIGH QUALITY READING INSTRUCTION OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

IF FAMILIES HAVE MORE CHOICE THERE WOULD BE MORE ACURRENTABILITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO DO BETTER.

OUR TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE WORKING HARD OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE WORKING HARD.

BUT THEY ARE ENTRENCHED BUREAUCRACIES THAT RESIST ANY CHANGE.

AND EVEN WITH THIS LITERACY BILL THAT I COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI AND CHAIRMAN TIPTON WITH THAT, YOU STILL HAVE ADMINISTRATORS THAT AT JSPS KEEPING SCORE ON THE CHANGES FOR LITERACY INSTRUCTION.

WHEN YOU GIVE FAMILIES CHOICES YOU LOWER DECREASING THE ABILITY OF THIS BUREAUCRACIES TO STOP REFORMS THAT WILL MAKE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU CHAIRMAN TIPTON SHOULD LAWMAKERS GIVE THE OPEN BORDERS PROVISIONS MORE TIME WHEN KIDS CAN GO TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SUIT THEIR NEEDS BETTER.

DO YOU NEED MORE TIME TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF THAT BEFORE MOVING TOWARD A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL CHOICE?

>> OF COURSE THAT WAS THE PART OF HOUSE BILL 563 THAT WAS NOT STRUCK DOWN.

THAT WAS ALL ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MORE COMPREHENSIVE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

I THINK I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT FAYETTE COUNTY.

AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY HAD HAD WHO EXERCISED THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO VARY FROM ONE PART OF THE STATE TO THE OTHER.

OF COURSE AS THE LEGISLATION IS WRITTEN SCHOOL BOARDS CAN ADOPT POLICIES THE POLICIES MAY DIFFER FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.

I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.

AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LARGE CONTINGENT OF MY MEMBERS IN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THAT WILL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

WE HAVE 25 NEW MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE I CANNOT PREDICT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE INTERESTING ISSUES WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT SESSION TO SEE IF THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPORT TO GET 60 MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE AND 23 IN THE SENATE TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKI -- >> JUST, YES.

JUST ONE KIND OF FINAL NOTE ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE IF YOU ARE READY TO MOVE ON.

SO Mr. VANDIVER TALKED ABOUT LIKE THE HISTORY OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

IT WAS CHAMPIONED BY MILTON FREEMAN IN 1955 AS A WAY TO PRESERVE JIM CROW AND TO KEEP SCHOOLS SEGREGATED IN A TIME WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE INTEGRATING SCHOOLS.

THAT IS KIND OF THE DARK HISTORY OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND I THINK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PARTICULARLY WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE DOESN'T HAPPEN IS THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH A SEGREGATED SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THEN I COME BACK HE SAYS ONCE AGAIN PARENTS CHOOSE AND I COME BACK AGAIN TO SAY THE SCHOOLS CHOOSE.

I CAN LOOK AT KIDS IN MY CLASSROOM AND YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT LEARNING DIFFERENCES, DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS, AND I THINK THOSE PARENTS PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE A CHOICE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO CERTAIN SCHOOLS.

SO, NO, THE PARENTS DON'T GET TO CHOOSE, THE SCHOOLS CHOOSE.

>> RESPOND TO THE COMMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO AN END GOAL TO RESEGREGATE SCHOOLS?

>> THAT COMPLETELY FALSE AND THAT HISTORY ABOUT MILTON FREEMAN IS FICTIONAL HAS NO TRUTH TO IT WHATSOEVER.

>> THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THAT NOT TRUE.

>> IT'S NOT TRUE?

IT'S FICTIONAL AND THE RESULTS SUPREME COURT NOMINEE TODAY WE LOOK AT FLORIDA 70% OF THE KIDS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE FLORIDA SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS ARE BLACK OR HISPANIC.

THOSE FAMILIES ARE BENEFITING FROM CHOICE AND THE FAMILIES THAT LACK THE CHOICE THE MOST ARE MINORITY FAMILIES WHO ARE FINANCIALLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEIR WHITE PEERS HAVE.

THIS IS ABOUT EQUALITY FOR FAMILIES.

AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THAT HISTORY, PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS SEGREGATED FOR A LONGTIME.

