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About Terry Brooks

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So far Terry Brooks has created 169 blog entries.

Fund Kids First Rally reminds us that the state budget is about priorities

Kids’ champions and kids themselves gathered on Monday morning and rocked the Rotunda.  Folks who had been impacted by child care cuts and kinship care cuts and folks who had received a “hand up” for a better life because of those supports stood and eloquently shared their stories. There were more than a few moist eyes as those gathered heard stories about a grandmother worried about what would happen if the five grandchildren she was [...]

By |2013-08-22T15:12:04-04:00August 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Voters agree we should invest in quality early learning, now leaders need to act

This weekend, the Fancy Farm Picnic in Graves County is going to feature the best in beans and cornbread; BBQ; and, hot and biting partisan rhetoric.  And you know, that is not such a bad tradition.  In general, politicians and the crowd approach those rip-snorting stump speeches with vim, vigor and a certain tongue in cheek sense of humor.  In other words, every once in awhile, some partisan ranting does the body politic good! However, [...]

By |2013-07-31T15:23:15-04:00July 31st, 2013|Blog, Education|
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Blowing smoke on child care and kinship care

Kacey Musgraves is a new country music sensation.  Her opening number, “Blowing Smoke” goes like: Between the lunch and dinner rush Kelly caught that out bound bus for Vegas. And we're all out here talkin trash, makin bets, Lips wrapped round our cigarettes. She always thought she was too good to be a waitress. We all say that we'll quit someday When our ship comes in we'll just sail away. But we're just blowin smoke. [...]

By |2013-07-25T10:40:41-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

“The pursuit of happiness.”  That phrase animates an essay by Jon Meacham in the most recent edition of TIME. It made me remember Mary Kay Tachua – the most brilliant professor I ever experienced.  More than forty years ago, an administrative error at the University of Louisville put Dr. Tachua as the professor of an undergraduate section of American History.  Dr. Tachua was renowned as a graduate professor; social activist; and, perhaps on special and [...]

By |2013-07-03T12:12:32-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Child-fatality panel needs more openness and independence

This post originally appeared in the Herald Leader here. A recent Associated Press article gave Herald-Leader readers a look inside of a growing priority amongst the Thoroughbred community in the Bluegrass — how to better protect horses from the inherent risks of "1,000-pound Thoroughbreds stampeding down the racetrack." One of the emerging solutions in addressing equine well-being is to establish a horse-fatality review commission. That group, according to the article, would "dig into the details [...]

By |2013-07-02T10:00:11-04:00July 2nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The vital and viable role of K-12 schools in kindergarten readiness

Kindergarten readiness.  It is a hot topic for folks at the national, the state and local levels.  Articles dot Kentucky newspapers and “feel good” stories appear on local news stations about efforts large and small to get youngsters ready for kindergarten.  Reading academies are hard-nosed summer boot camps.  Fun-filled prep rallies and picnics in the park carry a “feel good, rah-rah” tone. I understand – and agree with – the absolute obligation to ensure a [...]

By |2013-06-13T10:23:02-04:00June 13th, 2013|Blog, Education|
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Statement on Governor’s Release on Kentucky’s High School Graduation Rate

The news about Kentucky’s graduation rate is, indeed, good for Kentucky’s kids today and for Kentucky’s future. Beyond the numbers announced by the Governor today, there awaits both opportunities and obligations around the recent passage of SB 97 by the Kentucky General Assembly. This bill gives school districts throughout Kentucky the discretion to raise the high school dropout age to 18. After 55 percent of school districts choose to raise the dropout age to 18 from the current requirement of [...]

By |2013-06-10T15:30:32-04:00June 10th, 2013|News Room|
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High school graduation and mixed bags

High school graduation.  I know.  I know.  It is advertised as this pure moment of glory.  When I was a high school principal, it was joyous to be sure but I also knew that: I would mispronounce at least one kid’s name and then incur the wrath of a parent. At least one award would not get mentioned and then I would incur the wrath of another parent. At least one senior would do something [...]

By |2013-06-05T09:38:17-04:00June 5th, 2013|Blog, Education|
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Gov. Beshear Needs to Reverse Cuts to Kinship Care and Child Care Assistance

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on May 22, 2013. You can find it online here. It was not as dramatic as scenes in Frankfort can be. There was neither a gallery of cameras nor the moment of confrontation between elected leaders. But on Tuesday, a very important event took place in Frankfort. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services held a public hearing regarding the recent cuts to kinship [...]

By |2013-05-22T10:41:35-04:00May 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Statement on Governor’s Announcement to Expand Medicaid

We applaud the Governor’s announcement today to expand Medicaid to adults and parents to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Through this expansion, thousands of Kentuckians will be able to receive needed health care, at a small cost to the state. The research is clear. Many uninsured parents delay or forgo care due to cost, causing health conditions to worsen. Also, when parents are covered, they are more likely to take their children to [...]

By |2013-05-09T13:45:13-04:00May 9th, 2013|News Room|
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