[♪♪] >> LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR US NOT THE NRA.

>> Renee: STUDENTS SPEAK OUT OVER THE MINNEAPOLIS MASS SHOOTING.

>> COMPASSION AND CARE SHOULD NOT BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> Renee: A BOWLING GREEN FATHER HOW MEDICAID CUTS COULD AFFECT THE DISABLEDDED.

>> GOSH HAVE WE FALLEN AWAY FROM THE BASIC SKILL THAT KIDS AREN'T LEARNING TO SIGN THEIR NAME.

>> Renee: AND THERE IS A PUSH TO GET STUDENTS TO TRADE THE KEYBOARD FOR THE PEN.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 5TH.

WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE WEEKEND.

I'M RENEE SHAW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>>> TODAY HUNDREDS OF LOUISVILLE STUDENTS STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THES OF A SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

TWO STUDENTS DIED AT THE SHOOTING AT THE ANUNS INDICATION CHURCH.

HIGH SCHOOLERS RALLIED PEERS IN SUPPORT OF A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS THEY PLAN TO TAKE THAT MESSAGE TO FRANKFORT.

>> WE WERE WATCHING A PART OF A NATIONAL WALKOUT THAT IS OCCURRING ACROSS THE NATION TODAY.

AS STUDENTS DEMAND CHAPTER WE LED OUR SCHOOL'S WALKOUT.

>> GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS.

THIS MUST BE STOPPED.

AND LAWMAKERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT NOW.

>> NEARLY EVERY SINGLE STUDENT FACES LOCKDOWN DRILLS EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT THEY ARE IN SCHOOL.

WE PRACTICE THESE DRILLS OVER AND OVER.

WE HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS A SHOOTER THAT ENTERS OUR BUILDING.

BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY.

OTHER COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE IT THIS WAY.

>> WE SHOULD NOT FEEL UNSAFE GOING TO SCHOOLS OUR SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A SAP USE AREA FOR LEARNING AND WE SHOULD NOT PRACTICE LOCKDOWNS IN CASE OF A SHOOTER.

>> OUR LEGISLATURE IS DIVIDED.

THERE ARE MANY LAWMAKERS WHO ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF US AND LOVE TO SEE US THERE AND THERE ARE SOME THAT REFUSE TO MEET WITH US AND SOME THAT DON'T REACH OUT AND SOME ARE VERY ADVERSE TO OUR CAUSE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SPEAK TO US AND HEAR WHAT STUDENTS HAVE TO THINK.

>> LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR US.

NOT THE N RA OR THE PACS THAT SUPPORT THEM TO SUPPORT ASSAULT RIFLES.

STUDENTS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED EVERY CITIZEN AND RESIDENT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED EVERYONE IN AMERICA DESERVES TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND SAFE.

>> WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE IN PUBLIC SPACES IN SCHOOL AT MALLS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE USES FOR GUNS IN HUNTING IN SELF-DEFENSE.

BUT THERE ARE -- THERE IS NO USE FOR ASSAULT RIFLES IN PUBLIC SPACES.

AS WE'VE STATED ASSAULT WEAPONS ARE INTENDED TO CAUSE THE MOST HARM AS POSSIBLE THERE IS NO REASON THESE GUNS SHOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF CITIZENS WITH NO BACKGROUND CHECK, NO RELIABILITY AND NO CERTIFICATION THAT THEY WILL NOT USE THEM TO HARM SOMEBODY.

WE DEMAND A TOTAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

>> Renee: THIS DEMONSTRATION WAS PART OF A NATIONAL SCHOOL WALKOUT.

STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION ORGANIZED THE LARGE-SCALE WALKOUT IN 2018 FOLLOWING THE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA.

>>> THERE ARE QUESTIONS TONIGHT ABOUT WHETHER KENTUCKY'S INCOME TAX RATE WILL GO DOWN IN JANUARY OF 2027.

A 2022 LAW CREATED A PROCESS THAT LETS LAWMAKERS LOWER THE INCOME TAX HALF A PERCENT EACH YEAR IF THE STATE MEETS CONCERN CONDITIONS CALLED TRIGGERS.

THE KENTUCKY LANTERN REPORTS KENTUCKY FAILED TO MEET THE REVENUE TRIGGER IN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED JUNE 30TH.

THE INCOME TAX RATE IS 4% AND WILL DROP TO 3.5% IN JANUARY OF 2026.

AFTER THE 2025 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED THE RATE CUT.

>>> SPEAKING OF MONEY MORE KENTUCKIANS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS OVER MEDICAID CUTS.

