Citizen voices are key to COVID response in education and beyond Add to Kentucky’s groundswell of education influencers some innovative, if earnest, laypeople. We are part of a citizen research team of school stakeholders. We call ourselves the “Intergen 9,” and we comprise three parents, three teachers, and three students representing eight districts across the Commonwealth, including five people of…
Tag: Prichard Committee

Our Schools, Our Boards, Our Elections: A Look Behind The Scenes
After a couple weeks of nonstop planning, hours on Zoom calls, hundreds of emails, a great deal of sorting through questions, numerous outreach efforts, and staying up way past what many consider to be a normal bed time, we, the members of the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team, concluded our series of virtual town halls with school board candidates and…

How should Kentucky’s CARES funding be used? With equity, we hope
Thanks to Congress’ approval of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, states are now set to receive over $30 billion of emergency education funding to help offset any impending budget crunches on the horizon. Kentucky’s K-12 public schools are slated to receive roughly $193 million of CARES funds, which the Department of Education says can be used…

Prichard Committee makes ‘Big Bold Ask’ for Kentucky education
During the upcoming legislative session, the Prichard Committee has a Big, Bold Ask: $1 billion in additional funding by 2026 to address critical needs in education – from early childhood to postsecondary. The Prichard Committee, a statewide citizens’ education advocacy organization, is calling on state leaders to move forward with key investments across education, including: Early childhood – Investing in childcare…

It’s time for a renewed focus on student outcomes in Kentucky
The accountability drum is typically a lonely one to beat, but thanks to a new study by the good folks over at the Prichard Committee, I’ve got a little extra rhythm in my step today. According to their latest poll, 84% of Kentucky voters said that they were more likely to support a gubernatorial candidate with a plan to strengthen…

No Matter Where They Live, Kentuckians Want Better Schools
Lately, there has been much ado about the “war on public education” in Kentucky. I have my own thoughts on that, but if there really is a battle worth fighting for, I say it’s improving our state’s public schools. I’m not alone on that. According to a study that was just released by the good folks over at the Prichard…

This Kentucky Student Is Launching A Sexual Assault Education Campaign, And You Can Help.
A couple weeks ago, my sister Amara Stroud wrote a piece exploring the role that schools play in preventing and addressing sexual assault. After reading and reflecting on her comments, I’ve done some research on my own. I have to say, I’m impressed with what I’ve learned. It turns out that there’s a Kentucky high school student named Celia Ziliak who’s…

Student Voice Matters
This past January, Rachel Belin and representatives of the Prichard Committee’s Student Voice Team came to educate my students on student voice. In one of the activities that they did with my class, my students were all lined up in the front of the room. Rachel explained she would ask them a “yes” or “no” question and then they would…