A new report warns some of Kentucky’s recent educational gains may be in jeopardy. Data compiled by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence suggests the commonwealth is losing ground on preschool enrollment and elementary and middle school reading and math.
The Prichard numbers show Kentucky dropped from 24th in the country in preschool enrollment in 2008 to 41st in 2018. It also indicates that in fourth grade reading – an area that had seen improvements – the state slipped from 8th in 2016 to 17th in 2018.
Prichard Executive Director Bridget Blom Ramsey says shifting accountability standards and education reforms over the last decade may play a role in the declines.
"In 2008, we were still under the Kentucky Education Reform Act. In 2009, a new bill passes and the Unbridled Learning accountability model was developed. Then in 2017, a new bill passes and we're now implementing a third accountability model under the federal ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) legislation," Ramsey says. "So we think that churn is something that we need to pay close attention to and provide some protections for our schools and districts."
The Prichard Committee had set a goal in 2008 to help move Kentucky’s educational system to the Top 20 in the country by 2020.