A PROFESSOR WHOSE YOUNG ADULT SON HAS AUTISM SPOKE YESTERDAY HOSTED BY THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.

OUR LAURA ROGERS HAS MORE ON THIS FROM BOWLING GREEN.

>> WE SHOULD BE EXPANDING BENEFITS NOT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THEM.

>> THE DOCTOR IS A COLLEGE HISTORY PROFESSOR AND THE FATHER OF AN AUTISTIC SON.

>> THERE ARE 326,000 KENTUCKIANS WITH DISABILITIES THAT GET HELP FROM MEDICAID.

>> HIS SON SAMUEL NOW 24 IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>> HE HAS MADE PROGRESS AND DEPENDENT ON SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE MICHELLE P WAIVER IN KENTUCKY.

>> IT PROVIDES HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES LIKE THERAPY AND ADULT DAY PROGRAMS FOR THE DISABLED.

>> THESE ARE IMPORTANT SUPPORTS TO ALLOW HIM TO LIVE A LIFE OF DIGNITY.

>> INCLUDING HOME VISITS FROM A PROFESSIONAL.

>> THIS IS A YOUNG MAN WHO SPENDS PART OF EACH DAY WITH SAMUEL AND IT ALLOWS ME TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

AND SAMUEL TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS.

HE IS NOW MORE VERBAL MORE INTERACTIVE BECAUSE OF THAT ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT.

>> HE IS CONCERNED THOSE SERVICES ARE NOW IN JEOPARDY DUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CUTS TO MEDICAID THAT CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS PASSED IN EARLY JULY.

>> THESE SERVICES ARE ENOUGH FOR US TO GET BY.

NO ONE IS GETTING RICH.

NO ONE IS HAVING A LUXURIOUS LIFE BECAUSE OF THESE BENEFITS YOU ARE JUST PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER TO HAVE A LIFE OF DIGNITY.

>> HE SPOKE IN BOWLING GREEN AS A GUEST OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY TOURING THE STATE TO BLAST MEDICAID CUTS BACKED BY THE G.O.P.

LED HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> AND THE GREATEST FEAR THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM AFTER WE'RE GONE.

>> IN THE MAN WHO WROTE THOSE TERRIBLE CUTS INTO THE BIG UGLY BILL REPRESENTS BOWLING GREEN.

>> THEY CALLED OUT BRETT GUTHRIE WHO REPRESENTS THE BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE AND ENERGY AND COMMERCE.

IN THE OP-ED GUTHRIE SAYS THE LEGISLATION EXPANDS ACCESS TO HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED CALLING THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL A COMMON SENSE WIN THAT STRENGTHENS MEDICAID FOR KENTUCKY'S MOST VULNERABLE.

HE IS NOT CONVINCED WITH CONCERNS FOR HIS SON'S FUTURE INTEREST THE HOPE IS THAT FEDERAL BENEFITS AND STATE BENEFITS LIKE MEDICAID WILL HELP SUPPORT AND PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR A LIFE THROUGHOUT HE IS GOING TO LIVE, 34 YEARS-LONGER.

IF THE BENEFITS ARE NOT THERE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

THIS IS THE LONG GAME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M LAURA ROGERS.

>> Renee: THE LEGISLATION CUTS A TRILLION DOLLARS FROM MEDICAID OVER THE NEXT DECADE INCLUDING NEW WORK REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS.

THE WARREN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAYS 45,000 PEOPLE IN THEIR COUNTY RELY ON MEDICATE FOR HEALTHCARE COVER RACK.

>>> RAND PAUL OF KENTUCKY IS CRITICIZING AN ORDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MADE ON TUESDAY TO BOMB A SUSPECTED DRUG BOAT FROM VENEZUELA.

11 PEOPLE DIED IN THE STRIKE.

PAUL SAYS IT'S HARD TO HAVE SYMPATHY FOR DRUG DEALERS BUT HE SAYS AMERICA CAN'T BE THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN.

PAUL SAYS THE U.S.

DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT AND THERE IS A DANGER THAT KILLING DRUG SUSPECTS COULD LEAD TO THE KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHAT SENATOR PAUL SAID WEDNESDAY ACCORDING TO THE HUFFINGTON POST.

QUOTE WE ALL ASSUME THE PEOPLE WERE DRUG DEALERS IF THEY WERE CAUGHT OFF THE COAST OF MIAMI WE WOULD STOP THE BOAT.

THEY ARE CONFISCATED AND PUT IN JAIL.

>> CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE A REPUBLICAN FROM KENTUCKY'S FOURTH DISTRICT CONTINUES TO PUSH TO MAKE THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES PUBLIC.

HE PLANS NEW ACTION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK ON "CNN".

>> THIS SURVIVOR SAID THEY HAD DECIDED TO COMPILE THEIR OWN LIST BUT THE REALITY IS IF THEY TRY TO RELEASE THAT LIST THEY WILL BE SUED INTO HOMELESSNESS.

THEY WILL BE ATTACKED.

THEY WILL HAVE DEATH THREATS AND SO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE VOLUNTEERED TO DO AND I AS WELL IS TO READ THAT LIST ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE OUR FOUNDERS PUT INTO THE CONSTITUTION SPEECH OR DEBATE IMMUNITY WHICH SAYS THAT WE CAN'T BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT WE SA SAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

SO WE'RE WILLING TO HELP THOSE SURVIVORS GET THE NAMES OUT THERE AND AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WE TRUST THE PUBLIC TO DETERMINE WHO WERE DONORS TO THE EPSTEIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND WHO WERE USERS OF THE WOMEN WHO WERE EXPOSED TO SEXUAL ABUSE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

>> Renee: HE IS CLOSE TO HAVING ENOUGH VOTES FOR A DISCHARGE PETITION THAT WOULD MEAN THE DIRECT RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN FILES.

MASSIE SAYS HE IS 99% CONFIDENT THE DISCHARGE PETITION WILL PASS.

[♪♪] KIDS ARE SETTLING IN TO THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL ROUTINE AND THERE ARE CANINGS HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDING A SHIFT TO SCIENCE BASED METHODS OF TEACHING READING AND WRITING.

THE READ TO SUCCEED ACT PASSED IN KENTUCKY THREE YEARS AGO IN AN EFFORT TO COMBAT FAILING READING SCORES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES TEACHERS TO LEARN A PHONICS BASED METHOD.

READING SCORES ARE NOT IMPROVING AS MUCH AS ADVOCATES HAD HOPED AND TONIGHT'S EDUCATION MATTERS REPORT OUR CHRISTIE DUTTON SAT DOWN WITH TINA THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION TO FIND OUT WHY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU WERE THE SPONSOR OF THE READ TO SUCCEED BILL.

WHICH SUPPORTS THE SCIENCE OF READING.

SO TELL ME WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET THIS BILL OUT TO OUR STATE?

>> WELL, AS I STARTED RESEARCHING HOW READING WAS TAUGHT IN KENTUCKY IT BECAME GRAVELY CONCERNING WE WERE USING A METHODOLOGY NOT SUPPORTED IN THE RESEARCH.

WITH THE READ TO SUCCEED BILL, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME PERSONALLY IS I DID THE LETTERS TRAINING A TWO YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM AND THAT WAS PART OF THE FUNDING OF READ TO SUCCEED.

GIVING TEACHERS THE TRAINING TO EXPERTLY TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO READ, IS JUST GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY SCHENN SAL STEP TO -- ESSENTIAL STEP TO IMPROVING ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.

A NEW WAY OF TEACHING, THE TEACHERS HAVE TO BE TRAINED FIRST AND THAT WAS PART OF THIS BILL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INCREASE IN READING SCORES FOR CHILDREN IN KENTUCKY NOW IF WE'VE CHANGED IT FOR THEM TO LEARN TO READ BETTER BUT WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY?

>> SO WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH READ TO SUCCEED IS ON FOUNDATIONAL BASIC READING.

AND WHAT WE ARE MEASURING IN THE KSA YEAR OF END TEST IS NONE OF THAT.

WE'RE MEASURING HIGHER LEVEL COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY CONCERNS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A MEASURE SPECIFIC TO THE BASIC READING.

NOW, WE DO KNOW IT IN OUR BUILDINGS AND DISTRICTS BUT IT IS NOT THE MEASURE THAT HAPPENS DURING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TESTING.

THOSE STANDARDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT TEST.

SO COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

IN ORDER TO LOOK AT THE TEST SCORES TO DECIDE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF READ TO SUCCEED, I'M CONCERNED WE'LL NEVER BE AT A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL FOR TWO REASONS: NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE STANDARDIZED TESTS.

A STANDARD TEST IS DESIGNED TO DIFFERENTIATE STUDENTS OUR DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS FROM OUR APPRENTICE, NOVICE STUDENTS AND TO MOVE A CHILD INTO ANOTHER CATEGORY IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST ANSWERING MORE QUESTIONS CORRECTLY.