AND A LOT OF SCHOOLS OF CHOICE WERE INTEGRATED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS THAT WERE INTEGRATED AT THE SAME TIME AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE NOT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE REAL HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MODERN VOUCHER PROGRAMS IT STARTED IN MILWAUKEE AND LED BY BLACK DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR AND A LOT OF OUR SUPPORTERS IN THE BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DEBUNK OUT RIGHT.

AND THE INDIANA SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM, THINK ONLY SOMETHING LIKE 10% OF THE INDIANA 20% OF THE INDIANA POPULATION IS MINORITY BUT THE 40% OF THE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM IS MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

SO YOU ARE TALKING SIGNIFICANT MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS.

AND I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO OPEN ENROLLMENT IT IS A GOOD POLICY.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A GOOD THING.

BUT STILL CHOICE AMONGST PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I LIKE TO COMPARE IT TO THERE IS A GOOD LINE IN THE FIRST FAST AND THE FURIOUS MOVIE WHEN VIN DIESEL TAKES WALKER TO THE PARTY AND HE SAYS YOU CAN HAVE ANY BEER YOU WANT SO LONG AS IT IS A CORONA.

BUT I MIGHT WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SAME THING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WITHIN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MIGHT BE A LOT OF CHOICES AND THERE MAY NOT BE.

THAT IS THE I THINK CRUX OF THAT WE NEED MORE OPTIONS NOT FEWER.

>> A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON, THIS QUESTION FROM SCOTT COUNTY QUOTE PUBLIC MONEY USED IN A RELIGIOUS MANNER IN FAITH BASED SCHOOLS BREACHES THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE A PART OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT?

CHAIRMAN TIPTON?

>> I WOULD SAY THE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW WE PASSED BACK IN 2017 ACTUALLY PROHIBITS A RELIGIOUS BASED SCHOOL IF BEING A CHARTER SCHOOL.

AND THAT IS NOT OUR INTENT TO ENFORCE TO TRY TO PROMOTE RELIGION.

THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AS ANDREW MENTIONED NOT EVERY SITUATION IS RIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE MOST BENEFIT FROM SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS UP AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TALKED TO PEOPLE FROM MANY STATES IS IN THE STUDENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH DISABILITIES.

A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT CAN HELP THEM MEET CERTAIN NEEDS IN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE RELIGION.

ALSO COULD DEBATE THE TERM SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

IT IS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION I GO BACK TO THE JEFFERSON LETTERS AND DEBATE THAT ANYTIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO.

>> WE'LL LET YOU AND THAT VIEWER DO THAT.

I WORK WITH ALSO FROM AN UNNAMED VIEWER, QUOTE I WORK WITH A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS KENTUCKIANS WITH DISABILITY STUDENTS OR HOME SCHOOLED MORE THAN EVER.

HOW DOES THE PANEL FEEL ABOUT MORE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES LEARNING FROM HOME OVERALL?

ANYONE CARE TO CHIME IN ON THAT?

>> I MEAN, I'M FOR CHOICE.

I'M FOR SUPPORTING FAMILIES.

I THINK PARENTS ARE GOING TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST.

BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THEIR NEEDS ARE MORE UNIQUE.

EVERY CHILD IS UNIQUE BUT THEY ARE MORE UNIQUE IN WHAT THEY WILL NEED.

AND I THINK PARENTS ARE GOING TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST.

AND WE LOOK AT THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNT ACT WE SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES AND WHATEVER LEGISLATION WE PUT FORWARD IN THE FUTURE THOSE ARE THINGS WE WILL SUPPORT.

>> MS. BLOM -- >> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

MAY I SPEAK.

AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY AND AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, THERE IS EXTENSIVE FEDERAL LAW THAT SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

SO I THINK THAT IF A CHILD IS EDUCATED IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT THEY GENERALLY HAVE TO SIGN OFF THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND THAT THEY ARE THEREFORE WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROTECTIONS OF THAT LAW.

AS FAR AS BEING EDUCATED AT HOME, I THINK SOMETIMES THAT IS WHAT A PARENT HAS TO DECIDE TO DO IF THEY DON'T FEEL THEIR CHILD IS GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED AND THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND ALSO AT SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES IN NEGOTIATING THAT FEDERAL LAW SYSTEM.

