The Kentucky Department of Education (KY DOE) is an agency within the

government of Kentucky As established and defined by the Kentucky Constitution, the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is composed of three branches: the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. Executive Branch The executive branch is headed by the governor, w ...

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 Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States, and the seat of Franklin County. It is a home rule-class city; the population was 28,602 at the 2020 census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the prin ...

. 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 (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 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 PD, P.D., or Pd may refer to: Arts and media * ''People's Democracy'' (newspaper), weekly organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) * '' The Plain Dealer'', a Cleveland, Ohio, US newspaper * Post Diaspora, a time frame in the '' Honorverse ...

and Common Core 360 to educate students.

Kentucky Board of Education

The Kentucky Board of Education was established 1838. The board consisted ''

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

'' 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 appoints the members, and they are confirmed by both the state House of Representatives and the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

. The board members political affiliation is not considered in appointments. Board members must be at least 30 years old, have an associates degree 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 Knox County Schools is the school district that operates all public schools in Knox County, Tennessee. History Before the 1987–1988 school year, the city of Knoxville and Knox County operated separate school districts. In that year the two s ...

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 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, 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