This qualitative study explored the perceptions, challenges, and lived experiences of women, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, holding executive level leadership positions to inform tailored support strategies. As female educators aspire to higher levels of leadership in schools and districts, limited avenues of structured informal and formal…

STEM teachers are considered one of the most important factors in inspiring high school students in STEM to excite them about the dynamic nature of the STEM fields (PCAST, 2010). Increasing the number of qualified and diverse science and mathematics teachers, especially those working in high-need areas, is of paramount importance. The intention of…

The job of the school principal has become much more complex and demanding over the past several decades. Many university-based principal preparation programs -- which prepare the majority of school principals -- have struggled with how to make the fundamental changes needed to prepare principals for today's schools. This report shares lessons…

The training materials presented in this guide were developed by the Kentucky Department of Education as guidance during the process of selecting a principal. This training represents best practices for the principal selection process. These suggested steps and ideas are written with the expectations that all involved parties are following the…

This paper aims to draw lessons from existing research on school leader diversity, and to supplement that evidence with new insights from the lived experiences of teachers, aspiring and practicing school leaders of color, and local and state administrators who oversee school leader recruitment and support. These perspectives are elevated to bring…

The purpose of this handbook is to provide detailed information regarding school-based decision making (SBDM) processes, laws, and best practices. Topics covered include the following: (1) School-based Decision Making Statute: KRS 160.345; (2) Achievement Gaps and Planning Requirements; (3) Other Kentucky Statutes Related to School Council Work;…

The study examined the perceptions of international students concerning their academic, social, and cultural experiences at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and suggestions for improvement. Researchers prepared a questionnaire consisting of 24 items seeking information related to students' demographics and their perceptions about quality of…

This booklet contains suggestions and procedures for identifying, profiling, recruiting, and serving the disadvantaged persons in a given geographic area in Kentucky through vocational education. The five steps/tasks in the model are described in chronological order, namely (1) defining the population (disadvantaged) which will be served, (2)…

An essential administrative responsibility accorded to state and district-level education leaders is the task of planning for staffing needs, including the recruitment of competent leaders to fill principal vacancies. Here, Winter et al develop empirical measures to allow state departments of education and school districts to assess their…

State-sponsored programs that seek to attract college students to teaching by student financial aid, primarily through loan "forgiveness," are discussed, based on a survey of chief state school officers. The programs have focused on loans, and the most commonly employed form of assistance enables the recipient to repay a portion of the…

The Pennyrile Education Services Model Plan was developed to meet the literacy and basic skills needs of undereducated adults living in a predominantly rural, 10-county region of Kentucky known as Pennyrile. The model plan includes the establishment of eight education services centers, beginning with a center in Madisonville that serves…

The reasons why undereducated individuals choose not to participate in adult education were examined in a comparative, qualitative case study that was conducted in eight nonmetropolitan sites (including the pilot site) in diverse economic regions across Kentucky. Data were collected from the following sources: in-depth interviews with 84 adults…