>> MS. BLOM I WAS GOING TO ASK IS THERE ANY SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT?

YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE WORKABLE IN KENTUCKY?

>> RHONDA MENTIONED THE OPEN ENROLLMENT LAW AS A WAY THAT KENTUCKY IS GETTING TO GREATER CHOICE FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN ANOTHER COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

SO THAT IS ONE OPTION WE'VE MOVED FORWARD CHARTER LEGISLATION HAS BEEN DEBATED YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE LAWS ON THE BOOKS INCLUDING STRUCTURE FOR FUNDING OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

THAT IS AN AREA WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO POINT TO THE RESEARCH AND SAY THERE CLEARLY CAN BE A BENEFIT FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS IN A HIGH QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT THE SAME WITH PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE.

SO ANDREW, I KNOW ARE YOU SHARING THE EXAMPLES FROM FLORIDA, BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND INVESTMENT OF SHARED TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WE'VE GOT TO KNOW DOES THE RESEARCH POINT TO SCHOOL CHOICE AS A STRATEGY IN FLORIDA THAT IS INCREASING THEIR STUDENT OUTCOMES?

AND TO DATE WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY TYPE OF META ANALYSIS OR SERIOUS RESEARCH THAT POINTS TO THIS STRATEGY BEING EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING EDUCATION OUTCOMES ON BEHALF OF A STATE.

OUR OUTCOMES ARE TOO FAR BEHIND FOR US TO KIND OF PLAY AROUND WITH STRATEGIES OF THAT ARE NOT PROVEN TO WORK AT SCALE.

WE'VE DROPPED FROM AN ANDREW MENTIONED THESE THINGS, WE NEED TO OWN THIS TRUTH THAT WE'VE DROPPED FROM 8TH IN THE NATION IN FOURTH GRADE READING TO 29TH.

WE'VE DROPPED FROM HIGH OF 33 IN MATHEMATICS TO NOW 41ST IN THE NATION.

THESE SHOULD BE SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR OUR LEGISLATORS FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR PARENTS.

FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND WE SHOULD IDENTIFY STRATEGIES THAT HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF WORKING TO IMPROVE THESE OUTCOMES.

>> AND WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO WORK?

>> PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE IS NOT THAT STRATEGY.

>> WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

>> PRIVATE SCHOOLS OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TODAY IF STUDENTS WANT TO GO INTO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

BUT A TAX CREDIT THAT RETURNS 90 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR TO THE DONOR IS LIKELY NOT THE BEST AVENUE FOR A VERY POOR STATE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES TO GO.

>> NOT JUST FLORIDA THERE'S 28 GOLD STANDARD STATES THAT I AM AWARE OF WHERE YOU ARE COMPARING STUDENTS BETWEEN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I KNOW I KEEP HARPING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD SCHOOL CHOICE FOR SO LONG IT DATES BAB TO JEB BUSH IN THE EARLY 2000'S AND YOU ARE SEEING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES FROM COLLEGE AND ATTEND DEG COLLEGE ATTENDANCE EXCUSE ME.

AND AT THE END OF DAY I TRUST PARENTS.

WHEN A WEALTHY PARENT CHOOSES TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL NOBODY IS DOG IN SAYING THE STATE IS NOT COMING SAYING ARE YOU SURE THAT DECISION IS OK FOR YOUR KID?

ARE YOU IRRESPONSIBLE IN MAKING THAT DECISION?

IT'S ONLY WHEN LOWER INCOME FAMILIES MAKE THE DECISIONS THEN THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS SAY NO THESE PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR KIDS IF THEY WILL CHOOSE THEY WILL CHOOSE UNWISELY.

THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT INCORRECT AND COMMON SENSE IT SHOWS IT IS INCORRECT BECAUSE PARENTS WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR KIDS NINE TIMES OUT OF 10.

>> Dr. CALDWELL WHAT ARE THE PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STRUCTURE?

WHAT WORKS?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

HIGH QUALITY TEACHING.

HAVING THE ABSOLUTE BEST TEACHNERS OUR CLASSROOMS TODAY.

WITH CLASSROOM NUMBERS THAT ARE MANAGEABLE.

