THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS JULY FIRST.

>>> THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE NEW FEDERAL ORDER BANNING DIVERSITY, EQUITY OR INCLUSION OR D.E.I.

PRACTICES.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENT A LETTER TO STATE EDUCATION LEADERS EARLIER THIS MONTH AND GAVE THEM 10 DAYS TO CERTIFY THEIR K-12 SCHOOLS WERE IN COMPLIANCE.

THE LETTER SAYS FAILURE TO COMPLY COULD MEAN LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING.

IN AN E-MAIL TO SUPERINTENDENTS THIS WEEKEND, KENTUCKY'S COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, ROBBIE FLETCHER, SAID THE REQUEST WAS NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS.

QUOTE NEVERTHELESS I'M CONFIDENT THAT THROUGHOUT OUR STATE-WIDE COMMITMENT PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT WE CAN ADVANCE MEETING THE GOALS, AND NEEDS AND ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF EACH STUDENT IN KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BEING ASKED TO SIGN A LETTER SHOWING THEIR COMPLIANCE, COMMISSIONER FLETCHER SAID IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT CHOOSES NOT TO, KDE WILL NOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE FOR FURTHER COMMENT TODAY.

IN A STATEMENT, COMMISSIONER FLETCHER SAID IN PART QUOTE I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF RACE, BACKGROUND, LANGUAGE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OR ZIP CODE HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND VIBRANT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.

OUR SCHOOLS MUST BE PLACES WHERE EVERY CHILD FEELS SUPPORTED AND CHALLENGED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.