>> AS KENTUCKY'S 58th LUM, JACQUELINE COLEMAN IS FOCUSED ON THE STATE'S CRADLE TO CAREER PUBLIC EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING SYSTEM.

SHE IS THE ONLY SECOND EDUCATOR TO BE ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN KENTUCKY AND SERVING AS SECRETARY OF THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET.

I TALK WITH HER ABOUT HER FIRST YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE GOALS.

THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

KENTUCKY'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN IS AN EDUCATOR, A FORMER BASKETBALL COACH, WRITER AND FOUNDER OF A NON-PROFIT.

NOW IN ELECTED OFFICE SHE IS FOCUSED ON BOLSTERING THE STATE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND I TALK WITH HER TODAY ABOUT SOME OF HER FIRST YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE LESSONS EDUCATORS CAN LEARN FROM THE GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC AND HOW TO IMPROVE KENTUCKY'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS.

GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, RENEE.

>> Renee: SO REAL QUICKLY, I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU A GENERAL QUESTION.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE SINCE THE LAST TIME WE WERE ON A STAGE WITH YOU IN FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY FOR THE INAUGURATION.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU ARE HOLDING UP DURING THIS PANDEMIC WITH A ONE-YEAR-OLD WHOINGS CELEBRATING SO MANY OF HER LIFE'S FIRST AND BEING IN A PANDEMIC, THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL PERHAPS.

>> YES, I THINK ABOUT THAT DAY LAST DECEMBER AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE COLDEST I CAN REMEMBER BEING OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT LONG.

BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A YEAR FOR THE RECORD BOOKS AND I THINK WE ARE READY TO PUT IT BEHIND US.

BUT I DID HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND GOOD EXPERIENCES THIS YEAR.

LAST DECEMBER I MADE OUR ADOPTION OF OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER EMMA OFFICIAL AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER BECAME THE FIRST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO GIVE BIRTH WHILE IN OFFICE.

SO EVELYN'S ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN , ALL 10 MONTHS HAS BEEN DURING A PANDEMIC.

SHE IS ABOUT TO HAVE HER FIRST CHRISTMAS AND I JUST THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, NOT JUST TO ME BUT TO EVERY KENTUCKIAN ACROSS THE STATE DURING THIS TIME AND HOW MEMORABLE BOTH IN POSITIVE AND NOT SO POSITIVE WAYS, THIS YEAR WILL BE FOR ALL OF US.

>> Renee: YES, AND HOPEFULLY BETTER TIMES ARE TO COME.

YOU KNOW, WE REMEMBER SOME OF THE FIRST ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION ON RESTORING FELON VOTING RIGHTS AND ALSO CLEANING THE DECK ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EACH OF THOSE THINGS, AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY GIVING A LITTLE PAY BUMP TO EDUCATORS WHO HAD LONG NOT HAD ONE.

AND THE PANDEMIC CAME ANDY RACED ALL OF-- AND ERASED ALL OF THOSE AMBITIONS.

I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WILL THE EDUCATION AGENDA LOOK LIKE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AS LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO GO BACK TO FRANKFORT THIS JANUARY?

>> WELL, SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM THE VERY FIRST ACTION, WHICH WAS BRINGING IN A NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE HAVE PUT PUBLIC EDUCATION FIRST AND YOU ARE RIGHT, THE PANDEMIC CHANGED OUR ANGLE AND OUR ABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO IMPACT AS MUCH AS WE WANTED TO.

BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING OUR BUDGET FOR THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE BUDGET ADDRESS THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL GIVE SOON.

AND IT IS AN EDUCATION FIRST BUDGET AGAIN.

WE ARE GOING TO PRIORITIZE K-12 EDUCATION.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN FULFILL THE PROMISE OF RAISING THE PAY AND WAGES OF OUR EDUCATORS AND ALSO OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ENDURED CUT AFTER CUT, YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO WORK TO RESTORE THAT FUNDING IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> WE DO KNOW THAT THE LAWMAKERS, REPUBLICANS, WHO DO CONTROL THE STATE LEGISLATURE, DID SUPPORT SOME LEVEL OF PAY BUMP FOR EDUCATORS AND I'M CURIOUS.

YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PUSH FOR THAT AGAIN IN THIS SESSION.

WE SEE THAT SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC NUMBERS LOOK PRETTY GOOD.

SO HOW CONFIDENT DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE EDUCATORS CLASSIFIED, CERTIFIED STAFF, THOSE RAISES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROMISED BEFORE BEING ELECTED?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS A PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNOR'S AND MINE AND WE WILL PUSH FOR IT.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LEGISLATURE IS CONTROLLED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN BOTH CHAMBERS BUT THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT THIS IS PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE PARTISAN AND RAISING THE WAGES OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANT SHOULD NOT BE PARTISAN EITHER AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER ON TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE FOLKS THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS EVERY DAY.

>> Renee: SO ARE WE LOOKING AT 2,000 ACROSS THE BOARD?

CAN YOU GIVE US SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT WILL BE PROPOSED?

>> I CAN'T REALLY GIVE SPECIFICS AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING A BUMP IN PAY FOR CLASS ROAD TEACHERS AND FOR OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ARE ALSO HEARING AND LEARNING ABOUT PREFILED MEASURES ON SCHOOL CHOICE ON SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

IS THE ADMINISTRATION PREPARED TO PUSH BACK ON THAT AND DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE ATTEMPTS TO REBUFF THOSE MOVES, TO PROVIDE FOR MORE SCHOOL CHOICE THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL BUT THREATEN PUBLIC EDUCATION, DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A BIG IMPETUS FOR THAT TO GO FORWARD?

>> I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS I DID BEFORE WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM AND WHETHER YOU CALL IT A SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT OR A SCHOOL VOUCHER OR WHATEVER NAME YOU PUT ON IT, IT IS THE SAME THING AS PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG.

IT IS DIVERTING PUBLIC DOLLARS AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT NOW MORE THAN EVER.

I HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, HOW CRITICAL PUBLIC EDUCATION IS, HOW WE HAVE TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO WHY WOULD WE NOT WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE CLASSROOMS ARE FULLY FUNDED?

>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE OVERHAUL OF THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND HOW IT SHOWED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE CREDENTIALS THAT THOSE MEMBERS BRING.

YOU ARE A NON-VOTING MEMBER OF THE KBE AND THERE HAVE BEEN-- IT HAS BEEN A BUSY YEAR.

THERE IS A NEW COMMISSIONER, JASON GLASS, WHO WE HAVE HAD ON SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS HERE AT KET AND ALSO RACIAL EQUITY HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS THAT THIS BOARD HAS SAID THEY'RE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON AND HAVE A CHIEF DIVERSITY OR EQUITY OFFICER.

I'M CURIOUS DO, YOU THINK THOSE ARE ENOUGH OF THE FIRST STEPS TO MAKE AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW?

>> WELL, SO OUR BOARD HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR ROUGHLY A YEAR AND WE-- MOST OF OUR YEAR WAS CONSUMED WITH A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE PROMISED WE WOULD DO AND DID A SEARCH TO BRING IN THE BEST AND THE BOARD BELIEVES THE BEST CANDIDATE WAS Dr. JASON GLASS, WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM KENTUCKY BUT WE STOLE HIM BACK FROM COLORADO TO BRING HIM HERE AND HE HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.

WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT OUR VALUE OF K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMITTED TO MAKE EVERY IMPROVEMENT THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES ON THIS BOARD IS RACIAL EQUITY AS WELL AS EQUITY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT'S WHY THIS BOARD IS IN PLACE.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED, IF NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION IN THE NATION.

THEY ARE AWARD WINNING TEACHERS FROM PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AND SO WE HAVE MULTITUDE OF REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE, TALENTED PERSPECTIVES TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US ADVICE AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY, REALLY TRYING TIMES.

AND SO UP WITH OF THOSE-- ONE OF THOSE VERY FIRST COMMITMENTS WE FOCUSED ON WAS RACIAL EQUITY.

WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN KENTUCKY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE OR ANYTHING ELSE, SKIN COLOR, GENDER, ANYTHING, HAVE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE SAME WAY THAT EVERY OTHER CHILD DOES; THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO BUILDING UP OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SO WE HAVE COMMITTED TO A FEW THINGS.

ONE IS TO WORK TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING ACROSS EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR EVERY SCHOOL EMPLOYEE AND EVERY TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR.

IF WE ARE RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF KENTUCKIANS, AND WE ARE, THEN WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE-- THAT WE CONFRONT OUR OWN CHALLENGES WITH IMPLICIT BIAS, ADDRESS THOSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'RE THERE SO THAT WE CAN SERVE EVERY CHILD EQUALLY.

A SECOND PROPONENT OF OUR PLAN IS TO BREATHE MORE LIFE BACK INTO THE KENTUCKY ACADEMY FOR EQUITY AND TEACHING.

IT WENT UNFUNDED IN PREVIOUS BUDGETS AS THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT I AM COMMITTED TO USE OUR DOLLARS TO GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.

IT'S AN VESM THAT I BELIEVE IS-- AN INVESTMENT I BELIEVE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

AND MY GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE TO FUND IT.

TO FUND IT AS IT SHOULD BE FUNDED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS OF HIGH QUALITY FROM EVERY BACKGROUND SO THAT OUR KIDS ARE ABLE TO SEE IN THE FIRST LEADERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME, WHICH SO MANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS CERTAINLY ARE, LEADERS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

OUR KIDS DESERVE THAT AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT STATISTICALLY IT IMPROVES OUTCOMES FROM OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.

IF THEY HAVE A TEACHER OF COLOR TO AT LEAST TWO BY THE TIME THEY'RE IN THIRD GRADE, THEY'RE 32% MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO TO COLLEGE.

THAT'S REMARKABLE.

>> Renee: THAT IS PRETTY REMARKABLE STATISTIC.

WE THINK ABOUT THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE ALL ENDURED IN 2020.

AND PARTICULARLY THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS REALLY HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT.

YOU KNOW THAT VERY WELL FIRSTHAND.

SO I'M REAL CURIOUS WHEN YOU REFLECT BACK ON 2020 AND THE PARENTS NAVIGATING VIRTUAL ACADEMIES AND HYBRID LEARNING SYSTEMS AND ONLINE LEARNING, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR LESSONS LEARNED THAT YOU CAN SAY AS SECRETARY OF THE EDUCATION WORKFORCE CABINET, HERE WHAT IS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS, HOW WE CAN STILL IMPLEMENT THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY GOING FORWARD BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE SHOWN THAT PERHAPS IT CAN WORK.

IT'S JUST NOT WORKING OPTIMALLY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MAJOR LESSONS LEARNED HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK BACK OVER THIS YEAR AND THE WAY THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS COMPLETELY TURNED OUR LIVES UPSIDE DOWN.

FORGET CONVENIENCE, RIGHT?

I MEAN THERE IS NO WAY FOR TO US BE ABLE TO MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT CONVENIENCE OR, YOU KNOW, THE OPTIMAL CHOICE.

AND SO MANY CASES OUR OPTIONS WERE BAD AND BAD AND WE HAD TO MAKE DUE AND MAKE THE BEST OF THE SITUATIONS, WHICH IS WHAT EVERY TEACHER, PARENT AND STUDENT ACROSS KENTUCKY HAS DONE.

SO FIRST I WOULD SAY THAT WE NOW KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THAT BROADBAND IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL FOR OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS-- WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST MARCH, WE HAD ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU REALIZE THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY AGAIN, THAT THERE IS NOT AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD.

AS LONG AS THERE IS A DIGITAL DIVIDE SO WE COMMITTED TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THIS ISSUE AND WORK BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM TO HELP CLOSE THIS DIGITAL DIVIDE.

SHORT-TERM WITH HOT SPOTS, DEPLOYING THOSE ACROSS THE STATE, AND LONG-TERM WITH THE LAST MILE BROADBAND PROJECT WORK.

AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS MONTH THAT 10 TO 15% GAP HAS BEEN CLOSED TO 3 TO 5%.

AND SO WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO SERVING THOSE LAST 3 TO 5%.

THEY'RE IN THE MOST REMOTE AREAS OF KENTUCKY THAT ARE THE HARDEST TO REACH.

BUT IT IS A FOCUS.

AND FIRST I WOULD SAY BROADBAND HAS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR OUR KIDS FOR THEIR LEARNING BUT ALSO FOR ADULTS AND THEIR WORK.

THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES NEEDS TO BE STRONGER THAN EVER.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE ARE RAISING-- WE ARE THE VILLAGE RAISING THE KIDS AND IT HAS REALLY, IN A WAY, FORCED A LITTLE BIT MORE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND PARENTS MAYBE THAN BEFORE.

BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THAT IS A TRIND THAT WE-- A TREND THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO CONTINUE, EVEN AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM DIGITAL.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WOULD SAY.

THIS WE ARE IN A RUSH TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AS SO MANY PEOPLE SAY.

THE QUESTION I WOULD RAISE TO THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY IS WHAT IS WORTH NOT GOING BACK TO?

WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN NOW SAY AT THAT TIME WE HAVE LEARNED TO WORK DIFFERENTLY, MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY TO SERVE OUR KIDS IN WAYS THAT WE NEVER KNEW WE COULD AND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT INSTEAD OF JUST REVERTING BACK TO OLD HABITS AND OLD WAYS OUT OF MAYBE JUST FAMILIARITY.

THAT'S DEFINITELY A QUESTION I WOULD RAISE TO THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, TOO.

>> Renee: AS AN EDUCATOR YOURSELF WHO IS ALSO A STUDENT AS YOU ARE GETTING YOUR DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION, I DO HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, AND I HAVE ASKED THIS TO OUR EDUCATORS WHO HAVE BEEN ON OUR KENTUCKY TONIGHT PROGRAM.

SOME OF THEM HAVE FELT LIKE, IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY WERE ALMOST HERALDED AS HEROES FOR THE YOMAN'S WORK THEY WERE DOING TO SHOE HORN THIS NEW REALITY TOGETHER BUT AS TIME WENT ON AND PARENTAL FRUSTRATION OVER REMOTE LEARNING GREW AND GREW AND GREW, MANY OF THEM HAVE FELT VILIFIED; THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED LAZY AND INFLECTIONIBLE.

-- INFLECTSIBLE.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO QUESTION PERHAPS THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT OR TO BE TOO RESISTANT TO GET BACK INTO SCHOOLS?

MANY HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE SAID IT IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO BE IN SCHOOL.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE EDUCATE OOR WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS IS FOR THEM TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CLASSROOM WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

THERE IS NO ONE WHO DISPUTES THAT.

THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT TREAT OUR EDUCATION WORKFORCE AS IF THEY ARE DISPENSABLE OR THEIR FAMILIES ARE DISPENSABLE.

WHILE THAT IS THE GOAL, TO GET ALL OF OUR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS BACK WITH THEM, THEY MISS THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY KNOW FOR SO MANY OF THE STUDENTS, THEY ARE THE ONE TOUCH POINT OUTSIDE OF THE HOME THAT THOSE KIDS HAVE.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EDUCATORS KEEPING THEIR OWN FAMILIES SAFE AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE NOT IN SITUATIONS THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR CHILDREN OR MAYBE EVEN THEIR PARENTS, DEPENDING ON HOW THEY'RE CARETAKERS.

SO I WOULD SAY A LOT OF TEACHERS, AS THEY STOPPED ON A DIME LAST MARCH AND COMPLETELY REORGANIZED THEIR CLASSROOMS INTO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT WAS REMARKABLE.

IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE THE WORK THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.

WE HAVE CONTINUED WITH THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE ANXIETY AND THE ISOLATION AND IT IS TAKING A TOLL ON ALL OF US AND SO IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THIS WHEN I WOULD SAY LET'S REMEMBER TO GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE.