WE OFTEN SEE THE LENS OF EDUCATION THROUGH OUR OWN EXPERIENCES AND ONE THAT I THINK APPLIES TO A LOT OF PARENTS IS I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I HAD ONE OF THE SONS WHO A VERY TALENTED BRIGHT YOUNG MAN, BUT NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHEN IT COMES TO INSTRUCTION.

AND SO I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT I OBSERVED THAT CLASSROOM.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN FOR THE FIRST TIME I COULD SEE AND FEEL WHAT HIS TEACHER HAD BEEN TRYING TO SHARE WITH ME.

I HAVE 24 CHILDREN IN FRONT OF ME WHO ARE COMING FROM 24 DIFFERENT HOMES, BRINGING 24 DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND 24 POSSIBLY DIFFERENT CULTURES.

AND THAT AUTOMATICALLY MAKES ME THINK WHEN I SAY THAT WORD IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY ALONE WE HAVE 144 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT RANGE FROM ENGLISH TO SPANISH TO SWAHILI.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND WE THINK ABOUT THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO IMPACT OUR LIVES FOREVER MORE IN TERMS OF GUIDING ME, SHAPING ME INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD, WE ALL CAN NAME OUR FAVORITE TEACHERS.

WE NEED THE VERY BEST IN THAT CLASSROOM.

AND LIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A SHORTAGE.

AND THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE EVERYDAY SHOWING UP ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN ALONG WITH OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK STARTING OUT THE DAY RIGHT NOW.

OK. WHO IS HERE?

WHO IS PHYSICALLY HERE?

AND WHAT CAN WE MAKE HAPPEN FROM A TEACHING AND LEARNING PERSPECTIVE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE FROM HARM, AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE MAKING SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE FED, AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE NOT ONLY THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF OUR ADULTS OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY.

AND SO SHORING UP THAT TEACHER PIPELINE AND MAKING THE TEACHING PROFESSION ATTRACTIVE.

THAT POSITION THAT WE WANT TO HOLD.

RESTORING RESPECT TO THE PROFESSION.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PLACES THAT I WOULD START WHEN I THINK ABOUT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THE OUTCOME OF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT ENDED MARCH 30TH WAS THERE LEGISLATION TO BECOME LAW THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH SOME OF WHAT YOU THINK WILL HELP?

>> ACTUALLY YES THERE IS GRATEFUL TO REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON ON THE THIS EVENING.

SO THE COALITION TO SUSTAIN THE EDUCATION PROFESSION IS SOMETHING AN INITIATIVE THAT IS BEING LED BY KASA, WE'RE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS, NINE MONTHS INTO THAT WORK.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST THING WE DID WE REACHED ACROSS TO THE CAPITOL TO REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON AND ASKED HIM TO SERVE AS PART OF THAT COALITION.

HE ALONG WITH SENATOR GIBBONS AND ALSO SENATOR WISE ARE PART OF THAT COALITION.

SO WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, IS THREE ESTEEMED LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE US TO DIG DOWN DEEP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD NOT ONLY TO OURSELVES AS PUBLIC EDUCATORS, BUT ALSO ALL OF OUR EDUCATION AGENCIES LIKE THE BRING CHARRED COMMITTEE LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

AND THIS WILL BE MY HAND OFF TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON, BUT WHAT IS IT THAT OUR LEGISLATURE CAN DO FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF KENTUCKY?

BECAUSE THESE ARE THEIR COMMUNITIES AT HOME AS WELL.

>> CHAIRMAN TIPTON?

>> RHONDA REFERENCED HOUSE BILL THREE 19 WHICH PASSED IN THE 2023 SESSION.

AS I SAID ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THIS IS NOT AN ANSWER THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION BUT POSITIVE FIRST STEPS WE COULD TAKE.

ITEMS HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE TO COME BACK FOR THE 2024 SESSION THE BUDGET SESSION.

I THINK ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I BELIEVE IS OBVIOUS THAT TEACHERS IN THE FIRST THREE TO FIVE YEARS IS CRITICAL.

FOR THEM TO STAY IN THE PROFESSION.

IT IS A IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE THE SUPPORT IN THE MENTORSHIP THERE.

MORE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD A PROGRAM CALLED K TIP, KENTUCKY TEACHER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.

IT HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED IN A FEW YEARS.

