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When It Comes to Education, a “C” Won’t Cut It

Education Week recently released the 21st annual Quality Counts report, which looks at state-by-state education performance on a number of measures, including chance for success, finance, and achievement. Kentucky's overall grade was a "C" and overall state ranking was 28th in the nation. Given many of the challenges facing Kentucky's kids, like poverty, this report is a testament to the hard work and professionalism being applied every day, in every schoolhouse by Kentucky's teachers and principals. And [...]

By |2017-01-11T09:13:46-05:00January 11th, 2017|Blog, Education|
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New Year’s Resolutions, Kentucky Kids, and the General Assembly

Have you already broken your New Year’s resolutions? Blame it on the ancient Romans. Their new year commitments began with pledges to the god Janus to behave better in the next twelve months, and when the Romans failed to meet those goals, they simply suggested that, “It was the will of Janus.” Of course, making those resolutions has become a cottage industry. Some opine in a lighthearted way, such as Ami Angelowicz who calls for [...]

By |2017-01-04T10:15:24-05:00January 4th, 2017|Blog|
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Alarms Sounding, Kids Need Help

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 28, 2016. I was genuinely touched and felt some steel in my patriotic veins as we paused to remember the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.  Even though I’m on the elder end of the Baby Boomer Generation, that “day of infamy” is still history to me, and I need frankly to be reminded of the lessons attendant to that terrible Sunday so long ago. [...]

By |2016-12-28T10:39:31-05:00December 28th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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A Mother’s Christmas Wish: Peace of Mind and Joy in Reuniting

An efficient and effective youth justice system holds kids accountable, helps them grow up to become contributing members of their community, and increases public safety. Kentucky has made strides in improving its youth justice system in recent years with the passage of SB 200 in 2014. This Christmas wish is from a parent of a teenager with autism who, as a 13 year old, inappropriately responded to what he perceived as a solution, and resulted [...]

By |2016-12-23T11:32:01-05:00December 23rd, 2016|Blog, Youth Justice|
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Everyone Must Help Kids Sparkle

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. When I became a superintendent, my favorite day of the year was the first day of school. I would visit every elementary, middle and high school in the district, observing sparkly-eyed first-year students, who were full of excitement and anticipation about what the coming year would be like. It drove me to wonder, what can we do to maintain that sparkle? How [...]

By |2016-12-21T11:22:07-05:00December 21st, 2016|Blog, Kids Count|
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Face the Realities and Dig Deeper

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -- James Baldwin I grew up in the Park Hill housing projects, the second of seven siblings in a single parent household. I didn’t realize we were poor back then because life felt abundant. We had a strong and vibrant family. My aunt sewed our [...]

By |2016-12-21T11:12:38-05:00December 21st, 2016|Blog, Kids Count|
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I Know You Want to Hug the Baby, but Let’s Ask Him First

The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes a series of festive gatherings. If your family or group of friends is anything like mine, you’ve already been to some holiday parties and still have other family gatherings ahead of you. This is our first holiday season as a family of three, and my husband and I are looking forward to watching Nash devour Christmas dinner and tackle his presents (or at least the [...]

By |2016-12-20T14:21:27-05:00December 20th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Guest Post: Let’s Ensure School Safety for All Students

By Amanda Bear Schools should be a safe, secure place for all children. A recent report released by Children’s Law Center, Inc. finds the use of restraint and seclusion on children in Kentucky schools is often unnecessary – especially for young children and/or students with a disability – and can be harmful. At the November meeting of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council, myself along with Lucy Heskins of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy and Mr. and Mrs. [...]

By |2016-12-14T16:51:54-05:00December 14th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Youth Justice|
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Let’s Listen to the Voices

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. Join us at the Morning Meeting - a kindergarten ritual across classrooms in this state and country. At the start of each day, little ones are sitting on a colorful rug “criss-cross applesauce” style around their teacher sharing the calendar, reciting the days of the week, and discussing the weather. Children are then asked to volunteer their own personal good news for [...]

By |2016-12-14T12:18:22-05:00December 14th, 2016|Blog, Kids Count|
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Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2017 Priorities!

Last year we unveiled a new Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children with three cornerstones: thriving communities, strong families, and successful kids. Today, we’re launching the 2017 Blueprint policy priorities with partners and youth from across the state with those cornerstones in mind. We invite you to learn more about the Blueprint and to get involved! Read the 2017 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priorities here. Learn more about the priorities and hear from decision makers in [...]

By |2016-12-13T09:50:02-05:00December 13th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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