U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
Highlights No Child Left Behind in Kentucky
Joins Rep. Geoff Davis in Hosting Two Education Policy Roundtables
with Educators and School Administrators in Maysville and Newport
FOR RELEASE:March 19, 2008
Contact: Public Affairs(202) 401-1576
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings highlighted progress toward No Child Left Behind goals during visits today with Rep. Geoff Davis (KY-4) to Mason County Intermediate School in Maysville, and Fourth Street Elementary School in Newport. They participated in two education policy roundtables with educators, students, college presidents, and business and community leaders.
Tim Moore, Superintendent of Mason County Schools, took part in the Maysville roundtable, and Jon Draud, Commissioner of Education, Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Michael Brandt, Superintendent of Newport School District participated in the discussion at Fourth Street Elementary.
Secretary Spellings applauded Kentucky's progress in raising student achievement in both reading and math and at all levels, especially noting improvements among low-income students. "We can be proud of the progress made under No Child Left Behind in Kentucky and across the nation," said Secretary Spellings. "And Kentucky also deserves credit for its leadership in developing high quality assessments, including tests in seven subject areas."
"It is an honor to have U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings here in Kentucky to learn more about the academic successes of Mason County and Newport," said Rep. Davis. "Her visit provided our educators the opportunity to discuss the local impact of federal education law in Kentucky and the improvements that can be made. Improving our educational system is a critical factor for developing a competitive 21st century workforce."
She challenged the state to keep working to increase the number of students who receive supplemental educational services (SES), noting that only 8.5 percent of Kentucky's eligible students participate in SES, compared to the national average of 14.5 percent; and to increase the percentage of students taking Advanced Placement exams (19.6 percent of Kentucky students, compared to 24.9 percent nationally).
Secretary Spellings also discussed a new pilot program she announced yesterday that will help states differentiate between underperforming schools in need of major interventions and those that are closer to meeting the goals of No Child Left Behind. "We've built an appetite for change, and we've done a good job of framing the problem, "she said. "The next step is to use this knowledge to customize our efforts to improve."
In addition, Spellings also discussed a new tool recently released by the U.S. Department of Education, Mapping Kentucky's Educational Progress 2008, which provides a look at the state's No Child Left Behind comparative indicators.
To view Mapping Kentucky's Educational Progress 2008, please visit http://www.ed.gov/nclb/accountability/results/progress/kentucky.pdf