BUT I THINK PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS TO THE YOUNG TEACHERS AS THEY ARE STARTING OUT TO HELP THEM SUCCEED VERY EARLY IN THEIR TEACHING CAREER IS ESSENTIAL.

THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE HAVE I KNOW NELSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PARTNERING WITH WESTERN WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ON AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

HOW THAT PROGRESSES AS FAR AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS GROWING THEIR OWN FROM WITHIN.

WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION BEFORE SESSION AND DURING SESSION ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THE TEACHER PROFESSION.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE WE HAVE A TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IT HAD NOT BEEN FUNDED IN 22 AND FUNDED AT ONE MILLION PER YEAR.

I WILL ADVOCATE TO SEE THAT AMOUNT INCREASED IN THE NEXT BNG.

>> SO WHAT, SIR?

>> INCREASED TO WHAT?

>> WELL, I'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION I HAVE A GOAL OF 5 MILLION RIGHT NOW.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE AND SEE WHERE YOU CAN GET.

>> START HIGH.

>> THAT IS MY GOAL RIGHT NOW 5 MILLION.

ONE OTHER AREA WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OFTENTIMES WHEN TEACHERS GO FOR THE STUDENT TEACHING THEY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T WORK THEY CAN'T PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND IT'S DIFFICULT.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF STIPENDS FOR STUDENT TEACHERS.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AND, AGAIN, IT WILL BE A BUDGET YEAR.

IT WILL BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVESTED IN EDUCATION.

AND HOW MUCH IS SENT DOWN TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE SEEK FORMULA.

WE REALLY A LOT OF THINGS WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR.

>> YOU WANT TO GET TO THE POINT ABOUT TEACHER PAY.

THE GOVERNOR HAD A PROPOSAL HE PITCHED FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS SAID WE GAVE MORE MONEY SO THE DISTRICTS COULD DECIDE WHERE THE DOLLARS GO AND THAT WAS NOT EQUITABLE.

SO WILL SOMEHOW THE LAWMAKERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TRY TO PROVIDE MORE DIRECT TEACHER PAY INCREASES?

>> THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN THAT SCHOOLTEACHERS ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND IN THE LAST BACK IN 22, I ACTUALLY, THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CAME TO US AND ASKED US NOT TO DO THAT.

THEY ASKED US TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THE FUNDING AND LET THEM MAKE THE CHOICES.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE ONE OF THE COUNTY -- >> DID THE TEACHERS' UNIONS ASK FOR THE SOMETIME?

>> NO THEY DID NOT.

BUT THE PEOPLE IN THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS DID.

>> BUT THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM DID NOT?

>> THEY DID NOT.

HERE IS THE TOPIC WE NEED TO CHANGE THE TERM TEACHER PAY TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.

THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION BOARD CAME OUT WITH AN ANALYSIS A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEY COMPARED TEACHER COMPENSATION ACROSS ALL 16 STATES AND THEY INCLUDED ITEMS LIKE THE QUALITY OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE, THE QUALITY OF THE PENSION SYSTEM AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEACHER COMPENSATION HOLISTICALLY IN KENTUCKY WE ARE A LOT BETTER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENT OF 44 FOR THE NATION.

>> TO RHONDA AND REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON'S POINT THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN IMPROVING EDUCATION OUTCOMES THAN THE QUALITY OF TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM.

ANY WE CAN DO AS A STATE TO INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, THE READ TO SUCCEED BILL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON MENTIONED K IT TIP WE PROSED A 58 MILLION FUND FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE IN THE STATE TO USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THINGS LIKE LITERACY, TO INCREASE THE STIPEND FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION WHERE THERE IS A RESEARCH BASED TO SHOW IMPROVED EDUCATION OUTCOMES.

LET'S HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND INSURE KENTUCKY TEACHERS COMPENSATION IS PROFESSIONALLY COMPETITIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL THAT IS A FUTURE CONVERSATION WE COULDN'T GET TO EVERYTHING TONIGHT.

I HAD A ROBUST AGENDA AND I DIDN'T QUITE GET THERE IT WILL BE CONTINUED.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY NIGHT AS WE BEGIN CONVERSATIONS WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE PRIMARY.

DON'T MISS IT.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.