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 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 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 [♪♪] 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.