IT ALSO IS CONTINGENT UPON WHAT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED OF THEM.

MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GOT THE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED, VERY, VERY DESERVINGLY SO, INTO INSTRUCTION IN READING, TO ONLY LOOK AT THE TEST SCORES AS THE ANSWER TO IF IT'S WORKING MAY BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION IF THAT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IF THAT INVESTMENT IS WORKING, HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE THAT?

>> WELL, YOU THINK YOU NEED A MEASURE THAT IS DIRECT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

THE MEASURE MIGHT BE IN MY CLASSROOM I MEASURE HOW MANY WORDS A STUDENT CAN READ.

I'VE GOT A DIRECT MEASURE ON WHAT I'M DOING.

WE COULD INCLUDE IN OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS MEASURES OF FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS.

ANOTHER PARTIAL SOLUTION IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON REIMAGINING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.

AND ONE OF THE ASPECTS IS AN ADAPTIVE ASSESSMENT.

AND TO RATHER THAN EVERY THIRD GRADER BEING GIVEN THE SAME QUESTIONS, THE QUESTIONS CHANGE IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS STRUGGLING, YOU WILL BACK UP TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE.

IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS EXCEL TO GO PUSHES UP FURTHER AND IT CAN MEASURE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND SO BY HAVING AN ADAPTABLE SYSTEM, YOU CAN TARGET IN TO WHAT SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE A CHILD MIGHT NEED SUPPORT.

AS OPPOSED TO JUST GIVING EVERYONE THE SAME TEST AND SAYING THEY ARE EITHER PROFICIENT AND NOT PROFICIENT.

>> AN ADAPTIVE TEST, HOW LIKELY IS THAT TO HAPPEN?

IS THAT GOING TO BE A HARD THING TO DO?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE HARD.

IT WILL NEED THE WILL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OUR STATUTE AND THERE WILL BE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.

AND I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REDESIGN OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON NATIONALLY THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.

SO THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE MONEY WILL BE APPROPRIATED TO DO IT.

>> WELL, REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> Renee: AND THANKS TO CHRISTIE FOR THAT.

ANOTHER CHANGE IN KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THIS YEAR IS A MANDATE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN CURSIVE WRITING.

SENATE BILL 167 PASSED REQUIRING STUDENTS BE PROFICIENT IN CURSIVE WRITING BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SENATOR TISHER IN WAS A RESPONSE FOR AND CHRISTIE DUTTON SAT DOWN WITH HER TO DISCUSS WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CHANGE.

>> JOINING US IS SENATOR LINDSEY TISHER IN AND SHE SPONSORED A BILL TO TEACH CURSIVE WRITING.

WAS WAS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THIS CAME TO MY ATTENTION WE WERE DOING A TOUR OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM AND LOOKED AT THE ARCHIVES AND SAW THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION, THE ORIGINAL VERSION LAID OUT ON THE TABLE JUST A BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENT.

AND THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE TOUR WITH ME AND A LITTLE HIGH SCHOOLER PROBABLY 15, 16 YEARS OLD I SAID YOU CAN'T READ THAT.

HE SAID I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SIGN MY NAME.

AND I THOUGHT GOSH HAVE WE FALLEN SO FAR AWAY FROM THE BASIC SKILL THAT KIDS AREN'T LEARNING HOW TO SIGN THEIR NAME.

THAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE NEXT MORNING WE WERE IN SESSION AND I CALLED THE BILL DRAFTER AND WE NEED TO GET CURSIVE BACK AND IT WAS GRABBED UP IN THE SESSION AND AT THE LAST-MINUTE AND PASSED.

AND I THINK CURSIVE IS I AFOUNDATIONAL SKILL, AND AS I STARTED TO DO MORE RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER HOW BENEFICIAL CURSIVE IS IN SO MANY WAYS T HELPS WITH COMPREHENSION AND HELPS KIDS LEARN HOW TO READ AND HELPS THEM LEARN HOW TO SPELL AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS IT BUILDS NEUROPATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN TO MEMORIZE CONTENT IT'S FASCINATING HOW MUCH CURSIVE HELPS AND IT'S THAT MOTION OF CONTINUITY THAT IS STRENGTHENING THE BRAIN AND THE NEUROPATHWAYS AND IT HELPS WITH SO MANY THINGS.

>> NOW, KIDS ARE TYPING AND USING COMPUTERS AND PHONES NOT PUTTING PEN TO PAPER AS MUCH.

