Examination of Kentucky Department of Education reveals spots requiring advancement
In a groundbreaking special examination, Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball has exposed significant concerns and the need for urgent improvements across the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). The comprehensive report, spanning over 550 pages, highlights a range of critical issues affecting Kentucky's public education system [1][2].
The audit findings paint a picture of KDE struggling with budget management, program effectiveness, and safeguarding vulnerable student populations. One of the key issues is the mismanagement of funds, with KDE allowing over $250 million in SEEK funds to lapse instead of reallocating them to address budget shortfalls, including recent deficits in pupil and vocational transportation funding [1][2][3][4].
Moreover, KDE's investments in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been deemed a poor use of resources, with no measurable improvements in student outcomes attributable to these programs [1][3]. The current preschool funding mechanism also violates the U.S. Constitution, as affirmed by the Supreme Court, and the preschool rating system is misleading, showing inadequate oversight in preparing children for early education stages [1].
Another critical area of concern is the risk in student-athlete safety. KDE, along with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA), has not effectively mitigated the risk of sexual harassment and abuse of student-athletes. Resources related to sexual assault prevention were only created following the audit [1].
Students with disabilities have not demonstrated meaningful academic progress due to ineffective tracking and support by KDE in special education programs [1]. Furthermore, KDE fails to provide adequate support for the Kentucky School for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Deaf, which are crucial for students with specific needs [1].
The agency’s curriculum resources for teachers are also difficult for teachers to access and use, creating obstacles for educators to perform their roles effectively [1].
Auditor Ball emphasized that the findings offer a "clear path forward" to improve student success, parent access, and teacher support statewide, aiming to hold the Commissioner and KDE accountable for reforms to better serve Kentucky’s children [1][2].
Commissioner Robbie Fletcher responded to the report, stating that KDE is focused on continuous improvement and looks forward to utilizing the Auditor's final report for future growth and plans for continued improvement in service to Kentucky's public school students [5].
The special examination can be found at www.auditor.ky.gov. Kentucky's children deserve to receive the education they need to be competitive in the real world, according to Allison Ball, and this report serves as a guiding document for Commissioner Fletcher as he continues his work to improve the state of public education across Kentucky.
[1] Kentucky State Auditor - Special Examination Report [2] WFPL News Louisville - Kentucky Auditor's Special Examination of Education Department Released [3] Kentucky Education Television - Auditor Ball Releases Special Examination of KDE [4] The Courier-Journal - Kentucky State Auditor's Report on Education Department Reveals Widespread Issues [5] Education Week - Kentucky Education Commissioner Responds to State Auditor's Report
- The Kentucky State Auditor's report, highlighting concerns in the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), calls for urgent improvements in areas like budget management, program effectiveness, and safeguarding vulnerable student populations, including those in special education, student-athletes, and schools for the blind and deaf.
- The report also criticizes KDE's allocation of funds, such as the $250 million in SEEK funds that lapsed instead of being reallocated, and its investments in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have shown no measurable improvements in student outcomes.
- Kentucky's education system, as detailed in the report, faces significant challenges in various domains, including education-and-self-development, general-news, and politics, as it strives to provide quality education to all its students and prepare them for the competitive real world.
