Kentucky Department of Education

The 4 Cs

We are nearing the end of our feature on the “Ecology of Change” framework developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Change Leadership Group (CLG). This week, we look at the idea that transformative change requires a systemic understanding of the problems district and school leaders are trying to solve. The 4Cs is a framework for diagnosing current systemic problems and building a powerful vision of what the solution should entail. It does so by guiding the educational organization to the multiple "arenas of change:"

• Context
• Conditions
• Competencies
• Culture

More information on the “Ecology of Change” and the resources available through the CLG are available at Ecology of Change - Framework and Approach.

Algebra II End of Course Exam

During the 2006 session of the Kentucky General Assembly, House Bill 197 was passed to establish a pilot program in end-of-course testing for Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry.  KDE is considering various options for the design and implementation of end-of-course assessments and has entered into an agreement with eight other states in the development of the Algebra II End-of-Course Exam, sponsored by Achieve, Inc.  Using the work of the Kentucky Diagnostic Mathematics Assessment Development Team under the leadership of Dr. Bill Bush as a guide, Kentucky teachers and university faculty, as well as KDE staff, have worked with the other states in the design and selection of items for this test.

You can go to ISN Refined Core Content for Assessment Materials to view a letter describing the opportunities for inclusion in field testing and piloting of the Algebra II exam, a participation enrollment form and computer requirements for those of you interested in online testing.  We urge you to seriously consider involvement in this work, as data gathered during this and future pilot end-of-course administrations will help inform legislative decisions next year.  The deadline for responding is June 15.

If you should have any further questions, please contact Rhonda Sims or by phone at (502) 564-4394.

Combined Curriculum Document

We would like to remind you about a curriculum tool on the KDE Web site that educators have found very beneficial in planning for standards-based instruction.  The Combined Curriculum Document shows the connections between the Academic Expectations, Big Ideas, Program of Studies and Core Content for Assessment 4.1.  This document was requested by educators to streamline their planning process.  The combined curriculum document is posted at Combined Curriculum Document.  If you have questions, please contact Michael Miller.

District Assurances

Do you have, on a June board of education meeting agenda, an approval of the district assurances for federal and state grant programs?  A reminder that verification of district assurances is required for all districts by June 30.  While many districts have moved their planning cycle away from the July 1-June 30 cycle, the June 30 deadline remains for local boards of education to approve the assurances.  Each district should have its local board approve the assurances, and then the local superintendent should provide KDE with an e-mail verification that the assurances have been approved and are being followed.  You can find the assurances and the text for the superintendent’s e-mail by going to Comprehensive District Improvement Plan Funding and Finance. 

Quotable Quotes

“It is impossible to learn leadership without actually leading.”

                                          John Maxwell