education

UK asks court to dismiss some claims against it in sexual abuse lawsuit brought by former swimmers

BY: - August 9, 2024

This story was updated Aug. 12 to include a statement from the plaintiffs attorney. One week after University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto issued a statement saying allegations of sexual abuse by a former swimming coach were “deeply distressing to all of us,” the university sought to distance itself from the case against Lars Jorgensen […]

Bipartisan bill aims to expand free school meals with more Kentucky-sourced food

BY: - August 9, 2024

Kentucky lawmakers from both parties are hoping to lessen childhood hunger while also supporting farmers with new legislation set to be introduced in next year’s legislative session.? The pre-filed legislation from Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, and Reps. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, and Scott McPherson, R-Scottsville, would establish the “Kentucky Proud School Match Program.”? In a […]

Al Chandler, a pastor and superintendent of the only private school in Graves County, gives the invocation at the Graves County Republican Breakfast, part of the Fancy Farm political festivities, Aug. 3, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

In West Kentucky, people like their schools, ponder ‘choice’ amendment’s implications

BY: - August 8, 2024

GRAVES COUNTY ?— Al Chandler, superintendent of Northside Baptist Christian School, the only private school in Graves County, plans to vote for Amendment 2 — but not because he thinks his local public schools are failing students or families. “We really have wonderful, wonderful schools. Mayfield and Graves (County) both in our county, are just […]

GOP bashes Beshear, Harris at Fancy Farm as crowd is energized by school funding amendment

BY: - August 3, 2024

FANCY FARM — The stage at this year’s Fancy Farm picnic in West Kentucky was dominated by Republicans who used their speaking time to tee off on an absent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, sprinkling in attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, who has locked up the Democratic nomination for president. […]

University of Kentucky will not build hospital in southeast Lexington, state lawmakers hear

BY: - July 18, 2024

FRANKFORT — The University of Kentucky will not build a hospital in southeast Lexington because it wants to do what its network of rural hospital partners want: focus on its mission as a top-level care facility for the sickest patients, a UK vice president told a legislative subcommittee Wednesday. The proposed Hamburg-area hospital “was perceived […]

U.S. appeals court agrees to block central part of new Title IX gender rules for schools

BY: - July 18, 2024

A federal appellate court has upheld blocking central parts of new Title IX rules from the Biden administration and granted an expedited hearing in October.? A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday to block the rules from taking effect Aug. 1, shortly before most schools begin their academic year. […]

University president defends multicultural religious, social, and academic groups on campus

BY: - July 16, 2024

FRANKFORT — For almost 90 minutes on Tuesday, Kentucky lawmakers who tried to ban diversity, equity and inclusion in Kentucky’s colleges were told why such programs were needed in higher education. Yet, one legislator said DEI programs “segregate” students.? Among presenters were two university presidents — Northern Kentucky University President Cady Short-Thompson and Morehead State […]

Jefferson County schools officials present district information to Kentucky legislative task force

BY: - July 15, 2024

Jefferson County Public Schools officials appeared Monday before a new legislative task force that will examine the governance of Kentucky’s largest school district.? Led by Marty Pollio, the district’s superintendent, the officials laid out information about the district’s enrollment, financial records, governance structure and more to the Efficient & Effective School District Governance Task Force. […]

Public school funding at risk if Kentuckians approve Amendment 2, new study says

BY: - July 15, 2024

Kentucky’s public schools could take a big hit to their state funding if voters approve a constitutional amendment this fall allowing the General Assembly to begin funding private schools, a progressive think tank and several school leaders warned Monday. The new report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KyPolicy) estimates that if Kentucky were […]

GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passes U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto

BY: - July 11, 2024

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed?a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk. House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote,?210-205, is part of a barrage of […]

Citizen members of JCPS task force announced ahead of first meeting

BY: - July 11, 2024

Five citizens have been selected to join a legislative task force that will examine Jefferson County Public Schools’ governance.? The General Assembly passed House Concurrent Resolution 81 to create the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force during the last legislative session. The task force will review school districts with enrollment above 75,000 students. […]

Kentucky State University’s rebound, one year into president’s tenure

BY: - July 8, 2024

FRANKFORT —?A year into his presidency, Koffi Akakpo is optimistic that Kentucky State University will enroll significantly more students this fall. In a recent interview, Akakpo said Kentucky’s only historically black public university is on its way to overcoming problems that put KSU into crisis a few years ago. “We’re still working on it, but […]