TALK MORE ABOUT THESE BENEFITS, THE FINE MOTOR SKILLS TALK MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU THINK ABOUT JUST LEARNING TO HOLD A PENCIL AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR YOUR MUSCLES.

WILL WHEN YOU TEACH A KID HOW TO TIE THEIR SHOE.

ALL THOSE SKILLS THOSE MUSCLES FINE MOTOR SKILLS OF BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF ATTENTION.

YOU'RE MAKING YOUR BRAIN CONNECT WITH THE MUSCLES IN YOUR HAND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS AND IT VENT ENS YOUR BRAIN AND IT BUILDS THAT PATHWAY.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A TYPING AND THERE'S BEEN A STUDY ON THIS IN 2022 THERE WAS AN INTERESTING STUDY AND IT LOOKED AT THE BRAIN AND COMPARED WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BRAIN WHEN THEY ARE TYPING AND ACTUALLY PEN ON PAPER AND WRITING IN CURSIVE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE A HUGE BENEFIT WITH THAT CURSIVE WRITING IN BUILDING THE PATHWAYS THAT HELP KIDS 0 MEMORIZE AND COMPREHEND INFORMATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF STUDIES OUT THERE ABOUT CURSIVE WRITING.

AND WHEN YOU PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER, IT'S NOT JUST TO BENEFIT FOR A KID TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THEIR NAME.

OF COURSE THAT IS JUST A SKILL EVERYBODY NEEDS.

BUT IT REALLY DOES LAY A GREAT FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING IN GENERAL.

>> IT MAKES ME THINK THAT EVEN ADULTS SHOULD BE WRITING CURSIVE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE PUTTING PEN TO PAPER.

WHY DID CURSIVE WRITING GO AWAY?

HOW DID IT GO AWAY IN SCHOOLS?

>> WELL, IT WAS 2010 COMMON CORE CAME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IT GOT TAKEN OUT.

AND IN KENTUCKY STANDARDS WE KEPT SOME LEVEL OF CURSIVE IN RECOGNITION OF LETTERS BUT IT WASN'T REINFORCED.

SO WHAT WE'VE PUT BACK INTO OUR STANDARDS IS A REQUIREMENT OF PROFICIENCY BEFORE THEY GRADUATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

BY FIFTH GRADE THEY NEED TO BE PROFICIENT IN CURATIVE WRITING.

THE ONSET OF TO BE AND UTILIZING COMPUTERS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE CLASSROOMS AND FOR DIFFERENT CURRICULUMS I THINK THAT WAS WHY THEY JUST STARTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM IT.

AND IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN I FILED THE BILL I WAS TALKING TO MY DISTRICT LEADERS IN EDUCATION AND A COUPLE OF THEM DID SAY THINGS LIKE IT'S ARCHAIC, WE DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

AND I JUST ARGUED THAT IT DOES HELP STRENGTHEN THE BRAIN AND BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN WELL.

I'M HOPEFUL WE ARE GOING TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN LITERACY AS THIS GETS IMPLEMENTED.

>> SO THAT'S THE BIG GOAL, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW WILL WE KNOW IF IT IS IMPROVING READING SKILLS?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AS KIDS GET THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILL AND THE EARLY YEARS OF LEARNING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, I THINK, ONCE THAT IS IMPLEMENTED WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING DOTS BEING CONNECTED IN A COUPLE YEARS WE'LL SEE OUR TEST SCORES GO UP HOPEFULLY.

>> THAT WILL BE NICE TO SEE.

SENATOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

NOW BOTH EFFORTS ON THE SCIENCE OF READING AND LEARNING HOW TO WRITE AND ALSO CURSIVE WRITING ARE EFFORTS AIMED AT IMPROVING LITERACY IN KENTUCKY.

ON OUR NEXT EDUCATION MATTERS KELSEY STARKS SITS DOWN WITH EXPERTS TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES AND HOW THEY ARE WORKING WATCH THE SCIENCE OF LITERACY EDUCATION MATTERS 0 AND MONDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 15TH, AT 9:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ONLY ON KET.

[♪♪] GET SET FOR DRAGUN BOATS, OPOSSUMS AND MORE AS OUR TOBY GIBBS LOOKS THE WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BEYOND ON AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH.

[♪♪] >> STEP INTO THE MYSTERY THAT IS BIG FOOT AT THE SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY BIG FOOT CONFERENCE HAPPENING SATURDAY IN LONDON.