PARENTING AT HOME, WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN EDUCATION, YOU ARE IN ANOTHER FIELD AND A CHILD IS AT HOME LEARNING VIRTUALLY AND YOU ARE WORKING FROM HOME, IS REALLY, REALLY HARD.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT THERE IS NO PLAYBOOK FOR THIS.

IF THERE WERE A PLAYBOOK FOR HOW TO CONDUCT MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING WITH A SCREAMING 10-MONTH-OLD IN THE BACKGROUND, WOULD I HAVE ALREADY FOUND IT BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED BUT THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

BY THE SAME TOKEN, WITH OUR TEACHERS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE REMOVED FROM YOUR STUDENTS AND TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD FACE TO FACE.

AND SO WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND THIS IS THE TIME, IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME, TO EXTEND GRACE TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> Renee: YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND OF ADULTS AS WELL, BUT PARTICULARLY OF CHILDREN, WHO MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST HOME ENVIRONMENTS, REGARDLESS OF PANDEMIC OR NOT.

AND WHO MISS THEIR FRIENDS AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES RIDING A-- RISING ACROSS THE BOARD BUT PARTICULARLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL ADDRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ADDRESS?

PERHAPS ALONG WITH THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, TO REALLY TALK ABOUT MORE OR ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO KIDS WHETHER THAT'S AN IN SCHOOL SETTING OR OTHERWISE?

>> YES, IT IS.

THE MENTAL HEALTH LIKE YOU SAID, STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND ADULTS, HAS REACHED A CRITICAL SITUATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IN THE WORLD OF EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SCHOOLS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THAT COULD HELP.

BUT THIS PANDEMIC CERTAINLY MADE US HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY IT HAS HURRIED US UP AND IT HAS MADE US FOCUS ON THIS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN OUT THERE THAT HAVE LESS THAN IDEAL HOME LIVES AND IT IS NOT LOST ON THEIR TEACHERS OR SCHOOL COUNSELORS OR BUS DRIVERS, THE DETRIMENT OF THOSE SITUATIONS.

AND SO AS WE MOVE OUT OF THIS AND BEGIN TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT AGAIN AND BE IN ROOMS TOGETHER, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AND I HAVEN'T MET ANYONE IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY THAT WOULD PUSH BACK ON THAT.

IT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD UNDERSTAND IT WILL BE A PRIORITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER END OF THE EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM FOR THOSE WHO ARE ADULT LEARNERS TRYING TO GET THEIR G.E.D.

I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE FREE G.E.D.

OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PERHAPS STILL AVAILABLE TO FOLKS.

HOW IS THAT GOING AND WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE KENTUCKIANS WHO NEED TO GET AN EQUIVALENCY TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT 327,000 KENTUCKIANS THAT THE DO NOT HAVE A G.E.D.

OR EQUIVALENT AND WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT CAN POSE FOR A FAMILY'S INCOME.

THEY ARE SET TO MAKE FAR LESS OVER THEIR LIFETIME THAN SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE A G.E.D.

OR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENT.

AS WE STARTED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS PREVENTING THESE FOLKS FROM PURSUING A G.E.D., ONE IS PRESENCE AND TWO IS COST.

THEY'RE MAKING LESS OVER THEIR LIFETIME SO OF COURSE THE TESTING FEE IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

WE MOVED TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TO WAIVE THE TESTING FEE FOR FIRST TIME G.E.D.

TEST TAKERS AND IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAD ABOUT 3500 KENTUCKIANS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH GOES TO SHOW ONCE THE BARRIER WAS REMOVED, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE MORE PEOPLE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY AND OF COURSE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THOSE BUILDINGS WERE CLOSED DOWN AND IT CREATED A WHOLE NEW SET OF BARRIERS AS IT DID FOR EVERYONE SO IN NOVEMBER WE LAUNCHED THE VIRTUAL G.E.D.

WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING THIS PROGRAM, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH FOLKS BUT AT A SAFE DISTANCE VIRTUALLY LIKE YOU AND I ARE TALKING TODAY TO MAKE SURE THESE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST EVEN AND ESPECIALLY IN A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC WHETHER SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THE WORKFORCE TO BE A DIFFICULT PLACE.

>> Renee: WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NEAR THE BOTTOM 10 AND WE ARE SLIPPING AND SLIDING THERE, TOO, JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS DONE TO THE STATE ECONOMICALLY.

THERE IS A COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION CONTINUUM.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WHAT IS THE GOAL HERE AND IS IT TO IMPROVE THOSE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS?

>> CERTAIN I WILLS.

IT IS THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A SYSTEM WIDE COHESION WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM I WAS ASKED TO CLOSE THE GAP AND TO HELP MOVE STUDENTS FORWARD.

WELL, THERE ARE ALSO GAPS THAT EXIST SYSTEM WIDE.

WE LOSE SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS EITHER BEFORE THEY EVER STEP FOOT INTO PRE-K OR PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN OR TO POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.

IT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS, HELP WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND TO COMMIT TO TEACHING THE WHOLE CHILD.

WE JUST GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

WE ALSO HAVE TO AK MANY THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT IS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

THEY MAY GO TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

THEY MAY GO TO A TWO-YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THEY MAY GO INTO THE WORKFORCE.

THEY MAY PURSUE A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM OR AN APPRENTICESHIP AND THE GOVERNOR AND I BOTH BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE OF EVERYTHING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE KIND OF ADMINISTRATION THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO OR THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU.

WE WANT TO PROMOTE ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE AND HELP OUR STUDENTS GET THERE AND SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AARON THOMPSON WHO HAS ANCHORED THIS WORK, JASON GLASS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS THAT ARE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN.

WE HAVE A 51% KINDERGARTEN READINESS RATE AND IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE TO CATCH OUR KIDS EARLY.

OUR GRADUATION RATES ARE HIGH, BUT OUR TRANSITION READINESS NUMBERS CERTAIN WILL I NEED TO IMPROVE AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE DEGREES IN THE COMMONWEALTH IF WE TRULY WANT TO HEADACHE SOME YOU ARE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A PRIORITY AND WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES TO CREATE NEW JOBS.

>> THOSE STACKABLE CREDENTIALS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU CAN START OFF GETTING A CERTIFICATE AND WORK TOWARD AN ASSOCIATE AND BACHELOR'S AND TERMINAL DEGREE AS YOU ARE DOING YOURSELF.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK MANY KENTUCKIANS WOULD AGREE WITH, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND IN JUST A FEW SECONDS THAT WE HAVE REMAINING, THE FAR END OF THAT FOR LITTLE EVELYNS OF THE WORLD WHO WE KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, 51% OF THOSE KIDS WHO ENTER KINDERGARTEN ARE NOT QUITE READY TO BE THERE, WHAT IS THE PLAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO TACKLE THAT?

>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO WITH MY DAUGHTER EVERY SINGLE DAY IS WE READ.

CHILDHOOD LITERACY IS SO CRITICAL TO VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION FOR OUR KIDS AND SO MANY OF THEM ENTER CRASHED NOT READY-- KINDERGARTEN NOT READY AND ONCE THEY FALL BEHIND IN KINDERGARTEN, WE KNOW THAT IT IS THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT STAY BEHIND AS THEY MOVE THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND SO ONE THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS WE DO NOT HAVE FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR EVERY SCHOOL IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S GOT TO BE A PRIORITY AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORK TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN EXISTS AND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD FROM THERE INTO PRE-K EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SO THAT MORE OF OUR KIDS BEGIN KINDERGARTEN READY AND STAY AT GRADE LEVEL AND ARE ABLE TO PROGRESS TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT REAL TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE DOESN'T JUST IMPROVE THEIR LIFE BUT IT IMPROVES THEIR FAMILY'S LIFE AS WELL.

>> Renee: THANK YOU LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO CONNECT WITH YOU VIRTUALLY TODAY AND GOOD LUCK IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING CONNECTIONS TODAY.

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