Governor to host televised forums on education

This from the Winchester Sun:

Last fall, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed a task force to develop new strategies for improving K-12 education in Kentucky, and to create a unified vision of what schools need to offer to better serve students today and in the future.

Members of the Transforming Education in Kentucky task force included education advocates, parents, teachers, superintendents, lawmakers and business and community leaders who were hand-picked for their commitment to education in Kentucky.

Meetings focused on things such as improving college readiness, providing every student with the opportunity to earn college credit during high school, expanding the use of technology for learning, boosting academics in career and technical education and improving transitions between preschool and K-12.

The task force’s aim was to formulate recommendations by the end of 2010, for consideration by legislators during the 2011 legislative session.

The task force now wants to get input on the initiative from citizens statewide through community forums being held across the state.

In partnership with the Education Workforce Development Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of Education, The Prichard Committee, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Educational Television, Beshear will host TEK Talk on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., to give the public an opportunity to share its concerns and ideas.

The community forums will be held in Paducah, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Somerset, Prestonsburg and Ashland.

In addition to the local discussions, KET will stream a live panel discussion at 8 p.m., with the governor and first lady Jane Beshear, Education Commissioner Terry Holliday and Council on Postsecondary Education President Bob King.

The panel will address questions posed at the community forums and discuss issues that emerge from local event.

Bill Goodman of KET will moderate the panel for his program, “Education Matters.”