HEAR FROM EXPERT RESEARCHERS AND EYEWITNESSES SHARING STORIES OF THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE CREATURE, EXPLORE VENDORS OFFERING BIG FOOT THEMED MERCHANDISE AND LOCAL CRAFTS.

WHETHER YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED SEARCHER OR DIPPING A TOE INTO BIG FOOT LOWER THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO UNCOVER THE LEGEND BEHIND THE LEGEND.

>>> IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING UPLIFTING?

HEAD TO OCTOBER GROVE.

THIS EVENT IS ALCOHOL AND PET FREE AND FEATURES ARTS AND CRAFTS, FACE PAINTING A BALLOON ARTIST AND A BUBBLE ZONE.

THE HIGHLIGHT IS THE RELEASE OF OVER 2600 BUTTERFLIES.

>>> IT'S THE EVENT PAPA LOVERS PICK EACH YEAR.

THE LOUISVILLE NATURE CENTER'S PAPA FESTIVAL HAPPENS SATURDAY AND FEATURES HIKES, WORKSHOPS, VENDORS MUSIC AND FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN IN HONOR OF KENTUCKY'S NATIVE TROPICAL FRUIT.

>>> THE BEST OF THE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL GALLOPS INTO GEORGETOWN IT FEATURES PARADES INCLUDING THE GRANDPA RAID OF HORSES AND THE COLTS PARADE LIVE MUSIC AND CRAFT AND FOOD VENDORS.

ALL TO CELEBRATE THE STATE'S HORSE HERITAGE.

>>> GET READY TO CELEBRATE EVERYONE'S FAVORITE TRASH CAN SATURDAY AS THE CITY OF CUMBERLAND HOSTS OPOSSUM FEST IT IS A DAY OF ACTIVITIES.

SCAFF CONVENTION THROUGH VENDOR BOOTHS OFFERING ARTS AND CRAFTS TO FOOD.

SCURRY AROUND THE FESTIVAL TO FIND HIDDEN OPOSSUMS AND FORERAJ AND HEAR FROM WILDLIFE EXPERTS WHO REHABILITATE THE MARCH SUPERRALS AND KEEP THEM ALIVE TO PLAY DEAD ANOTHER DAY.

SET SAIL TO CAMPBELL COUNTY FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL KENTUCKY DRAGUN BOAT FESTIVAL AND WATCH TEAMS OF 16 TO 20 PAD DELLERS AND A DRUMMER COMPETE IN DRAG GONE BOAT RACING.

EVERY STROKE COUNTS AS TEAMS OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS JOIN IN THE COMPETITION TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO FIGHT CANCER.

GET IMMERSED IN ART AT THE WAIVE LAND ART FAIR IN LEXINGTON.

WALK AROUND THE GROUNDS BROWSING JEWELRY, BASKETS, POTTERY, PAINTINGS, METAL WORK AND MUCH MORE CREATED BY ARTISTS AND ALL FOR SALE.

YOU CAN SAMPLE LOCAL FAIR AND HAND CRAFTED BEVERAGES FROM FOOD TRUCKS THAT WILL BE ON-SITE.

IT WILL BE A SUPERSONIC SATURDAY IN BOWLING GREEN AS THE KENTUCKY MUSEUM HOSTS SONIC FEST A DAY LONG MUSICAL FESTIVAL HONORING THE SOUNDS OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

MEET MUSICIANS, LISTEN TO LIVE PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF SONIC LANDSCAPE THE LEGACY OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS, ARTISTS AND A LIVE CONCERT BY MUSICIAN SAM BUSH.

ADMISSION IS FREE.

>>> AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, TOBY.

A LOT OF GREAT THING TO DO THIS WEEKEND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE CORNER FIELD STUDENTS ARE DIGGING IN AGRICULTURE, AND STEM OPPORTUNITIES AS A SPECIAL EVENT AT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

SEE HOW THE HANDS ON LESSONS COULD PLANT THE SEEDS FOR TOMORROW'S CAREERS THAT STORY AND MUCH MORE MONDAY NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

AND CONNECT WITH THE WAYS YOU SEEN 0 ON YOUR SCREEN TO STAY IN THE LOOP ALL THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND MORE.

SEND US A STORY IDEA TO E-MAIL AT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG AND LOOK FOR US ON THE PBS VIDEO APP AND OUR OWN KET APP THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON NURSING HOME SMART DEVICES AND WATCH US ANYTIME, STREAM, CONSENT ON-LINE, ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M RENEE SHAW HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND I WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT.

TAKE GOOD CARE.