There is good news to report tonight about Kentucky classrooms.

This year, students in Kentucky perform better academically across nearly all subjects and grade levels than in recent years.

Today, the state Department of Education released its assessment and accountability data for the 20 2425 school year.

Our Mackenzie Spink tells us what the report says about the state of education in Kentucky.

More as we begin tonight.

Making the grade segment.

The results of the state testing are color based, with green meaning proficient and blue meaning distinguished overall scores among students at every grade level have improved.

The number of schools hitting green and blue scores went down from 2023 to 2024.

But in 2025, both green and blue scores exceeded previous years.

High schools saw a sharp drop in the lower color ratings, while the blue scores nearly doubled in the last year, the number of high schools scoring blue in college readiness also rose sharply from previous years.

Some scores in subjects like social studies and writing mechanics dropped slightly, but overall, Kentucky students are scoring higher.

Our students have really done a great job in this past year on their assessments, and the results of this year show students perform better across several grade levels and subjects than they have in my recent memory as commissioner or as a as a superintendent or as a as a principal.

As a matter of fact, Doctor Fletcher attributes some of the success to training initiatives like the Kentucky Reading Academy, which started after the General Assembly passed the Read to Succeed Act in 2022.

A recent third party report indicated encouraging outcomes from that program.

If a student had a teacher that had been trained in the science of reading and they had that had a teacher that was trained in that manner for two consecutive years, the data and the increase for that student was much higher than it's been a student that had a teacher that wasn't trained in the science of reading, again, especially in that two year consecutive years of data.

Katie and various partners have initiated numerous efforts also to advance the high quality numeracy instruction for the Kentucky Numeracy Act.

And to add, I would be remiss if I did not thank our legislators.

Our legislators have made a huge investment in our efforts and literacy and numeracy across the state.

And again, we're beginning to see that return on investment.

The rate of chronic absenteeism is down about 5% from the 20 2223 school year.

When a child misses 10% or more of their time in school, whether excused or unexcused, they are chronically absent.

This year, Kentucky Department of Education launched a public messaging campaign to let kids know you belong in the classroom.

This messaging is something to tell students you you miss school.

You miss more than lessons.

You miss connection with your school, you miss connection with your fellow students, and you miss out on building on your own future.

There has also been progress on the educator workforce shortage.

This year, 34 districts reported that every licensed position was filled.

A small number, but progress nonetheless, says Doctor Fletcher.

Now, you may say 34 out of 171.

That's.

That doesn't sound like great data, doctor Fletcher, but the year before, we only had one district that reported no unfilled vacancies.

That's a huge that's a huge improvement.

And we've been working on efforts to recruit retain new teachers with Go Teach Kentucky, including a new advertising campaign and website for educators who are interested in teaching.

Kentucky Department of Education says it's celebrating the progress made, but that there's still work to do.

I like to see improvement in every area.

So again, thankful for what we've seen so far.

I think you'll see a lot of work from 1 to 2 to 3% increases in the percent of proficient distinguished.

And that's a good statewide model.

But we would love to see that to be at much higher levels.

And again, because we want our students to be better prepared for what's next.

Doctor Fletcher says that he'd like to see the state funding for literacy continue, and hopes for an increase in funding for numeracy initiatives.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Mackenzie Spink.

Thank you.

Mackenzie.

Science scores improved dramatically among high school students, but Commissioner Fletcher says it's hard to compare the data properly because this year, a new type of science assessment started in 2023.

The Academic Standards for science changed to emphasize deeper learning and the practical applications of science.