The Kentucky Department of Education (KY DOE) is an agency within the government of Kentucky that is responsible for regulating education in the state.

History

The Kentucky Department of Education became an official organization in 1924.Board of Education, Kentucky. State. ''Goals of Kentucky Department of Education.'' Frankfort, Ky. : State Board of Education, 1974. Its headquarters is located in Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1848, Kentucky citizens voted for a law that allowed taxation to support schools. In 1938, a new law was passed allowing vocational-technical schools to be formed. In 1956, vocational-technical schools were expanded to help those who were blind, with a focus on providing training and jobs for the visually impaired. The vocational schools became controlled, like other public schools in the state, by the Department of Education in 1962. The

Kentucky Education Reform Act Education in Kentucky includes elementary school (kindergarten through fifth grade in most areas), middle school (or junior high, sixth grade through eighth grade in most locations), high school (ninth through twelfth grade in most locations), a ...

(KERA) became a law in 1990, and is enforced by the Kentucky Department of Education.Steffy, Betty E. ''The Kentucky Education Reform : Lessons for America''. Lancaster, Pa. : Technomic Publ., 1993. KRS 159.010 is a Kentucky

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

that requires children aged between 6 and 16 to attend school. This law was modified by a 2013 Senate bill, raising the mandatory attendance age to 18 beginning in the 2015–2016 school year. The Department of Education partners with the School Improvement Network to use programs such as PD 360 and Common Core 360 to educate students.

Kentucky Board of Education

The Kentucky Board of Education was established 1838. The board consisted '' ex officio'' members with limited ability to function effectively as the members had other responsibilities within the state. The board's powers, at that time, included creating laws, establishing a course of study and choosing course texts, and control of funds and property. The Board of Education is responsible for granting certificates for high school graduates and teacher training. The Kentucky Board of Education consists of 11 members. The

governor of Kentucky The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky. Sixty-two men and one woman have served as governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-e ...

appoints the members, and they are confirmed by both the state

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

and the Senate. The board members political affiliation is not considered in appointments. Board members must be at least 30 years old, have an

associates degree An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. The f ...

or higher, and lived in Kentucky for at least three years. Each member serves for four years. Today the board's primary purpose is to make and adopt regulations and policies. The state Board of Education has power over all of the schools in the state. Local boards of education have power over each of the schools located within its district. Each district board deals with issues that are of interest to the district. There have been conflicts between the Board of Education and the Department of Education. The Kentucky Department of Education has jurisdiction over county boards. In November 2015 the Knox County Board of Education was investigated by the Kentucky Department of Education for violating Kentucky laws such as including personal matters in district rules that disrupt operations and providing free resources to independent schools.

Positions

Superintendent

The 1838 law that established a Board of Education in Kentucky also called for the governor to select a

superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...

to serve for a two-years term. A law passed in 1850 allowed the superintendent to serve for four years and be elected by the people. An 1891 law prohibits the re-election of superintendents. The superintendent approves the building of new schools, monitors spending, and ensures school administrations follow laws passed by the Board of Education. In 1893 the power of selecting books was given to the superintendent. Superintendents are required to work full-time in an office in Frankfort. Notable superintendents include

John Cabell Breckinridge John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16, 1821 – May 17, 1875) was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier. He represented Kentucky in both houses of Congress and became the 14th and youngest-ever vice president of the United States. Serving ...

, the superintendent in 1849, and Lyman V. Ginger, the superintendent in 1974. The current superintendent is Dr. Jason E. Glass.

Other

Other positions include a deputy superintendent and secretary. There are multiple assistant superintendent positions focused on instruction, rehabilitation services, vocational education, pupil personnel services, instruction, administration, finance, state relations, and federal relations.

References