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State's Schools Earn Good Grades: Kentucky Beat the National Average for Teacher Quality

Posted on: Monday, 9 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Joy Campbell, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

Jan. 9--Kentucky didn't break out of the pack in this year's Quality Counts 2006 report released Wednesday by Education Week, but the state scored at or above average in three of four graded policy categories to earn an overall B-.

The report uses several sources in its analysis, including original state data to grade states on their policy making and on key academic areas. Twenty-four policy indicators were used in study.

"A few years ago Kentucky was one of only a few states with standards-based education, and we got high rankings in Quality Counts," said Lisa Gross, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education. "The playing field is a lot bigger now."

This year, to mark the 10th anniversary of the report, trending data over 10 years also is provided, giving a look at progress over that time frame.

Since the federal No Child Left Behind act was implemented, every state now has some form of accountability measurement.

"We're still doing pretty well," Gross said.

Kentucky got its highest policy marks for standards and accountability with a B+, which is above the average state's performance of B-. The major contributor in that area was the state's alignment of the core content area tests to state standards at every grade level.

For teacher quality, Kentucky scored a B compared to the average state's C+. Credit in that category came from the strong support the state provides for professional support and training.

Of particular note was that Kentucky is one of only 15 states that requires and finances mentoring for all novice teachers. To improve its grade, the state could do more in teacher education and qualifications, the report states.

The states two Cs came in school climate and resource equity.

Choice and autonomy are two areas examined in school climate. Kentucky gets clipped for not having open enrollment and charter schools.

"We also don't have anti-bullying legislation," Gross said. "We've expressed our concern to Education Week over this."

Other areas examined in school climate are engagement, safety, class size, school size and school facilities.

Kentucky doesn't have charter schools, but it has school-based decision-making. "While they're not mirror images, we have policies in place which allow parental input, and that is a goal," she said.

Kentucky's amount of per-pupil spending brings down the resource equity score, but the data shows the state has funding equity among districts compared to other states.

Using the National Assessment of Educational Progress data, the report also examines how states perform in key achievement areas including reading and math. It also looks at poverty gaps in proficiency and graduation rates.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

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Source: Messenger-Inquirer

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