Public Education in Rural Eastern Kentucky a Region's Way Forward
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Public Education in Rural Eastern Kentucky A Region’s Way Forward Achieving Learner Equity and School Centered Community Reinvention in an Economically Distressed Rural Region Report Advanced by: The Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative Representing Member Districts: Ashland Independent, Breathitt County, Floyd County, Harlan County, Hazard Independent, Jackson Independent, Jenkins Independent, Johnson County, Knott County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Letcher County, Leslie County, Magoffin County, Martin County, Middlesboro Independent, Owsley County, Paintsville Independent, Perry County, Pike County, Pikeville Independent, Wolfe County February 12, 2019 Public Education in Rural Eastern Kentucky - A Region’s Way Forward Achieving Learner Equity and School Centered Community Reinvention in an Economically Distressed Rural Region February 12, 2019 Report Advanced by: The Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative Representing Member Districts: Ashland Independent, Breathitt County, Floyd County, Harlan County, Hazard Independent, Jackson Independent, Jenkins Independent, Johnson County, Knott County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Letcher County, Leslie County, Magoffin County, Martin County, Middlesboro Independent, Owsley County, Paintsville Independent, Perry County, Pike County, Pikeville Independent, Wolfe County All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or utilized in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without express permission in writing from the publisher or from the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative. All trade names and trademarks recited, referenced, or reflected herein are the property of their respective owners who retain all rights thereto. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States by DragonFly Publishing (Hazard, KY) No part of this report may be reproduced (except small portions for review purposes) in any form without written consent from the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative. This report was printed through private funding sources. No public funds were used in producing this report. For information regarding this publication or permissions, please contact: Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative 412 Roy Campbell Drive Hazard, Kentucky 41701 *A Staff Directory can be found at the KVEC Webpage: www.kentuckyvalley.org Our place-based Social Learning Network is: www.theholler.org A digital version of A Region’s Way Forward is available for download at: www.kvecforward.org A Way Forward – Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative 1 PREFACE Rural communities and rural school districts possess unique assets. Rural communities and rural school districts also face a range of challenges that might best be classified in two broad categories: isolation and limited scale. This report is presented from a regional perspective in the belief that every community possesses unique assets and that strong alignment and collaboration across all boundaries (geographic, education, agency, government, civic and workforce) are necessary to make the regional whole greater than the sum of its parts. A broad spectrum of data relevant to education, economic opportunity and community vitality in our rural region served by 22 public school districts supported by the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC) provides a “snapshot” of our current reality. KVEC leadership staff and key member district Superintendents representing (Breathitt, Floyd, Jackson Ind., Jenkins Ind., Johnson, Harlan, Hazard Ind., Lawrence, Lee, Owsley, Magoffin, Paintsville Ind., Wolfe) served as the working group in the development of this report. This report is presented in 7 sections (outlined below) that when combined, incorporate a broad range of components and measures demonstrating the complexity and ever-evolving nature of our ecosystem of rural public schools and communities. Imperative to Act (pg. 4) - points out the urgency to invest in efforts to retain our region’s talented young people, increase our ability to provide equitable quality learning opportunities for all students, significantly impact economic development and contribute to community vitality. Regional Demographics and Trend Data (pg. 6) - provides macro trend data to illustrate current conditions in the region covering a broad range of indicators impacting education, work, quality of life and community vitality. Information is presented without implication, leaving the process of inference to the reader. Learning Resources (pg. 29) - explores the range and complexity of learning resources available in school districts and provides an overview of where finite, often formulaic resources originate, and opportunity gaps exist. This section examines equal and equitable access to opportunities for all students regardless of their zip code. Teaching and Leading (pg. 37) - reinforces research demonstrating that one of the most critical components of an education system is the quality of people leading the learning process and the people who A Way Forward – Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative 2 support their continuing growth and improvement. This section examines educator preparation and certification, educator professional learning and retention of effective teachers and leaders. Measuring and Improving (pg. 46) - examines the assessment and accountability system Kentucky public school districts must operate within. This section provides a historical context for assessment and accountability in the state and poses questions relevant to each system’s (assessment and accountability) ability to achieve equity across all districts and for all learners. A Way Forward (pg. 56) - is a call to action strongly advocating for lawmakers to take action during this legislative session by supporting recommendations in this report to make public education the catalyst for economic and community development. Considerations on how schools and districts can accelerate student learning and be a vital part of a solution to enhance quality of life and contribute to overall economic and community vitality are offered for deliberation and as a launchpad for expanded work. Exceptional Practice (pg. 65) - examines innovative education initiatives currently underway in our region. School district leaders are breaking new ground in public education with innovative initiatives, strategic partnerships and community challenges having positive impacts on academic performance and collaborations throughout our region, contributing to economic vitality and improving the quality of life in communities. A Way Forward – Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative 3 Imperative to Act Many negative perceptions about education in Appalachian Kentucky are rooted in a lack of knowledge about the region and its schools and often originate from sources more interested in admiring a challenge rather than achieving a solution. We invite you to analyze the data and information presented in this paper as you consider the future for this region and your role in affecting that future. Based on our analysis and daily observations, we believe our region has reached a tipping point that has been decades in the making. Concerted action must be taken to reverse negative trends and build a healthy sustainable future. We recognize the urgency of the moment and feel a compelling need to act. We believe untapped physical, fiscal and human resources exist and can be elements of a strategic effort to rapidly and dramatically shift the region’s trajectory. Education leaders in this region are united by a fierce belief in communities and their ability to play a significant role in advancing academic achievement, economic development and community vitality. In the face of very real challenges, these regional and district leaders choose to leverage ways public education can positively impact the region’s future through a lens of abundance versus scarcity – and equity versus equality. We understand this effort is not for the faint of heart but are secure in the belief it is imperative for the region’s future that we invest in efforts to retain our talented young people, increase our ability to provide equitable quality learning opportunities for all learners, contribute to economic development and community vitality. We believe in the good minds and leadership capabilities of people committed to revitalizing East Kentucky. They will reveal what is possible for this region and make it a reality. The call to action in the Way Forward section of this report is a beginning to develop a more intentional, transparent strategy for rural development by strengthening education to enhance economic vitality, local agency, quality of life and community sustainability. Below are a few key components from the array of considerations found in the Way Forward section, which calls on leaders at all levels to generate a practical, results-driven strategy for the region’s future. Details expanding on roles, responsibilities, structures and opportunities for these and other components are contained in the Way Forward section. A Way Forward – Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative 4 • Establish the first “Rural Edu-conomy Zone” in the nation. o School districts and community partners (both public and private) work together to establish a future vision and strategic plan focused on increasing economic and community vitality. o The edu-conomy is the intersection between education and economic development and premised on the belief that